AaronAnderson

Been a mountain biker for a long time. Recently picked up a Trek 7.5FX to ride to work (7 miles one way) to keep me in shape for the offroading.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes..._path/fx/75fx/

I am 6'4" @ 200'ish pounds. I bought this bike because the price was right and I really liked it. The idea of the mountain bike style brakes/handlebars really appealed to me. I've started riding more and more on the road, really enjoying it... planning on some 80 miles trips later this summer.

I'd like some different bars on it. So I can have some different/lower stances. I flipped the stem over tonight and went for a test ride. I like it much better. I'd like to go to some kind of bullhorn bar or maybe some kind of something else, or a drop bullhorn?

What are my options? Oh, more importantly, I'd like to NOT replace my brake levers and shifters...


and is a 28 width tire going to be much faster/easier to drive than a 32?

theextremist04

Check out the Titec H-bar.



And yes, 28c tires are going to be faster.

AaronAnderson

That's a tempting looking bar... I'm confused about where my shifters and levers would go though

slvoid

You can also get bar ends, I got a pair of ergo's thats pretty good.

jaxgtr

Hmmm, I been looking for a new handle bar for my hybrid as well. I will need to look at that Titec. Also, the Ergo bar ends are great.

https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...+Bar+Ends.aspx

jaxgtr

Here is a review of the Titec H-Bar https://www.bikeman.com/content/view/1080/72/

Click the pic of the bike and it shows a good shot of the shifters and brakes.

theextremist04

Here's a good picture.

idcruiserman

On One makes some bars you may like.

late

A 325 gram 32c tire will usually be faster than a 425 gram 28c tire.

I am using Panaracer Pasela TG folding tires 32c. They're pretty nice; and around
a half pound lighter than the tires you have now.

If you want to try something smaller, my personal fave is the Rivendell Ruffy Tuffy 27c.

AaronAnderson

Let's see, the tires I have now.... 700x32 @ 440g. Seems heavy.


Panaracer T-Serv 700x28 @ 290g. Seems better. They aren't completely slick. I do ride in town, but I also do some 40 and 50 mile one way trips on the weekends. I know I'm looking for something that is the best of both worlds and that's difficult at times.

Is the slight tread going to put me back on something like the t-serv?

RGarrett

Hi there. I'm in the exact same position as you...same bike and same upgrades. I'm thinking about 28c tires and coming up with some modification to the handlebars that gives me at least one additional and more tucked in position. Have you come up with solutions? If so, I'd love to hear from you: obscurerussell@gmail.com. Thanks.

AaronAnderson

I ended up going with Panaracer T-SERV for Messenger tires. Google around on those a bit and you'll find out that they are bomb proof. I also own a super sweet fixed gear that I put a lot of miles on and have the same tires on there. The comfort is nearly the same as the stock Bontragers. I will actually say they are a better ride, because they are quicker in the handling department, roll 3 or 4 mph faster, and are super quiet.

I haven't done anything with the handlebars yet, but I'm going to pick out a set of Ergon grips. https://www.ergon-bike.com/ I don't race and I don't want to be a roadie. I'm more of a Tourer, so this bike needs to stay as comfortable as possible.

AnthonyG

Check out butterfly bars or trekking bars. Same thing but different names.

Like these,

What you do is fit a longer stem to position the controls is roughly the same place as before plus add some new hand positions further forward in a more aerodynamic/aggressive position.

Regards, Anthony

Longfemur

I don't think that at your weight, you will get any speed improvement going from 32 to 28 mm tires.

I can't tell if that's a riser bar or a true flat bar. If it's a riser, get rid of it in favour of a simple flat bar, then put L-shaped bar ends on it (just those cheap ordinary chromed ones are good). Short of a touring bike drop bar, I don't think there is any other kind of bar you can spend money on that will do any better. A flat bar with appropriate, longish bar ends gives you almost everything a drop bar does except the drop position. I'm a drop bar guy, but I used to have a hybrid I set up like that. Set the bar ends sort of flattish, with only a slight rise, and you can get nice and stretched out when you want to. People worry too much about changing this or that, when what they should be experimenting with instead is riding position. That makes more difference than anything else you can do.

merlinextraligh

The OP isn't that heavy. The vast majority of 200lb racers ride 23c tires. They'd have to all be grossly wrong if 32c tires were faster.


We run 25c tires on our tandem, with a team weight of 340lbs.

pagliaci

I found after some experimentation with my commuter bike (19 miles each way) that there is no substitute for conventional drop road handlebars- more positions, more aerodynamic.

I bought a set of used Shimano Sora brakes/shifters for $49 off of eBay and put these on a Specialized Sirrus hybrid with 700x28c tires and it is an ideal commuter.