maidenfan

Put a new, wider bar on my road bike and was wondering if there is a standard (level w/, or something else) on where to clamp the shifters/brakes back. I'm sure theres some play here, but I'd like some opinions on this. Theres a specific place I want the bars for hand placement in the drops, so do I simply adjust the bar to that spot then place the shifters where I like them or is there some mechanical reason to place the shifters in a particular spot? Thanks.

hairnet

yes

fuzz2050

Just spend some time fiddling until you find the right position. It depends a lot on the bars, and on how you ride. Optimal placement for riding in the drops will be different than if you place them for riding in the hoods, which will be different from a nice compromise.

MichaelW

You can put shifters anywhere. You can position them up and down the bar and also around with a little cant or tilt

bradtx

maidenfan, When I was a teenager working in a bike shop all of the bicycles were set up with the drops level and tips of of the levers even with the bottom of the handlebar. This was for display purposes only and very rarely did I not need to readjust bars and/or reposition levers to accomodate a buyer. I still use this guidline with my bikes and then adjust following a few test rides and prior to detailing the cables and installing the handlebar tape.

Brad

dedhed

Carry the needed wrench with you on some rides and tweak the position of both the bars and levers as needed until you find what you like.

maidenfan

Cool, thanks for the tips.