BikeNinjagirl

ok --here goes -- please forgive my stupidity-so i've been riding my Rush Hour since november i love it can't get enough of it but i need to ask a few things from those who "know" first off -- i had a guy tell me i needed to get rid of those track bars and get bullhorns ???? ok, he then went into a very long explanation of why i needed to change -- but yet he was using track bars --- when i pointed this out he gave another long explanation about his back -- so i'm confused -- i'm still riding this bike stock -- since i'm still learning -- other people tell me i need to change my brake hoods --- change them ?? ok -- i kinda don't like the length of the brake lever itself but i didn't know i had a choice....would it make that much difference ? i love this bike, it is so tight feeling compared to my mountain bike ( which is all i've ever ridden) which i'm totally vexed about....now my mountain bike feels like it's dragging it's rear end along behind it. i still use the mtn for my commuter but only because i work & lock up in an area that is theft city. I wish i could ride this Rush everywhere -- so guys tell me do i need to look into changing these things ? will it make a difference ? i'm happy now -- the only "problem" i seem to have is: i wobble alot if i stand up on the pedals to get started...and that doesn't happen on my mountain bike...am i doing something wrong? i just figured all those years of mtn bike riding (offroad) had me into the habit of placing shoulder weight on the bars and i need to lose that habit... right? wrong? thanks for listening major thanks for any help you give

dutret

-the guy is a moron.
-you may like wider bars but give these some time
-lock the bike up well and start commuting on it.
-mtbing should have made you very deft at adjusting your COM relative to the bike rather then just plopping in over the bars. Where are you holding the drops when you start?

dirtyphotons

agreed, don't listen to anyone who rides a fixed gear. especially me.

edit: but ESPECIALLY everyone in the bullhorns versus track drops thread. for real, it's a preference thing, it's like saying "which frame size is best"

geog_dash

Advice on what to buy next is always cheap and plentiful. If you're happy with the bike, it's time to ride, not shop.

Wobbling on start up is not a problem. The taller stance and shorter wheelbase of a track bike trade away some of the smoothness and stability of mountain bikes. If you're really worried about it, have a friend follow and check your riding style. That would be someone who can say something more useful than "You need to buy this and this and this ..."

Welcome to the fold.

wearyourtruth

i, personally, love my bullhorns, but that's because i rarely get into the drops, be it track or road bars. if you like the bars you have now then there's no reason to change though. if you feel like there's something better for you then maybe so.

you'll also find most of us commute (at least to the bar) on our fixies so don't be afraid, just lock it up well. a lot of energy is lost in the suspension of the mtb, making it un-ideal for commuting in most circumstances (i used to cut through a field in college so not always). anyway, if you want to ride the rush hour then ride it. the wobbling will fade with time.

p.s. i have no idea what changing the hoods would do for you

SamHouston

Wobbly starts... Are you starting deep in the drops, on the tops or on the hoods? Lotta people don't start from stop in the drops, start more upright with your weight more centered rather than forward, transfer to the drops later if you prefer that position. Your riding a bike that is hella diff from your MTB if you're deep in the drops starting your likely far forward of what you'd experience on your mtb.

mattface 

OMG you're still riding with the stock hoods?!! No wonder you're wobbling!

Seriously though, if the bike feels good, don't change a thing. The more you ride it, chances are it will only get more comfortable, but perhaps some problems will make themselves known. For instance you MIGHT be more comfortable with wider bars, or a different style of bars, or a longer stem. If you're riding track bars, but never use the drops, then they probably aren't the best bars for you.

As for that wobbling, try a few different hand positions, that might help you transition your weight more smoothly. After a while it gets to be second nature, and you won't even think about it. Honestly I can't remember how I place my hands when starting out. I'd have to get on the bike to figure it out.

exfreewheeler

This is very true. I can take off with so much more power, if I have to. My MTB is up for sale.


And the brake hood comment... that's just a person who loves to hear himself speak. IMHO

As for wobbling, make sure the Rush Hour isn't taking trips to the nearest watering hole without you

1fluffhead

Bars are a personal choice, just like saddles. He may be telling you bullhorns are better because it would be easier for you to skip and skid, but they are not necessary to do either of those things. The only reason I can think of them telling you to change the hoods is because of aesthetic bull****. If you don't like the hoods, remove them and use a BMX or CX style lever instead. You may be more comfy with this setup because of your MTB experience. Definitely start commuting on the Rush Hour. Just get a good lock and learn to lock up correctly.

Fixxxie

+1
Sounds like you like the bike just fine, just ride it and have fun. I'd use it for commuting though.

Surferbruce

road drops with hoods are by far the most versatile comfy setup for road riding. i love how fixed gear freaks think they're reinventing the wheel by using parts not designed for road cycling. yes track drops work better for the track and in theory bullhorns can be more aero, but cyclists long ago figured out standard road bars work best and offer the most hand positions.
put a few hundred miles in and then you decide what feels right and what doesn't.

Fixxxie

HMMMMM

Not to keep beating a dead horse and keeping this asinine argument going
BUT unless you have the clip-on aero bar attachments (not very common on fixie type bikes to say the least) bullhorns are in no way more aero than drops.

mander

?

dutret

those are no better then drops.

Fixxxie

You dont suppose that guy could get down even more aero with a set of track drops???
Just asking

mander

Or he could bend his elbows a bit more. Isn't the idea to have less handlebar catching the wind? Not being argumentative, I really don't know so please teach. I suppose he could also cut the hair and stache for added aero benefit.

dirtyphotons

lower bars = more horizontal torso = more aero (to a point)

the drag due to the bars themselves is pretty much negligible.

dutret

the only extra part of bar you get is a bit trailing behind the hand. Probably negligible maybe even more aerodynamic. If that is meant by in theory then ok. Otherwise bullhorns aren't really more aero.

Fixxxie

Better fire up the windtunnel on that one but he better tuck in the end of his toestrap that's hanging out there


Poor BikeNinjaGirl is really not gonna know what to do now.

dirtyphotons

meh, it's not like we can really help her anyway beyond: try it, ride it if you like it, change it if you dont.

mattface 

She doesn't need OUR help. She's a NINJA!

In fact I'm sure the whole point of this thread was to distract us so she could jump down on us from the ceiling and snap our necks!

mihlbach

Is that photo distorted in some way or is that dude's calf nearly the same diameter as his helmet?

SkyeC

he does appear to have a tiny head and calves the size of his thighs which is a little strange, but not totally uncommon.

hopefully this thread won't turn into another 4-5 page long bullhorn vs drops thread like last week.

i prefer bullhorns because i just don't feel comfortable in road drops, aero doesn't really matter to me when im tooling around the city for exercise.

killsurfcity

dude in the picture is about to get crushed by a seriously large mountain bike.

gargiulo.mike

that looks like that 3rensho that was just on ebay....