Collection: Flat handlebar conversions

Sometimes road drop handlebars just aren't as comfortable as they used to be. You can install a higher stem, but it often doesn't solve the problem - to get the fairly upright position desired, what you most often need is to change the handlebars from drop-bars to flat bars.

Fortunately, this is often possible, and the results can be fantastic. There are many incompatibilities between flat-bar and road components, but these can all be overcome by careful parts selection.

Handlebars: We have a huge range of aluminium alloy handlebars. They're light and comfortable.

Grips: There are lots of types of grips for flat handlebars. You can go for simple silicon grips, hardy cork grips, deluxe Ergon grips - whatever feels most comfortable is generally the best.

Stems: You may need to replace your stem if your current one isn't high enough, or the clamp diameter is wrong for the bars you've selected.

Brake levers: Most road bikes come with caliper brakes, but most flat-bar levers are made for V-brakes. This leads to the most common error with flat-bar conversions: using MTB levers with caliper brakes. The levers don't have enough mechanical advantage, and so you have to pull really hard to stop. The solution is to use flat-bar levers that have the right cable pull: short pull brake levers.

Shifters: Road front derailleurs have a different pull to MTB front derailleurs, so shifting will be best if you use dedicated road flat bar shifters. They come in 8, 9, 10 or 11-speed versions, depending on the number of gears you have on the back, and they're compatible with double and triple front cranksets. The other option is to use MTB shifters with an MTB front derailleur. Be careful of compatibility between different series (e.g. Shimano 4700 shifters are not compatible with Shimano 4600 derailleurs).

Cable stops: If your frame had downtube shifters, you'll need to fix some cable stops in their place.