Hybrid Bicycles - Handlebar setups on your hybrid.

Just wondering if you had any pictures of your handlebar setups. I am contemplating a change from the stock flat bar on my FX to either a Trekking bar or something different. I would like to get other rider's opinions on bar setups, what their favorite is and why. Thanks.

Right now I have the stock setup on my 7.5 FX, but am building my Jamis Aurora (touring bike) with a mustache bar using downtube shifters and older non-aero brake levers. I am looking forward to the differences to the drop bars it used to have. The FX that I have is a good bike, I love riding it, but the stock grips don't do it for me and I am looking for different hand positions when I ride longer rides. I would love to get some ideas from other hybrid users. Thanks.

I ordered a set of trekking bars, I'll post some pictures when they arrive and I get them installed.

I just do the stock flat bar on my Sirrus Sport, but I changed out the non-locking ergo grips and small bar ends for standard mountain bike style grips and full-sized bar ends. I also flipped the stem to drop things down a bit. I totally dig the long bar ends for long rides. You can just lean on the bar ends, find a nice comfortable gear, and crank away.

http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy124/Almost_Green_Guy/Bikes/Sirrus/dsc08611.jpg
http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy124/Almost_Green_Guy/Bikes/Sirrus/dsc08615.jpg

I've got bar ends on my stock Crosstrail bars (which have a slight rise, and pullback) ---- but, I've also added a st of mini drops from Origin 8, which I also like for occasional brief position changes ---- I can't take the drops very long, due to physical problems, but I still like them.

No picture yet - and I'm getting ready to go fishin for 10 days, so you'll have to wait...... LOL

almost forgot - I've got Ergon GP-1 Grips on there, too.(

Have stock bar on Trek FX 7.3, but made some changes based on feedback from Wanderer. To allow for mirror and bar ends, put on Ergon GP-1 grips. Recently, put wrap on bar ends. The new grips and bar ends have increased ride comfort. So far, feels great.

http://img816.imageshack.us/img816/6396/bar2.jpg

I first installed a set of Ergon GC2s; great grips, but they left me wanting more. I considered trying some GC3s but after reading many posts here, I bought some trekking bars. I had a heckuva time finding them, but that's another story. I love the multitude of hand positions that they offer me:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4668413034_6300da239c.jpg

The ergonomic grips pictured are cheap knockoffs that I plan to eventually replace with GP1s. The cork tape is very comfortable and required no padding underneath. It's my first taping job and so far it is holding up great! Changes since the pic include flattening the bars a bit and rotating my controls so they are more vertical; this allowed me to move my light to the spot where the bell is and move the bell up further on the bend. IMHO they are the next best thing to drop bars - you can even get a more aero position by placing your hands on the forward part of the bars and resting your forearms where the grips are.

BTW the design of the bars brought the controls inboard and shortened my cockpit, necessitating the installation of a longer stem. Also, I lost the mounting position for my bar-end mirror, so I bought a helmet-mounted one. There is a bit of a learning curve but I'm starting to get used to it.

My hybrid has been a test platform for all kinds of things and has gone from the stock risers and adjustable stem to Scott Liteflite bars to drops and now to trekking bars... gives me a nice position on the road and a great position on the trail.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/trekkerrace1.JPG

Got a set of ITM Trekking bars . they feature 2 D shaped 'wings' and an H shaped Yoke , that the 2 side bar pieces are clamped into, and the stem clamps onto the cross-piece of the H.

there is a bit of creaking at the clamps, that says to me 'You really should buy a bit of Loc-tite', to quiet me'.

It's somewhat a Mustache like Bend that continues around and back toward the center, to accept the Gripshifter and brake levers..

since there is no straight Bit to the rest of the bars, there is a T shaped piece added to the top.. to hang bar bags off of, or accessory bits..

My setup:

http://i45.tinypic.com/28jsz7.jpg

Flatbar, bended barends & aerobar ... the most versatile setup possible :)

I'm going AdelaaR's route on my 2009 Jamis Coda Comp. I am waiting for Profile Design Jammer GT aerobars and Boxer bar ends to arrive. The bike has a 580mm flat handlebar so I also purchased a Crank Brothers Cobalt 2 680mm flat bar in case all the stuff doesn't fit across a 580mm bar. Pictures forthcoming when I get it all set up.

I was thinking about adding some Ergon GC3's to my 7.1 FX, but I'm wondering if they might be a little bigger than what I need. Does anyone have any good pic of a Ergon GR2's mounted?

Thanks

My handlebar is 600mm (i think) so you shouldn't have too much trouble fitting stuff on... 680mm damn that's a wide handlebar! :)

Thanks for all the replys.

I am starting to lean towards trekking bars like irclean and Sixty Fiver have mounted, if I go this route I will probably not instal the ergo grips...I'm not all that impressed with the stock ones that came on the 7.5 fx. I must say though, the setup that Adelaar has looks promising as well.

I first installed a set of Ergon GC2s; great grips, but they left me wanting more. I considered trying some GC3s but after reading many posts here, I bought some trekking bars. I had a heckuva time finding them, but that's another story. I love the multitude of hand positions that they offer me:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4668413034_6300da239c.jpg

The ergonomic grips pictured are cheap knockoffs that I plan to eventually replace with GP1s. The cork tape is very comfortable and required no padding underneath. It's my first taping job and so far it is holding up great! Changes since the pic include flattening the bars a bit and rotating my controls so they are more vertical; this allowed me to move my light to the spot where the bell is and move the bell up further on the bend. IMHO they are the next best thing to drop bars - you can even get a more aero position by placing your hands on the forward part of the bars and resting your forearms where the grips are.

BTW the design of the bars brought the controls inboard and shortened my cockpit, necessitating the installation of a longer stem. Also, I lost the mounting position for my bar-end mirror, so I bought a helmet-mounted one. There is a bit of a learning curve but I'm starting to get used to it.

Cheap ergos or not, you have a nice set up.
http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr179/MrDanw/IMG_0322.jpg

Thanks for all the replys.

I am starting to lean towards trekking bars like irclean and Sixty Fiver have mounted, if I go this route I will probably not instal the ergo grips...I'm not all that impressed with the stock ones that came on the 7.5 fx. I must say though, the setup that Adelaar has looks promising as well.

All my trekking bars are wrapped in cork with no grips... this works for me but other folks really like their ergons.

http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/bike/DSC03676.jpg

I just slapped a pair of GP1's to my Trek Valencia, coupled with your run-of-the-mill barend. They're a lot better than my stock grips, which did have a similar ergonomic design, but were smaller and floated while riding. The clamp puts an end to that.

Cheap ergos or not, you have a nice set up.
http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr179/MrDanw/IMG_0322.jpg
Thanks, and it's nice to see I'm not the only one whose garage is filled with bikes instead of a car. I like your set-up, too; further proof that trekking bars are versatile enough to work with trigger, grip, and/or thumb shifters. I wonder if barcons would fit in the ends - that would make a great set-up! Food for thought...

"...nice to see I'm not the only one whose garage is filled with bikes instead of a car."

I barely have enough room for bikes... :)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/bikecave2.JPG

http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/bike/DSC03676.jpg

Q - You almost have trekking bars there... :)

I think I need to move to Edmonton, buy a case of beer, and drop in on Sixty Fiver. What is that green frame hanging behind the Bianchi - the one with the built-in rack?

I think I need to move to Edmonton, buy a case of beer, and drop in on Sixty Fiver. What is that green frame hanging behind the Bianchi - the one with the built-in rack?

Make it a two four... :)

That frame is a custom made Arvon touring / randoneurring frame... it is a 66 cm frame.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/arvonrando1.JPG

Am working with the builder and expect that some of the bikes rolling out of the shop will be fitted with trekking bars and I have a set at hand to use on my new tandem.

Q - You almost have trekking bars there... :)

The same old longhorns I had on the Cannondale trailer hauler.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/bike/DSC03693.jpg

It made more sense to put these on the fast bike, but now they are too low and too far away for me to really use them properly. I can reach the ends but I'm not quite flexible enough to comfortably rest my forearms on the grips. The Cannondale has a taller stem and a shorter top tube, so it was easy to assume the aero position, but hauling my trailer through traffic, elbows on the grips wasn't often the position of choice. I might get a different stem or some yoga.

"...nice to see I'm not the only one whose garage is filled with bikes instead of a car."

I barely have enough room for bikes... :)

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/bikecave2.JPG

:eek:

:eek:

It is even more crowded now...

:)

I certainly hope to have a workshop like that one day! Mine currently consists of a Park stand, a car-mechanics set, and only essential bike-specific tools. Tinkering is a lot more fun without bending over thanks to the stand!

It is even more crowded now...

:)

I have a friend who is an avid model rocket flyer, the word avid doesn't do him justice really. He is famous for having a basement that is better stocked and better equipped than all but a few local hobby shops. I would imagine your garage bears the same relationship to most of the local bike shops!

Ken

The same old longhorns I had on the Cannondale trailer hauler.
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/Rod_Smith/bike/DSC03693.jpg

Are those custom/DIY, or did you buy them somewhere? I am "blessed" with disproportionately long arms, making most bar ends not quite far out enough for me. Aeros seem a little bit much, especially since most of my biking is commuting. How can I get my hands on a pair of those things?

I first installed a set of Ergon GC2s; great grips, but they left me wanting more. I considered trying some GC3s but after reading many posts here, I bought some trekking bars. I had a heckuva time finding them, but that's another story. I love the multitude of hand positions that they offer me:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4668413034_6300da239c.jpg

The ergonomic grips pictured are cheap knockoffs that I plan to eventually replace with GP1s. The cork tape is very comfortable and required no padding underneath. It's my first taping job and so far it is holding up great! Changes since the pic include flattening the bars a bit and rotating my controls so they are more vertical; this allowed me to move my light to the spot where the bell is and move the bell up further on the bend. IMHO they are the next best thing to drop bars - you can even get a more aero position by placing your hands on the forward part of the bars and resting your forearms where the grips are.

BTW the design of the bars brought the controls inboard and shortened my cockpit, necessitating the installation of a longer stem. Also, I lost the mounting position for my bar-end mirror, so I bought a helmet-mounted one. There is a bit of a learning curve but I'm starting to get used to it.

Oh my this setup is quite nice. I have a Trek Soho with a flatbar handlebar that is not agreeing with my hand posture. Lots of numbness.
What kind of trekking bar is this? Also may I get more feedback regarding trekking bars? I believe I am stuck @ a style cramping mood....thanks.

Oh my this setup is quite nice. I have a Trek Soho with a flatbar handlebar that is not agreeing with my hand posture. Lots of numbness.
What kind of trekking bar is this? Also may I get more feedback regarding trekking bars? I believe I am stuck @ a style cramping mood....thanks.
Thank you! Here are some updated pics:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4801985393_a577269c12.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4802611716_24730bded4.jpg

My handlebars are made by Kalloy

http://www.wallbike.com/content/JPG/kalloybars.jpg

They are available in Canada through Norco dealers and are available in some shops that cater to more "urban" type of cycling. These bars can be found in the States, too, but Nashbar also has their own set (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_175533_-1_201521_10000_200388). I'm not sure who manufactures them for Nashbar.

Personally, my experience has been very postive. I will never go back to straight bars. It's the next best thing to drop bars and it's a cheaper conversion since you use the same controls as on your flat bar.

Are those custom/DIY, or did you buy them somewhere? I am "blessed" with disproportionately long arms, making most bar ends not quite far out enough for me. Aeros seem a little bit much, especially since most of my biking is commuting. How can I get my hands on a pair of those things?

"Cannondale XYZ" barends. A product from the early nineteen eighties. They don't make them anymore. I got them from a friend who wanted to be rid of them. They were in a box of parts he brought to work for anyone who wanted something in it.

They are too long for safe urban commuting. You need your hands closer to the brakes. That's why I took them off my work horse. The only part I was using was the part that is covered in white now. The black cloth tape was all stringy there so I overwrapped with some old used white vinyl stuff I found in my used tape bin.

I had some Vulcan bar ends from the same period that were the second longest I've seen. There was a lot of innovation of bikes during the 1980s and 1990s associated with the re-invention of off-road biking. Things have settled down now and stuff available then is no longer.

I saw a Hite-Rite on a vintage rigid fork "Can o' ale" MTB just last week. (I guess they didn't all "Crack 'n fail") :D

Nothing unique here i suppose, except I wrap my barends with tape:

160191

For the few times I go out at night I add these:
160192

I got the mounts on ebay, and the tactical flashlights at Costco (note the zip tie to keep the mount snug, I also replace the plastic bolts with metal).

160193

I would highly recommend the drop style add ons like I have on mine. They are simple great.I have my hands on them 85% of time.Just recently treid to put road style brakes on them but it didn't look very good and I didn't like the how the cable housing had to be routed.
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll179/GeoCacheBilly/Bikeforumhandlebars.jpg

Oh my this setup is quite nice. I have a Trek Soho with a flatbar handlebar that is not agreeing with my hand posture. Lots of numbness.
What kind of trekking bar is this? Also may I get more feedback regarding trekking bars? I believe I am stuck @ a style cramping mood....thanks.

I put the Nashbar trekking bars on my Fuji Absolute 1.0 a few weeks ago. I was not terribly impressed at first. I continued to experiment with adjustments on them and I may be getting to a good fit for me. I also did a tape job on them this week, a really awful tape job that will have to be redone fairly soon. It did help the comfort tremendously though even if the appearance is tacky. I did 30 miles on them this morning and had some trouble with heat exhaustion when the overcast suddenly cleared and left me on the sun baked prairie unprepared for that. Rain is what we were supposed to get. For the first time since I got them I thought the bars were giving me more useful hand positions and eliminating the numbness. I now have them set up with the rear section above the front and as someone else has said that gives you a low, aerobar-like position for fighting a head wind that works pretty well. It is like an aero-bar because you can rest your forearms on the rear portion of the bar while grabbing the front. The only thing I don't like is that you cannot operate the brakes except from the rear position. With practice you become pretty quick at getting to the brake levers and you develop the habit of just going to the right position when approaching situations where braking may be called for. So ultimately I don't think that will be an issue, other may, and do, disagree. Back when I rode a drop bar bike one of my favorite positions was on the flat portion of the bars and that bike had extra levers attached to the main brake levers that operated the brakes from that position too. That seems to be uncommon on drop bar bikes today so I don't know that they are really that much better for brake access.

I tried the "drop bar" bar ends and just did not care for them. I am glad that they work well for some folks, they just did not do anything for me.

Ken

Nothing unique here i suppose, except I wrap my barends with tape:

160191

For the few times I go out at night I add these:
160192

I got the mounts on ebay, and the tactical flashlights at Costco (note the zip tie to keep the mount snug, I also replace the plastic bolts with metal).

160193

I oughta think about wrapping mine with bar tape.

I would highly recommend the drop style add ons like I have on mine. They are simple great.I have my hands on them 85% of time.

85% in the drops is hard core. I don't think hard core road racers get over 20%. I wanted drop bars but I bought a road bike :)

85% in the drops is hard core. I don't think hard core road racers get over 20%. I wanted drop bars but I bought a road bike :)

yeah but this isn't as hard on the wrists and arms as a regular drops are.The position of the add on is not as low and as far forward on the bike this reducing the weight resting on them.I wouldn't be doing 85% either on regular drops that's for sure.I got some minor wrist and arm problems,the reason i'm riding a hybrid now.

I have a Specialized Crossroads with flat bars. I've recently started to commute 12-14 miles each way a couple of times a week and am thinking that it might be nice to have some varied hand positions. If I check out a set of bar ends, what should I be looking for? What makes one set better or more comfortable or appropriate for my bike than others?

That flashlight mount might be a better solution for my lighting needs. Wanting to avoid broadsiding a white tail in the dark.

Short bullhorns.

I really want to move to trekking bars myself, but everything I seem to find is 62cm or less, and most of them are 57cm or so in width, and my bikes current bars are 65cm. I'm a big guy (6'5") and I think my current bars are comfortable for the first dozen or so miles, but I want extra positions for longer rides (and more space to attach things) and I don't think I want to give up any width at all... do you think I'll notice a 3cm change?

I kinda did a mish-mash of used and existing parts and it was fun and I made a comfortable bike faster and still kept it comfortable. if I could go back 5 years I would have just bought a road bike to begin with. this is my "commuter" but it's good for anything on the road. I do have a traditional road bike now and I call that my summer commuter except I usually take most of the summer off - so my road bike is my summer joy-ride bike

Thanks for all the pictures, opinions and responses to my question. I bought a cheap pair of barends made by profile design last night and put them on, kept the original grips but cut a hole in them to push them farther down the bars to allow for the barends to clamp on. I then wrapped the barends with some cloth handlebar tape I had laying around to make them less slippery. I will see how this setup works for me during the next week or so, but I kind of think a new handlebar (trekking bar) is in my future.

I am currently installing mustache bars on my Jamis Aurora and will get a chance to see if those may be a good choice for the FX, but I am afraid that may take a bit more money to make work. I think it would take a new stem, brake levers to fit the new diameter bar and some sort of barend shifting like durace barend shifters and I am not sure those type of handlebar would be any better than a trekking bar.

I really want to move to trekking bars myself, but everything I seem to find is 62cm or less, and most of them are 57cm or so in width, and my bikes current bars are 65cm. I'm a big guy (6'5") and I think my current bars are comfortable for the first dozen or so miles, but I want extra positions for longer rides (and more space to attach things) and I don't think I want to give up any width at all... do you think I'll notice a 3cm change?

My Nashbar bars are 57 cm, they are replacing a 59 cm flat bar. That small a difference is unlikely to bother you, in my opinion. It looks like most road and triathlon bars are 38 to 46 cm so if you can rent or borrow one of those for a test ride that should tell you what an even narrower bar feels like. I suspect you would be just fine on them. I've read somewhere that you want your drop bars to be as wide as or close to the width of your shoulders. At 5'11" that is about 45 cm for me, outside to outside so even less center to center which is probably what the suggestion means. Wider is fine, too narrow can be uncomfortable although it does allow you to tuck your arms in for less wind resistance and of course many aerobar setups violate this shoulder width suggestion for that reason. I think you should be happy with 57 cm or wider trekking bars.

Ken

I have a Specialized Crossroads with flat bars. I've recently started to commute 12-14 miles each way a couple of times a week and am thinking that it might be nice to have some varied hand positions. If I check out a set of bar ends, what should I be looking for? What makes one set better or more comfortable or appropriate for my bike than others?
It's all subjective. One person's relief is another's aggravation. You just have to try some. My suggestion is to pick up a cheap pair of barends, install them on your flat bars and see how you like them. Positioning also makes a difference; some like them pointing straight out like bullhorns, while others like them reaching for the sky. My experience with the Ergon GC2s is that the grips themselves are great, but the little barends left me wanting more. I contemplated getting the GC3s but decided on trekking bars instead. For me they are the perfect solution, but again that's just my opinion and it's totally subjective. As posters are fond of saying here, YMMV.

160708
Are those custom/DIY, or did you buy them somewhere? I am "blessed" with disproportionately long arms, making most bar ends not quite far out enough for me. Aeros seem a little bit much, especially since most of my biking is commuting. How can I get my hands on a pair of those things?
did you ever get a reply to this post nice ? I'm in the same boat,i got very long arms. My first priority in add on bars is comfort but a close second is cutting the wind ! I like these because they offer quicker access to the brakes,quicker then the drop style add on's I'm using now (see my above post)

Are those custom/DIY, or did you buy them somewhere? I am "blessed" with disproportionately long arms, making most bar ends not quite far out enough for me. Aeros seem a little bit much, especially since most of my biking is commuting. How can I get my hands on a pair of those things?

That's a very nice setup. Though I never seen this before in any bike shop, I mean those bull horns for a hybrid. Mind to share where did you pick them up?

That's a very nice setup. Though I never seen this before in any bike shop, I mean those bull horns for a hybrid. Mind to share where did you pick them up?
i just thought of something about these bull horns though,there's no way I could see my bar end mirror..... I don't like using a helmet mirror. I haven't seen very many mirrors mounted on handlebars in the posts in this thread. I couldn't imagine not using one on the road. I guess your all using ones mounted on the helmet?!

It would be possible to use a clamp-on, non-bar-end mirror, but you'd have to give up some grip area.

I have a set of Nashbar Trekkers on my MTB, and I haven't gotten them adjusted comfortably yet. I will probably have to get a longer stem and re-wrap them at some point, but even so, they're better than the flat bar that was on there.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/trekkerarvoncommute2.JPG