Lots of climbing. Drops? Bullhorns?
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Lots of climbing. Drops? Bullhorns?
I'm building up a fixie. My area has lots of hills. I figured out on my roadie, that I would need around 60 gear inches to get over most of the hills and on certain hills, that mashing at like 30 rpm, putting all my weight on the pedal. I figure, I can suffer a little up hills but still have enough gear to go fast on the flats.
So I could use drops with one brake lever and one dummy brake lever, or bullhorns. Which would you guys do?
So I could use drops with one brake lever and one dummy brake lever, or bullhorns. Which would you guys do?
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as long as i've loved drops, the week or two i tried bullhorns helped a lot. i've got a set up now with flat bars that curve back a bit, even those are great for climbing. standing up and powering up hills certainly is a breeze with them. nitto flat promenades that curve back, rather than the more square ones. i forget the number on them, but sometimes i think they are called "flat mustache"... www.bikecult.com has them, cut about 5 or 6 inches off and they're perfect! or bullhorns...
#5
hello
For climbing..... bullhorns, drops with hoods, moustache......in that order.
Last edited by roadfix; 07-11-05 at 09:07 PM.
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hang up your boots
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bull horns all the way
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You know, I honestly don't know why flat/riser bars became the mtb standard other than that's what the original clunkers were running. There are so many better choices for climbing and technical work. Someday I'll get me a set of dirt drops.
Bullhorns, get yourself forward and get those glutes in the game.
Bullhorns, get yourself forward and get those glutes in the game.
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Bullhorns.
I lived in Seattle and going from say Pioneer Sqr to say Madison Market on top of Capitol Hill was almost an uphill climb all the way. Maybe 3-5 miles with varying degrees, with the most severe in the middle and end of the ride. Running 69" (42x16)
When I switched from track drops to profile airwings I could definitely feel more leverage.
I lived in Seattle and going from say Pioneer Sqr to say Madison Market on top of Capitol Hill was almost an uphill climb all the way. Maybe 3-5 miles with varying degrees, with the most severe in the middle and end of the ride. Running 69" (42x16)
When I switched from track drops to profile airwings I could definitely feel more leverage.
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Huh. I would think that drops would be better. I've never ridden on bullhorns, but I feel that the lower mashing abilities of drops can really help out on hills...
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Originally Posted by el twe
Huh. I would think that drops would be better. I've never ridden on bullhorns, but I feel that the lower mashing abilities of drops can really help out on hills...
Seems like you'd want to have more of your weight over your pedals so that you can use that weight to propel you up the hill. Also, with the more leaned forward stance that the drops give, you are actually pointing your body into the hill, rather than up the hill...
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Ok, going with Bullhorns.
Now to choose....
A few choices, Nitto, Profile, Syntace... hmmm
Now to choose....
A few choices, Nitto, Profile, Syntace... hmmm
Last edited by nitropowered; 07-11-05 at 06:02 PM.
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I dig bullhorns for climbing, but if I were doing a lot of climbing, and had a lot of money to spend on a set of handlebars, I'd be all over the Jones H-Bar. Its popular among SS mtbers, but they are totally sweet handlebars. Of course, they are 200$ and made of titanium, so a little out of my budget. But cool nonetheless.
https://www.jonesbikes.com/hbar/default.asp
peace,
sam
https://www.jonesbikes.com/hbar/default.asp
peace,
sam
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Originally Posted by nitropowered
Ok, going with Bullhorns.
Now to choose....
A few choices, Nitto, Profile, Syntace... hmmm
Now to choose....
A few choices, Nitto, Profile, Syntace... hmmm
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Probably more for ergonomics and price. I really don't care what they look like since they would be under bar tape anyway.
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Originally Posted by Judah
I would argue that the upright you are during a climb, the better.
Seems like you'd want to have more of your weight over your pedals so that you can use that weight to propel you up the hill. Also, with the more leaned forward stance that the drops give, you are actually pointing your body into the hill, rather than up the hill...
Seems like you'd want to have more of your weight over your pedals so that you can use that weight to propel you up the hill. Also, with the more leaned forward stance that the drops give, you are actually pointing your body into the hill, rather than up the hill...
If you say you like Bullhorns better because the grip gives you better leverage then that's a different story.
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Originally Posted by 53-11_alltheway
Center of gravity over the pedals matter, but I don't understand how the drop bar doesn't give this? (you can change stem length. Not all stems are -32 Nitto decline stems either)
If you say you like Bullhorns better because the grip gives you better leverage then that's a different story.
If you say you like Bullhorns better because the grip gives you better leverage then that's a different story.
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Originally Posted by nitropowered
I'm building up a fixie. My area has lots of hills. ...
Bullhorns... but you'll suffer anyway.
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yeah I know. But during the school year, I'll be away from the hills, so it'll be good for riding to class, going to the store, recovery rides.
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Originally Posted by bostontrevor
You know, I honestly don't know why flat/riser bars became the mtb standard other than that's what the original clunkers were running. There are so many better choices for climbing and technical work.
Note this picture. Up top is an old cruiser, check the sweep of the bars. Then look at the Jones H-bars (pink arrow). Pretty similar sweep, eh?
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Yeah, but when they adapted them for downhill runs, they'd even kit 'em out with motorcycle bars and levers. Take, for example, Mr. Scot Nicol (Ibis) here attacking Repack Road.
https://www.firstflightbikes.com/_borders/nicol1982.jpg
Maybe that's really what it's about. Flat bars are fine for an upright downhill stance. Plenty of visibility and control over the bumps.
https://www.firstflightbikes.com/_borders/nicol1982.jpg
Maybe that's really what it's about. Flat bars are fine for an upright downhill stance. Plenty of visibility and control over the bumps.