Commuting - bullhorn/time trial handlebar questions

I'm thinking of switching to bullhorn/time trial handlebars mainly because I find myself rarely using the drops on my bike because the aero bars are more comfortable and efficient for me. First of all, does anyone use them, and what are your thoughts (hand positions etc.)? Second, can I use the same brifters that I'm using for my drops? Does it make sense to do so? Also, what are the sizes that are associated with these handlebars? Nashbar has sizes 40, 42, 44. Advice? Thanks.

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Reza Fakhrai

Are the tops of your current drop bars wide enough for you? If they are, and you're sure you won't be usiing the drops anymore, why not just saw the drops off and flop them upside down? Just make sure to leave enough of the curve - which will now be sloping upward, as opposed to downward - to remount your current brake lever/shifters on. An easy way to use the bars you're not happy with to try out the bullhorn thing.

DanO

That's a good idea. But out of curiosity, would my brifters work on the bullhorns? Is it the diameter of the bar that I'm concerned with for proper fit of the brifters?

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Reza Fakhrai

I'm sorry, but I don't know what 'brifters' are. Do you mean shifters? If so, of course they will fit the 'bullhorns' because the bullhorns are the bars they are on now. I'm just suggesting you saw off the 'drop' section of your current bars and flipping them upside down as bullhorns. There's no reason your shifters and aero bars shouldn't fit.

DanO

That's a good idea. But out of curiosity, would my brifters work on the bullhorns? Is it the diameter of the bar that I'm concerned with for proper fit of the brifters?

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Reza Fakhrai

Bar diameter will be the same (26.0 for e.g. Nashbar), and you can still brake, but the difficulty will be in trying to shift with the brifters rotated 90 degrees. You might be better swapping the brifters for barend shifters and inline levers/regular road levers. I've never tried it, but it looks to be a headache.

why would the brifters be rotated 90 degrees? on a flop and chop they should end up in about the same position or rotated in the same plane. It's not like changing to moustache bars, which would turn the brifters horizontal. My impression is that it would be easier to brake and shift (unless they are Sora w/ the thumb shifter thing. then reach might be an issue). I haven't actually tried it though. I run brakes that stick in the end of my horns.

edit: basically, brifters should work on a flop and chop. shifting and braking will be similar to if you were riding in your drops but position will be like you were riding on your hoods.

If you want to 'suicide' mount your brifters on a bull horn, you could put the rear on the left, and the front on the right. Might work alright.

I don't see a problem with bullhorns, but I wouldn't suggest using an aerobar for commuting. Your hands are too far from the brakes in an emergency and the narrow hand position can be twitchy for quick manuevers in traffic.

Thanks for all the responses. I don't think the danger of commuting with aero bars is universal because a lot of my commute is in a bike lane on an easy-going street. I've ridden with the aero bars for a while now and I think this'll be my solution. Thanks again everyone.

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Reza Fakhrai

look at pictures of tri bikes i am sure they have some good shifting solutions.

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/images/Events/Cirque/2005/show/PICT1011.JPG
Drool..

(Taken from : http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Events/Cirque/Cirque_05/photos/cirque_2005_swap_show_pics2.htm).