Recreational & Family - Changing of the bars

I have a 2007 or 2008 Masi Alare (ebay special, baby!) I have been riding for a year or so. Lately, I have been riding it exclusively with the kids/dog, to the store, etc. With my limited time, I don't really see any long-haul road riding in my future. So, I am thinking of putting some more upright type bars on it. Something like a Surly Open Bar or a Misfits Fu2bar. I know those are more mountain bike type, but THINK they would be comfortable on there and not look too ridiculous.

Anyone done this and have some pics? Also, did you find it comfortable for rides less than 10 miles round trip? Any other suggestions?

(FYI: I also posted this in the road bike forum since I am sure I will get great feedback from the different groups reading the various forums.)

Thanks,

Tim

I have not done it.

As always Sheldon(RIP) has covered the topic (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/deakins/handlebars.html) quite well. Especially understand the compatibilities section.

Good luck with it.

I've done it with several bikes as I've gotten older, stiffer and less interested in looking like a racer. I have mustache bars inverted on an old Trek, three-speed-style sweptback bars on my Atlantis and a long stem on my Rambouillet to bring the bars up level with the saddle. It always works, makes me more comfortable and doesn't seem to hurt anything. There's certainly more aero drag, but I don't feel it and don't care anyway.
Only thing to watch for is compatibility. Not all bars fit all stems and not all brake and shift levers fit all bars. But there aren't many sizes, and you can almost always work it out.

I have been doing some research for numbing hands as well. The bars on my Trek 720 are the MTB straight type. There is a integral tube for leading the front brake cable straight down which I like and do not care to have to redo.

I am considering just putting an extender on the bottom end of the stem/quill.
" extender for use with expander/wedge (http://sheldonbrown.com/handsup.html#threaded) type stems is narrow at the bottom to fit into the steerer, and has its own wedge to secure it." http://sheldonbrown.com/handsup.html

What type of bolt head is in the extenders? Looks like a deep hole - limited access? A shame to order and find I have to reorder the tool to make installation.
Sample extender http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=12082





I have some extra cable length and may get it done with one additional part