Moustache bars - where do the levers go?
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Moustache bars - where do the levers go?
I've got a pair of Nashbar's "moustache bars." I've mounted them "upside down" (with the rise going UP, not down). When I try to put the (Shimano Exage 600 Road) levers in the bends, the hoods stick up, so that I have to bend my wrists at a 90-degree angle to reach the levers. If I rotate the levers downward, then the pull is above the plane of the bars, and I'm pulling back over the bar! If I move the levers away from the bend and onto the straight section leading to the stem, the levers are again in line with the bars, but now the curve of the levers limits travel!
HELP!
HELP!
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Originally Posted by FarHorizon
I've got a pair of Nashbar's "moustache bars." I've mounted them "upside down" (with the rise going UP, not down). When I try to put the (Shimano Exage 600 Road) levers in the bends, the hoods stick up, so that I have to bend my wrists at a 90-degree angle to reach the levers. If I rotate the levers downward, then the pull is above the plane of the bars, and I'm pulling back over the bar! If I move the levers away from the bend and onto the straight section leading to the stem, the levers are again in line with the bars, but now the curve of the levers limits travel!
HELP!
HELP!
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Nashbar does not sell the Nitto Moustache bar that Rivendell sells. The bend is different, but maybe you can adapt these tips from the latest Rivendell catalog:
1. angle the ends slightly downward. 5 to 10 degrees is about right.
2. Get the part of the bars near the stem level with or above the saddle.
3. Set the brake levers level, and barely on the inside of the forward curve, so that the tips of the hoods (where the cables come out on non-aero levers) are thirteen to 16cm apart. This gives easy access to the ends of the levers for good braking when you're in the curve, and offers a narrower, go-fast position when you're trying to go fast.
I suppose that the tips above would also apply if you turned the bars upside down.
I experimented a lot, and I found that I like my Campy Super Record levers 22cm apart on my Nitto Moustache bars.
1. angle the ends slightly downward. 5 to 10 degrees is about right.
2. Get the part of the bars near the stem level with or above the saddle.
3. Set the brake levers level, and barely on the inside of the forward curve, so that the tips of the hoods (where the cables come out on non-aero levers) are thirteen to 16cm apart. This gives easy access to the ends of the levers for good braking when you're in the curve, and offers a narrower, go-fast position when you're trying to go fast.
I suppose that the tips above would also apply if you turned the bars upside down.
I experimented a lot, and I found that I like my Campy Super Record levers 22cm apart on my Nitto Moustache bars.
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Thanks for the replies so far. Dirtdrop is exactly right - the Rivendell/Nitto moustache bars are all in a single plane (if you laid the bars on a table, all parts of the bar would touch, more or less). The Nashbar moustache bars are more like Rivendell's "Albatross" bars than Rivendell's moustache bars in that they (the Nashbars) have vertical displacement.
It is the vertical displacement that is throwing me. Because the bends are in the middle of the "rise," the road levers don't want to remain in line with the bend. I can make it happen by rotating the lever clamps around the bars, but when I do that, the housing is at a REALLY bad angle for riding. Would photos help?
It is the vertical displacement that is throwing me. Because the bends are in the middle of the "rise," the road levers don't want to remain in line with the bend. I can make it happen by rotating the lever clamps around the bars, but when I do that, the housing is at a REALLY bad angle for riding. Would photos help?
#6
hello
Originally Posted by FarHorizon
the Rivendell/Nitto moustache bars are all in a single plane (if you laid the bars on a table, all parts of the bar would touch, more or less).
Last edited by roadfix; 08-14-05 at 06:14 PM.
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Originally Posted by The Fixer
Actually, that's not quite so, although not as pronounced as the Albatross bar.
Last edited by FarHorizon; 08-14-05 at 06:04 PM. Reason: tag fix
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Originally Posted by The Fixer
You can either use mtb levers on the straight section or use a taller stem with unflipped bars.
You won't win any townline sprints with bars at that height, but it allowed me to ride in comfort as my back problem healed.
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Here's a pretty good article describing Moustache setup ( https://www.stanford.edu/~dru/moustache.html ). I've got the pair on the XO-3 setup just like these, spent about two weeks fartin around with getting the position of the levers right where I wanted them.
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Originally Posted by dobber
... spent about two weeks fartin around with getting the position of the levers right where I wanted them.
Funny. I thought I was being ridiculous taking a week to get the setup feeling/looking a bit normal.
These are definitely bars that need a good wrap. They look a little odd naked on the bike.
So Fixer, with ergo-style levers, y'all just let those cable housings bend free, huh? I was trying to figure out how to wrap them under without kinking them in funny ways, but this seems like a simpler solution.
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I'll try the stem riser - it looks dorky, but if it works, it works. Thanks for all the feedback - it is appreciated.
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Originally Posted by peripatetic
These are definitely bars that need a good wrap. They look a little odd naked on the bike
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
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Are these bars really worth the trouble? Jeez! I just finished wrapping and re-wrapping and re-wrapping again, and I realize now that the levers, despite my best efforts, are still a little uneven. Errg. My problem is that it's like a six-step process to loosen and move my generic Dia-compe ergo levers.
And what's up with bar tape? I tried first some Cinelli cork (white), then switched for a diff. color (black Super Pelten); both of them have the crappiest adhesive tape--all it did was get tangled up with the extra as I was wrapping.
I sure hope the ride is worth all this trouble.
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Originally Posted by peripatetic
Are these bars really worth the trouble? And what's up with bar tape?
I've also adjusted/rewrapped about a half-dozen times. They're still not right!
Bar tape universally SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKS! The cork and foam tapes are the worst, but even cloth is hard to keep smooth. That "double-sided tape" adhesive they use on cork & foam sticks to the bars, to your fingers, to the backing - everywhere but to the handlebar tape.
So far, my opinion of moustache bars is "-)^(%$#^#(&*)_!!!!!!!"
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Sorry for the attempted thread hijack but what are the supposed advantages of these bars over more traditional flat or drop bars? My back is cringing just looking at them. Also, they look pretty dorky to me and I'm not even an OCP guy
#19
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Originally Posted by 'nother
Sorry for the attempted thread hijack but what are the supposed advantages of these bars over more traditional flat or drop bars? My back is cringing just looking at them.
Last edited by roadfix; 08-16-05 at 06:12 PM.
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Originally Posted by 'nother
...what are the supposed advantages of these bars over more traditional flat or drop bars?
Last edited by FarHorizon; 08-16-05 at 06:02 PM. Reason: HTML tag error
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How mine are set up, sans tape
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
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Originally Posted by dobber
Here's a pretty good article describing Moustache setup ( https://www.stanford.edu/~dru/moustache.html ). I've got the pair on the XO-3 setup just like these, spent about two weeks fartin around with getting the position of the levers right where I wanted them.
Can you post some pics of your X03?
I've got one and I'd be curious to see you've done.
The original specs said the bike had the moustache set up.l. Mine doesn't.
EDIT: sorry slow to load and realize the pics.
Your X03 looks nothing like mine. Frame, fork entire setup is different.
Last edited by KirkeIsWaiting; 08-16-05 at 06:38 PM.
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Originally Posted by KirkeIsWaiting
Can you post some pics of your X03?
I've got one and I'd be curious to see you've done.
The original specs said the bike had the moustache set up.l. Mine doesn't.
EDIT: sorry slow to load and realize the pics.
Your X03 looks nothing like mine. Frame, fork entire setup is different.
I've got one and I'd be curious to see you've done.
The original specs said the bike had the moustache set up.l. Mine doesn't.
EDIT: sorry slow to load and realize the pics.
Your X03 looks nothing like mine. Frame, fork entire setup is different.
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Originally Posted by The Fixer
'Arc Bars' were spec'ed with Ibis Scorchers. I did not like the feel of these bars so I eventually replaced them with Albatross type bars. I no longer own this bike...
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Originally Posted by jim-bob
I thought the XO-3 came with the 'arc bars'. I kinda dig those more than the moustache bars, to be honest..
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.