Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Handle Bar Set up

I have a steel bar with cyclecross brake near the stem and a kerin grips on the drops. The bare steel is numbing my hands and my hands are slipping all time on the top. I might have to set it up road bike style. How do you set up yours?

Bar tape loves you, love it back.

There's nothing wrong with bar tape...

there's nothing wrong with mtb risers w/grips either...

there's nothing wrong with mtb risers w/grips either...
Yes there is!

there's nothing wrong with mtb risers w/grips either...

MUTHAF***IN' WORD!

on a more serious note, stop being a slave to fashion. if your bike is hurting you, then something needs to change. if you're getting hand numbness or wrist pain, tape your bars. it won't get better with time, it won't make you "more hardcore," and it won't go away on it's own.

ride what works for you. i, for one, happen to like the way MTB risers look on my fixed gear bicycle. i also feel like that's the most comfortable handlebar for me, and it makes riding more enjoyable. track bars look really nice, and i put some on every now and then when i feel like a change, but they're not ideal, and they're definitely not ideal without tape.

like so...

http://thirdrate.com/bikes/pinarello_cross3.jpg

niiiiiiiiiice, thought mine aren't that narrow currently, i have some hanging around here that are, and i couldn't deal with the lack of stability. i also realised that bars that are more narrow than my hips/shoulders/bag weren't going to help me get through traffic any better.

i wish more people would rock the risers on the west coast.

no worries half of upper west williamsburg is rocking the risers for you... not sure how I feel about it, first one I saw looked hot, stipping it down even more, but now they just look awkward, why not just put grips on the tops of the drops?

I switch out track bars, bullhorns, and mtb risers.

abe1x, that's kind of a silly question. It must not look awkward to those that ride them. Why put grips on the tops of drops if you only want to ride upright (the reason for mtb risers)?

Is it practical to have a pair of grips to slide onto the top of the bars for rainy days? Or is it inconvenient to constantly take them off and on? I love riding bare drops all day in clear weather but it is somewhat dangerous in the rain.

I have cruiser bars on my beater and I love them!

Is it practical to have a pair of grips to slide onto the top of the bars for rainy days? Or is it inconvenient to constantly take them off and on? I love riding bare drops all day in clear weather but it is somewhat dangerous in the rain.
Gloves.

I've been playing musical handlebars for the past two months (the steel ones have the best tones :P), with no end in sight, and i have learned a few things that relate to this thread.

1. Putting on and removing grips is a somewhat intense task to engage in on a regular basis. Use soapy water to put them on, and alcohol to take them off.

2. That said, if you are switching out bars a lot and experimenting (and not using a poptop stem), grips are easier to change and cheaper than bar tape.

3. I like risers, but I find that drops (and brake hoods) are more powerful for climbing. What I am flirting with presently is a pair of chopped MTB risers, flipped backwards and upside down so that they have a slight downward sweep to the rear. Very sharp looking, and a nice comfortable height for me, but hills are weird. And I don't know if I would want to go on longer (20-30 mi) rides with only one hand position. Short version is, your riding style and terrain informs handlebar choice as well.

4. i agree with 1TS' point. Comfort and control are the most important considerations.

ps brunning, love that setup.

I'll probably get spanked for this one (and I may like it) but for hand pain, there's no cure like lifting the bars a little. I'm currently using noodle bars with a stem about 1/2 inch below my saddle and a cx brake lever on the flat. I spend most of my time on the ramps, but can comfortably ride anywhere from up top to down in the drops for a couple hours w/o any hand discomfort.

I'll probably get spanked for this one (and I may like it) but for hand pain, there's no cure like lifting the bars a little. I'm currently using noodle bars with a stem about 1/2 inch below my saddle and a cx brake lever on the flat. I spend most of my time on the ramps, but can comfortably ride anywhere from up top to down in the drops for a couple hours w/o any hand discomfort.

are you running regular levers/dummies too? if not, how are the noodle bars for climbing?

in general how do you like the noodles? i've been thinking about getting those when I finally stop playing the field...how wide are yours?

like so...

http://thirdrate.com/bikes/pinarello_cross3.jpg
OK...That's cool!

Thanks for all the replys. What I missed most is during the climbs is the brake hoods for grip and leverage. I will reinstall the road brakes and bar tapes. There is just too much jarring on my hands. Too bad I can't have the bare steel look.

like so...

http://thirdrate.com/bikes/pinarello_cross3.jpg

My eyes!!! My eyes!!! That poor Pinarello...

are you running regular levers/dummies too? if not, how are the noodle bars for climbing?

in general how do you like the noodles? i've been thinking about getting those when I finally stop playing the field...how wide are yours?

no other levers or dummies, but I have the bars angled to where the ramps are almost parallel with the ground, and wrapped in cotton tape. I've never lost grip on it and can get out of the saddle and thrash around in climbs.

but for climbing, nothing beats the clipped'n'flipped bullhorns on my beater fixie.

as for the other q's, I like them quite a bit. Lots of comfortable positions, and they seem strong enough for me to thrash around on with all my weight. Mine are 44's, I think...whichever is the widest non-heat treated variety.