deadcactus

I smashed a pretty big bend into one of the pedals that came standard with my bike, so I'm looking at getting a new set. While I'm doing that, I'm considering getting a new handlebar.

I was thinking about getting this handlebar:
https://store.somafab.com/sosp490bar.html

And then these pedals:
https://store.somafab.com/mksstreampedal.html

I'm thinking about getting a new handlebar as a cheap way to make the bike more comfortable for longer rides until I have the money to get a higher end bike.

I have no scientific or logical reason for picking these; it was mostly on a whim. Though it would be convenient to order both items from the same place. Are these solid choices? Any other suggestions?

And stupid question: is that $35 for the pedal, the price per pedal or for a set?

Thank you.

HandsomeRyan

Pedals (unless otherwise noted) are priced by the pair.

If I were upgrading pedals on a bike i'd go ahead and but clipless pedals (that can be moved to a nicer bike later) but that is just my preference. Nothing wrong with the stuff you picked out.

discosaurus

Do it! I had the Sparrow bars on my 7.2FX, and loved loved loved it. It's important to note that the black only comes in the 520mm width, which I think is perfect for that bike, both the size and color. Chrome is too shiny, and it might be a tight squeeze to fit grips and the brake/shifters on the narrower bar.

As for the pedals , I can't offer an opinion. I thrashed the stock pedals on my FX after only a few hundred miles and replaced them with the cheapest all metal pedals from Nashbar, no problems there.

Toe clips and straps are also something to consider, I don't know why I didn't start using them sooner. Soma also has really nice metal clips and leather straps, if you're willing to throw down some more bucks. They also come in black and pink (PINK!!!) which were not options when I was shopping for them. Again, I just went with the cheapest ones I could find, and was satisfied with them.

deadcactus

Kind of a stupid question: The bars I posted, when they are installed which way do those handles point? Forward, like horns on a bull, or back at the rider?

Edit: And to follow with a stupid question, am I correct in assuming these bars are taped, rather than having hand grips? Anything I should know about buying and putting on tape?

rmwun54

How about this bar. https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...B%20Handlebars

CaptainCool

Um, they sweep back. How would you use the brakes and shifters otherwise?

You could use tape or grips. Might need to find some different-size bar plugs for tape.

discosaurus

They sweep back. You can flip them either way though, so they drop or rise, depending on your preference.

You could do them either taped or with grips. The tape is nice because you can move your hands around on the bars, but those bars are too small to offer many positions unless you have small hands. If you tape, get really thick tape because they are slimmer tubes than road bike bars. On my bike, I wrapped a double layer around the ends, where grips would be.