Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Bar Options

Im having trouble choosing what kind of bar I want on my fixie. I have a set of track drops, bullhorns, and then a set of flat bars. Right now I have the drops on. Im considering asthetic as well as functional characteristics. What do you guys use/like?

I don't feel the need for the aero tuck, (and also would feel silly w/ dummy lever), so drop is out. I find a flat bar+barends a zillion times better than bullhorns, after having tried 2 'horns. The bend part is a completely useless section right where you'd like to hold your bars most.

how often do you use your bar ends?

if i go flat bar id probably just put some nice cushy grips on and maybe cut them down, but im considering bar ends too.

how often do you use your bar ends?

All the time. Every time I'm out of the saddle ('Cept if I stand up to hop a curb or sumfin'), plus as mock TT extensions in bad headwinds, and I also sorta rest my hand on the bar/barend joint pretty often. That's the comfiest position, actually. Wrist on the flat, fingers half-hooked onto the barend.
I used cork, not MTB grips. Also taped the ends (flat section has innertube wrap under tape)

pics in sig

ok this is what i would do if i were you.
for your track drops, if you run a nice deep drop track stem put that on those bars.
get a second stem, something cheap, if you have a yellow bike project or something similar in your area you can pick one up for like 3 bucks. Put one on your flat bars, and then get a 3rd stem and put your bullhorns on there. that way you can switch things up every now and then.

since you already have all the bars and at least one stem, you can run all 3 for less than ten bucks.

(go with flat bars if you dont have a nice track stem yet and you dont want to buy anything else, Flat bars make my fix feel like my bmx).

Just do this.
http://naughtylittlemonkey.org/bars3.jpg

does anyone have any opinions on risers vs. flat bars? i like the look of risers better, but is it worth it?


Just do this.
http://naughtylittlemonkey.org/bars3.jpg

brilliant

[/guiness ad guy voice]

ps an elite trackstar only needs drops

Anatomical road drops.

for me nothing comes close to traditional bend road bars with hoods.

**** bars, man.. just get a stem long enough to gain leverage for those quick turns and trackstanding. Then go no hands (good for your back) the whole time, or imagine there's a bar. It works perfectly and you'll get some strange stares.

lol i guess that works. do you have a pic of your barless fix?

**** bars, man.. just get a stem long enough to gain leverage for those quick turns and trackstanding. Then go no hands (good for your back) the whole time, or imagine there's a bar. It works perfectly and you'll get some strange stares.
i ran that setup for a while - i decided to go back to bars because i couldn't draw out my skids to 50+ feet anymore.

EDIT: to add something that's hopefully actually helpful to this, i wanted to mention that i also responded to the post about risers vs. flats by (i think) the same poster. i've tried road and track drops, real and home-made bullhorns, flats, and risers, and right now risers are my favorites for all the reasons i mention in my other post.

ps an elite trackstar only needs drops

****in trackstars.


I use drops.

Randonneurs. 'Cause why not.

if your bike fits you well, i think home-made bull horns are much better than real ones (as-in the nitto's or syntace bullhorns) I bought some nitto RB009's and they had me stretched out way to far and i never used the dropped part of the bars.
randoneur bars are nice to chop/flop because you'll get a nice downward curve on the flats.

I like drops.

if your bike fits you well, i think home-made bull horns are much better than real ones (as-in the nitto's or syntace bullhorns) I bought some nitto RB009's and they had me stretched out way to far and i never used the dropped part of the bars.
randoneur bars are nice to chop/flop because you'll get a nice downward curve on the flats.

Because we have a word for chopped Nittos.

Heresy

chopped horns are the jam. i'm all for horns - chopped or not i think they're awesome for street riding, you get much more control, especially if you're riding brakeless.

for awhile i shunned drops on the street - they just didnt seem to give me the control i wanted but after a long ride on a pair of Soma Major Taylors i adjusted some of my riding style and they work great. its really just what works best for you. I use the drops when I go for a sprint and I notice a difference for sure, so do the guys that I ride with.

ps: i still think horns are the jam.

I have tried: Risers, flats, flop&chops, curved drops, touring drops, and flipped northroads. By far, the flipped northroads are the best handlebar I have ever used. I have the Wald northroads, which are wide. Since they are wide, they give one real good hand position. You can get your hands close to the stem, which [for me atleast] is a very aero. I can sprint better wih these bars. There are no hills here, but I can say I can climb and desend parking garages easier with this, than any other bar I have tried.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i247/roughrider504/SUNP0017-1.jpg

I just put a set of On One Mary bars on my single speed/fixed gear MTB. It's only been one ride, but so far I LOVE THEM. They're somewhat similar to the North road bar picture above, but the grip area has less sweep back, it makes for a very natural hand position. During my ride, I swapped bikes with my buddies, because they wanted to try the Marys. Man, I don't think I can go back to flat or riser bars--the grip section felt completely unergonomic.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=6&MMN_position=5:5

Eric

bullhorns are better for skidding
straight or risers give you more control, better posture etc.
(also they give you better microcorrections) the ability to pedal and counter pedal with more control.
Skidding lets you skid but you are a little out of control when you do. Also the bullhorns put more weight on your hands and so are rough on longer rides.
drops, especially chromed ones are fashionable but hard to hold onto, are good for the drops, but the uprights give you only a tiny handlebar. So...
harder to accelerate, climb hills and skid.

Personally, I just went to the used bike shop and bought parts for all three. and a brake.
You can just swap them out for different rides.

click, click, click its's easy.

Try all three...

I love that those bars are called Mary's...Cause when I think of the word "Mary" it makes me think of queeny ****, and when I think of that I always smile a little.

I just put a set of On One Mary bars on my single speed/fixed gear MTB. It's only been one ride, but so far I LOVE THEM. They're somewhat similar to the North road bar picture above, but the grip area has less sweep back, it makes for a very natural hand position. During my ride, I swapped bikes with my buddies, because they wanted to try the Marys. Man, I don't think I can go back to flat or riser bars--the grip section felt completely unergonomic.
Mary Bars are the cat's nightgown. I have them on my SS mountain bike, and I just love them. They are the best bar in the world for standing and mashing.

Randonneurs. 'Cause why not.

I ran some on my Mark V and loved them

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i247/roughrider504/SUNP0017-1.jpg[/QUOTE]

Dog looks a little evil... Possessed?

I ran some on my Mark V and loved them

Yeah, I actually put a set on my commuter when I started having to go longer distances with less stopping and the bullhors weren't cutting it. It's pretty much all of the advantages of track drops without the PITA factor of narrow tops, no useful shoulders, and not being very good when forward in the drops. Also, you can pull a nice light Al pair out of the junk pile for like $5.

However, I mainly think they're going to get popular because it's the one bar style nobody is running right now, so pretty soon everyone will be on it. Kind of like how when you walk down the street and don't see any cool kids wearing Chucks, you can be pretty sure that the coolest of the cool are going to be wearing Chucks in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...