Commuting - Mustache bars on Trek 7.2 FX

I'm getting my ideas inline for a winter-time bike upgrade to my Trek 7.2 FX. Having caught the commute to work bug this past summer, I am going to make a couple of modest improvements over the winter. The bike is stock except for a rack and handlebar bag and I want to change bars for some additional hand positions. I've added bar ends to the stock bars, but just haven't warmed up to them. LBS can change to drop bars for me, but i am thinking that mustache bars may actually be the way to go. Read the description on (I think) Rivendell site that made the nitto mustache bars seem very attractive. What is your opinion about adding them to the Trek? Thanks in advance.

try a soma sparrow bar..... i got one on mine...

Phillybill - what type of brakes/shifters do you have on your trek?

i really like my Rivendel designed nitto albatross bars. They do however put you in a more upright position than drops or mustache bars, but its comfy to me, they may not be for you though

You've determined you don't like flat bars which is understandable as they truly suck. But I think one way to help make the decision is to really think about it while you are riding. So on your daily rides over several days and conditions, move your body position around a bit and be honest about where if you could put your hands anywhere your true comfortable hand position(s) would be. Take note of them, measure it if you can, and then find a bar/stem combo that will put you hands right there. That's how i ended up with the albatross bars. It seems pretty simple but I think people get caught up in what they think should have on their bike for whatever reason instead of what they'd really enjoy having.

Post some photos after the change. I ride a 7.2FX and would be interested in your opinion and the visual on the change.

Phillybill - what type of brakes/shifters do you have on your trek?

if it's stock, there are trigger shifters from TekTro and TekTro levers with V-Brakes

I'm partial to these (http://www.jonesbikes.com/h-bar.html). Titec/Profile Designs offers a cheaper version. Great variety of hand positions, extremely stable and great control, plenty of places to put stuff. Excellent for all seasons commuting, IMO.

I like mustache bars, too, but so far, the Jones loop-H has been my absolute favorite to date.

Moustache bars might not be a good choice; they have a very long reach which, combined with the already long top tube of a bike intended for a flat handlebar can be really absurdly stretched. Even on bikes with shorter than average top tubes, the Nitto mustache bar adds something like 7cm of reach.

If you have an already to small bike, and a nice tall stem, a moustache bar can make it feel bigger, but even then it can be a real pain to set up.

Not to mention, a switch is going to entail new shifters and brake levers as well.

Why not start by trying some L-shaped bar ends?

I have cheap a Nashbar moustache bar on my urban commuter, which was my main bike for about 3 years. First, don't buy a steel handlebar if you run hard, narrow tires. Something needs to flex a bit. :-) Second, contrary to what Grant Peterson has suggested for 20 years, I only found two good positions on my moustache bar -- the forward "drops" and outboard bar ends. Anything between the drops and stem was useless -- uncomfortable with wrist up, and seemingly dangerous with wrist down. And, no, I'm not going to hack the blades off some old brake levers to make some 3rd position. As fuzz2050 notes, the drops on a 'stache are very far forward -- I put a short, tall stem on my bike to compensate. The ends of the 'stache are typically very wide. And I find the drops uncomfortable -- they don't have the sort of "flat" sections you'd find in "ergonomic" drop handlebars.

L-shaped bar ends like the Profile Designs Boxxer (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=5756&category=344) should give you two good new alternatives -- an outboard position for climbing or when you just want to turn your wrists 90 deg for a bit of a break, and a more stretched-out position like the drops on a 'stache.

My favorite handlebar for flat-bar bikes is the long-since-discontinued Scott AT-3 (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/scott.html). Nitto has a bar that looks pretty close to an AT-3 (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=37412&category=1678) but the Profile bar ends are so much cheaper that I'd start with them...

One problem with the AT-3 was installing brake & shift levers. It looks like some companies have embraced what looks like a backwards AT-3 -- where the controls are mounted on the part of the bar farthest from the stem. The REI Novara Safari (http://www.rei.com/product/807245/novara-safari-bike-2012) is a good example of this design. To me, that looks simply stupid. When the road gets hairy, you're going to keep your hands close to the brake levers, and be torquing that bar like crazy. That can't be good for the longevity of the handlebar.

Good luck.

Consider drop bars. Flip the stem and I think the FX could look like a decent road bike. You'd need new shifters and brake levers though.

Given you have flat bars, and the associated controls, consider trekking bars.
$20, so economical..
You get even more hand positions, .. the MTB bar controls slip right on

and a minor stem swap will get you going,
My preference is fairly close and a bit higher, Than my saddle .
as you have the M bar like forward reach, and the bar end like sides of the figure 8 bend,
+ the nearside grip where the brifters are,

so an up angled stem may do it ... I double wrap my bars with Padded tape.

I like how the description of the Nitto moustache bar on the Rivendell site specifically mentions the Nashbar moustache bar, and how they're not the same bar. I've got the Nashbar bar, and they look pretty similar to me outside of the $60 price difference.

I've tried the Nashbar moustache bar on three different bikes now, and I really wanted to love it because it looked so cool. It's a great bar for climbing, but it stretched me out too far on both my MTB and on the utility bike, even with an adjustable stem pointed straight to the sky. It almost stayed on the 'cross bike, except that I decided to try out drop bars, just to see if I was missing anything; and I was, namely the two additional hand positions that drop bars provide. I also found the hoods more comfortable on the drop bars than on the 'stache bars, where they were almost horizontal instead of vertical.

If you want to keep your shifters and brake levers and get a bunch of different hand positions, follow fietsbob's advice and pick up some trekking bars. More expensive but less weird looking (in my opinion) are the Jones bars that canyoneagle mentioned; I'm seriously considering trying out a pair on the MTB, which went back to its riser bar after the 'stache didn't work out. North roads (like the Nitto Albatross, since you've been cruising the Rivendell site) will also allow you to keep your levers and shifters, will provide two riding positions, but will raise you more upright instead of stretch you out like the 'stache bars. If you flip 'em, they look just as cool as 'stache bars, but they aren't as comfortable as when they're mounted with a rise instead of a drop. I have these on my main bike, and you'll have to pry them from my cold, dead hands if you want mine.

The Nashbar 'stache bars, however, you can have if you PM me and arrange to pay for shipping (I'm in Alaska, so shipping will run like $5 or so). I'll even throw in a pair of Tektro road levers that've been gathering dust next to the 'stache bars under my work bench. All you'd have to do is find some bar end shifters and you'd be good to go. My only request would be that if you don't like them, you'll pass them on to some other curious cyclist, or donate them to a bicycle co-op (which I've been meaning to, I just never seem to get down there).

GriddleCakes, that an awfully generous offer. PM on the way!

GriddleCakes, I'm too new to send a PM. Could I email you?

Would someone please PM GriddleCakes a message for me? Thanks.

No worries, I sent you a PM with my email (I think you can receive them, even if you can't send 'em).

I switched over to barcons.... looks really rad