newb question on handlebars
09-03-08, 04:42 PM
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newb question on handlebars
Hey cyclists! I'm a n00b.
Earlier today at a bike rack from my school, I noticed a road bike that had a very unusual handlebar. I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but later on, I couldn't get it out of my mind. It was very short, maybe ~ 5 inches or so from each stem. If I remember correctly, the bike was one of those single speed bikes, and now that I think about it, I don't recall seeing a brake lever or a shifter....so I'm confused if that really was the handlebar or not. I'll try to look for the bike again in the future, but in the meanwhile, does this sound familiar to anyone?
My situation is I'm not a real biker. I just have a bike that I throw in my hatchback/trunk, drive to school, park really far b/c the parking lots get full after 8 am, and get out my bike and ride the rest of the way to campus. The thing is that my current handlebar from a Trek mountain bike is a tight squeeze in my car's trunk. So the thought of having a shorter handlebar may help it fit better in my car. Does anyone know anything about these types of handlebars? Brands, models, etc...?
I checked nashbar and jensonusa but no luck.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Earlier today at a bike rack from my school, I noticed a road bike that had a very unusual handlebar. I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but later on, I couldn't get it out of my mind. It was very short, maybe ~ 5 inches or so from each stem. If I remember correctly, the bike was one of those single speed bikes, and now that I think about it, I don't recall seeing a brake lever or a shifter....so I'm confused if that really was the handlebar or not. I'll try to look for the bike again in the future, but in the meanwhile, does this sound familiar to anyone?
My situation is I'm not a real biker. I just have a bike that I throw in my hatchback/trunk, drive to school, park really far b/c the parking lots get full after 8 am, and get out my bike and ride the rest of the way to campus. The thing is that my current handlebar from a Trek mountain bike is a tight squeeze in my car's trunk. So the thought of having a shorter handlebar may help it fit better in my car. Does anyone know anything about these types of handlebars? Brands, models, etc...?
I checked nashbar and jensonusa but no luck.
Thanks in advance for your help.
09-03-08, 05:04 PM
#2
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Sounds like flat bars that have been hacksawed short.
Single-speeds don't have shift levers and brakes are optional (some believe) for fixed gears.
Single-speeds don't have shift levers and brakes are optional (some believe) for fixed gears.
09-03-08, 06:56 PM
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If you loosen the bolts securing you brake levers and shifters, you will be able to move them in, depending on where the bends in the handle bars are. Then saw the excess off the ends. Otherwise get a striaght bar or one with a slight bend near the centre and trim to length. The extreme width of mountain bike bars is to stop the steering being upset when riding over rocks and tree roots. It isnt needed for road riding.
