Fifty Plus (50+) - The moustache bars

I'm trying to get the LHT outfitted for an overnight bike trip this weekend with the group - 50 miles each way.

I ordered the Nitto Moustache bars through my favorite LBS and they arrived today. They put them on the LHT with the stock brake levers and shifters. I rode it around the lot and immediately knew that the way they are traditionally set up is a NO GO for my wrist.:( So he moved the brake levers over to the sides and underneath; ergonomically, a better position for my wrist but the reach to the levers is still difficult. The Roubaix must have short-reach levers because I did not have any trouble squeezing them from the hoods on that bike; on the LHT, the reach is further and difficult for me to comfortably squeeze and quite painful after about 10-15 miles. (This is an issue with my wrist, NOT with the bike.)

So I asked him to flip the bars so that the sides are upward instead of downward, and put mountain bike levers under the sides. I'll go by after work tomorrow night and try that set-up. I want to give these bars a fair chance, and I'll know right away if they are right for me or not.

Hubby recommended bullhorns instead since I like them so much on the Roubaix. However, I really wanted this bike to be my less racy casual ride -- but NOT upright -- and bullhorns seem racy to me. Maybe not... I'll think about it.

An immediate solution is to mount mountain bike levers under the tops on the stock drop bars and ride that for a while until I settle the best solution.

I may end up with the trekking bars after all, but I'll need thumbies for the bar-end shifters and I may not find those by this weekend.

If I can't take the LHT this weekend then I'll swap out the new Armadillos on the Roubaix for some comfy Contis and take that instead.

I want to customize the LHT with careful thinking and not rush into this. But I know my hand won't make it to 20 miles with the stock bar set-up currently on the bike.:cry:

I'm feeling somewhat discouraged tonight but there are much worse things I could complain about so I won't go there. I think I'll go out for a ride in the night on my hybrid.

Are you gripping the hoods or the curved section of the bars? If you position the levers right you should be able to reach the levers easily with one or two fingers from the curves, which is all you'll need. Also, be sure you don't have the levers' quick release buttons in the open position.

Just take the Roubaix until you have your LHT squared away.

There is also this option (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=15986&category=2231). These levers are standard on sizes 42-50cm LHTs.

I think the issue with the levers on moustache bars is that they are mounted straight out, forward facing as they should be. I can see if the levers were slightly cocked downward they might be more comfortable for Jen. But the problem with moustache bars is that road levers can really only work one way as they do with drop bars.....they cannot be turned or twisted as that can place the levers in awkward positions.

Jen, were the m-bars mounted as high as possible, at or above saddle level? The brake levers are easier to grab when the bars are mounted as high as possible.

This doesn't make sense. What does having short or standard reach levers have to do with anything if you are braking from the hoods? The levers will be in exactly the same place no matter what reach they have. It sounds to me like you should have gotten a stem that puts your drop bars where they are best for you rather than experiment with something like mustache bars, and on those drop bars, you should have experimented with how high or low you want to place the brake levers (this makes a big difference in reach from the curves of the drops).

This doesn't make sense. What does having short or standard reach levers have to do with anything if you are braking from the hoods? The levers will be in exactly the same place no matter what reach they have. It sounds to me like you should have gotten a stem that puts your drop bars where they are best for you rather than experiment with something like mustache bars, and on those drop bars, you should have experimented with how high or low you want to place the brake levers (this makes a big difference in reach from the curves of the drops).

You really don't want to brake much from the hoods with moustache bars. It is not a very useful position and it is very hard to get enough leverage from the hoods. Not like a drop bar at all in that respect.

You really don't want to brake much from the hoods with moustache bars. It is not a very useful position and it is very hard to get enough leverage from the hoods. Not like a drop bar at all in that respect.

BD, I think he was referring to my reaching them from the hoods on the drop bars, not the m-bars.

In any case..... longfemur, I intended to change the bars on the LHT before I bought it since I do not ride in the drops. Initially I planned to use trekking bars but I thought I'd give moustache bars a try. If I don't try, I'll never know. If they don't work out for me, then at least I tried.

Maybe I'll just ask the shop to adjust the levers on the drop bars for the time being. I do believe the levers on my Roubaix are for small hands -- I don't have small hands, but my wrist condition makes them so.

Are you gripping the hoods or the curved section of the bars? If you position the levers right you should be able to reach the levers easily with one or two fingers from the curves, which is all you'll need. Also, be sure you don't have the levers' quick release buttons in the open position.

I'll check that tomorrow at the shop.

I think the issue with the levers on moustache bars is that they are mounted straight out, forward facing as they should be. I can see if the levers were slightly cocked downward they might be more comfortable for Jen. But the problem with moustache bars is that road levers can really only work one way as they do with drop bars.....they cannot be turned or twisted as that can place the levers in awkward positions.

Jen, were the m-bars mounted as high as possible, at or above saddle level? The brake levers are easier to grab when the bars are mounted as high as possible.

They were as high as possible, level with the saddle.

I could grab the levers, but my wrist didn't like the angle no matter where the levers were placed on the m-bars, angled out or beneath the bars.

How many fingers are you gripping?

How many fingers are you gripping?

2 or 3. Remember, my grip is weaker than normal so sometimes I need an additional finger.

Try 1 or two. The leverage is pretty good on this setup. Also, are you riding with your fingers on the brake or do you grip the bar with all your fingers, only reaching for the brake levers when you need to brake?

I'm thinking the levers made for smaller hands (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=15986&category=2231) that I posted above are probably going to be your best bet for making the moustache bars work for you.

BD, I doubt I'd be able to squeeze the lever enough with just one finger on my left hand. Seriously, it is not in good shape and I need to baby it.

I believe that I ride with 2 or 3 fingers wrapped around the front of the hoods near the levers, and I reach for the levers when I need to brake.

I ride away from the hoods in the center of the curve so that my fingers are ready to reach the levers. If your hands can reach the hoodfrom that position, try moving th elevers closer together.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/2897055788_1333f680a5.jpg

Oh, I thought you were referring to how I ride on drop bars. I haven't ridden with the m-bars yet except in the parking lot at the shop. The levers were mounted out from the center of the curve.

They were as high as possible, level with the saddle.

I could grab the levers, but my wrist didn't like the angle no matter where the levers were placed on the m-bars, angled out or beneath the bars.

What bar/lever combination has worked for you in the past?

You may want to look into some alternates. I've got a mustache bar on one bike and it works but I do have to bend my wrist at what would normally be considered a funny angle.

I recently got a set of the Soma Sparrow bars in the 520 mm width and hope to try them out soon. The angle and relative lack of smooth curves means this is a one position bar set but from just sticking it on a frame and sitting on the bike it feels like a very friendly postion and the bars are MTB controls friendly.

http://www.somafab.com/barsparrow.html

The limited options with road handlebars is why I went with a flat-bar road bike. Having all of the handlebar components being mountain bike compatible opens up dozens upon dozens of options for handlebars, grips, and bar ends. As I'm written before, I don't get along with drop bars, and frankly none of the other road bike bars excited me either. I briefly tried a couple of bikes with moustache bars and found them to have average comfort for me.

But I hope they work out for you. Many do find them comfortable.

If I ever popped for a bike like the Surly, I'd order it with mountain bike shifters & brake levers. The standard config LHT has a mountain bike rear derailleur and the front derailleur works fine with MTB shifters. Then I could go with all of the options in my handlebar thread, plus more that aren't documented there.

^^^ Yes, flat bars are always a safe option to consider, although you must use mountain bar components.

Yen, you're getting so much informed and helpful advice, so it's about time for some uninformed and unhelpful teasing, no? Remember what forum this is, after all

I offer this, from an advanced motorcycling class I took a couple of decades ago. Touch wood, I've never had a bump before or since - "Using the brakes, apart from coming to a complete stop, indicates a failure of observation"

And from Mrs Geezer, who I can outpace on bikes but certainly not on skis - "Turning is for wussy"

Enjoy your new bike. Getting it fitted out just as you want it is all part of the joy. Enjoy, be safe

^^^ Yes, flat bars are always a safe option to consider, although you must use mountain bar components.

Well, I wouldn't use "flat bars." After getting my flat-bar bike, I had the original "flat bars" off of it by the next day. There are so many interesting options, with different rises, sweeps, & angles. So many different bar ends. So many different ergo grips. One can determine where they want their primary hand position to be, at what sweep angle, and with what type of grip, and put it there.

Folks, we have a winner!!! The owner and builder at our favorite LBS worked on the set-up today and I rode it tonight. I think I'm going to love it. :love:

Pics tomorrow!!!

That's great news!

I know three people who use moustache bars who love them, wouldn't swap them out for anything else.

Excellent! I'm curious to see what this set up looks like but I think I've got a pretty good idea. :)

George, take a guess -- I'll tell you if you're close. :)

George, take a guess -- I'll tell you if you're close. :)

My guess is you either had mountain style levers mounted under the straight sections of the bar or had the original road levers mounted to the outermost curved sections and cocked downward slightly.

You're close. ;)