Nermal

My Novarra Randonee is my first experience with drop bars, and it just ain't working. Lots of hand positions, sure, but they're all uncomfortable, especially in the drops. My body just doesn't work that way. The brake levers are another issue. I can't reach around them far enough to get a good squeeze, except in the drops, and as I say, that is uncomfortable to the point of being painful.

The trekking bars I've seen online look great, though I will note that I've a large box full of stuff that looked great and didn't quite work. Anyhow, it looks like the sides (for want of a better word) would work just like the bar ends on my Cypress, leaving two choices of straight bar positions. Also, with the STIs mounted sideways, I do believe I could get my little paws around the brake levers in a position where I could really mash them. Anyhow, I think I've seen some that do use STIs, which I like, so I wouldn't be adding my like new shifters to that bulging box full of "spare" parts.

I've looked at the Midge, North Roads, and Moustash styles. They've got potential, but experimentation isn't free. I mean, whatever the right bars are, I can afford them, more or less. I can't afford very many mistakes.

I hope this works in Fifty Plus.

Wil Davis

I fitted trekker bars (from Nashbar) to my MTB; there are other threads about the conversion and other folks ideas/takes/comments/impressions and lots of pictures. You might consider throwing "trekking bars" into the "search" function; I'm not sure just how far back the archives go, but I think the threads of which I speak can't be more than 18-months old at most.

Good Luck!

- Wil

Nermal

I'll do it. Thanks Wil. I have seen references to them, too, but didn't do my search.

Jet Travis

I used them on a rented bike once. Very comfy.

Nermal

Thanks Jet. That helps.

George

I couldn't make the drops work either, so I bought a flatbar bike. I tried the Randonee and it was a very smooth bike, but I didn't care for the handlebars. Anyhow, I just changed the flatbars out and put trekking bars on and I love them. I went 20 miles with them yesterday and I know they will be staying on my bike. Like Wil said, do a search and you'll see all kind of pictures.

Jet Travis

The thing I liked most is that you could ride all day with a variety of very comfortable hand positions and with a semi-upright riding position. They'd be perfect for a long tour if if you have back issues. The only downside is that they're heavy, but if speed is not your aim, that's really not a problem.

Nermal

That does it. I'm getting trekking bars. I love hearing the words 'bike' and 'comfy' close together.

Little Darwin

I have a set of the Nashbar trekking bars I hope to get onto my Giant Sedona some day... In a search, I have seen them referred to as butterfly bars as well. Try the Touring forum... and come back here and post links to save me time.

For the indecisive, there are still issues once you get them, since there is no "official" way to mount them. I think I want them the way I have seen most often, with the opening toward me, relatively flat... But, there is no specified top or bottom, and both ways seem reasonable depending on the angle that they are clamped in... It seems to me that the real decision in placing is whether or not you want the open part higher or lower than the stem.

I plan to use my existing brake levers, and either the existing grip shifters, or a set of rapid fire shifters that I have... I would be cautious about brifters, since they will probably be mounted pretty horizontally, and you may tens to shift when you rest your hands on them... But, it seems wiorth a try.

Outbound (away from the opening) will a set of grips, and then tape the rest of the bar. I'm thinking I will need to try it without bar tape and then add the tape so that I will get off of the can and just do it instead of trying to acheive perfection without actually trying them.

I tend to like my grip shifters ok, but I have a mild feeling that I might possibly have a slkight preference for rapid fire shifters (even though I have never used them). Does anyone have any thoughts to push me over the edge?

I'm also toying with foam grips instead of tape... I have big hands, and like the extra thickness of the foam, I also like lots of cushion. Anyone know where to find good foam grips?

And finally, does anyone know how to keep people from hijacking threads?

Terrierman

I really like my Shimano rapid fire shifters a lot. I changed from grip shifters to the Shimanos the day I bought the bike. They have been trouble free and very positive in their shifting action over the last year with them. I like this thread. Maybe a set of trekking bars will be what I need for the Coda Elite I ordered yesterday. Thanks for the inspiration to look at that model George!

George

Good going Terrierman, I know you will not be disappointed. I changed the gearing on the bike before I left the store to 26/36/48 for a little hill climbing and I just put Trekking bars on it, which I like very much. I have a feeling your going to be very happy, congradulations.

Terrierman

I'm destined to be more like George. We've talked about gearing mods too. I'm thinking it will be a very nice bike. Thanks.

Little Darwin

Good enough for me!

I actually thought I would like them enough that I bought them, but have been hesitating for no good reason. Now I just have to do it, and the trekking bars. Sounds like a weekend project, make the switch and do a nice test ride.

SSP

How many miles have you put on your current setup? It may just be an issue of getting used to the new equipment and position.

re: brakes

Do you have smaller than normal hands? If so, check with your LBS. Shimano sells a $12 part that reduces the amount of distance from bar to brake lever. It's a fairly common add-on for women's bikes because of their smaller hands.

re: getting comfortable in the drops

This may be an issue of bike fit, or it may represent a lack of flexibility on your part.

For the former, you may need to try raising your bars, or installing a shorter stem (worst case - your frame's too large).

For the latter, stretching, plus miles, can help.

It should also be noted that most cyclists spend most of their riding time "on the hoods" and not "in the drops".

FWIW, I know plenty of riders in their 50's, 60's, and 70's who are not world class athletes, but who are comfortable riding on standard drop bar road bikes.

KLW2

Here is one thread, has a picture of one of my set ups, have about 2000 miles on this one and they are still the best I have used...
https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/270249-looks-like-great-touring-handlebar.html

Terrierman

Good luck, I hope you like them as much as I do, and Semper FI!

Nermal

You have just got to be kidding! Nobody makes anything useful for $12 - do they? I'm going to go look for it.

Little Darwin

I was thinking of bar ends too... It sems a little over the top, but maybe I'll give it a try too.

What was your source for the foam?

BluesDawg

I have or have had bikes with several different types of handlebars. Drop bars, flat bars, riser bars, moustach bars, albatross bars and aero bars. They are all comfortable and useful for some type of riding and setup. But for any road ride of an hour or more (sometimes many more), there is no bike more comfy to me than my road bike with drop bars. Nothing else even comes close.

rmwun54

I submit to you 3 example.

KLW2

I have used the bar ends in a couple different positions and liked most of them. Picked up the foam at my LBS for about $7.00 I think...

KLW2

Here is how I have mine set up. They are the best improvement that I have made, very comfortable!

George

Here's mine https://i11.tinypic.com/4t67lon.jpg https://i13.tinypic.com/

George

https://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=53fc9hi

George

Man did I screw that up, still testing. I should have stopped with one picture.