Preferred Trekking Bar Etiquette
06-22-09, 06:28 AM
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Preferred Trekking Bar Etiquette
I'm trying to decide on how to set up my new Nashbar trekking handle bars in preparation for a bike tour. I had planned on putting on a pair of Ergon GP1 Performance Bicycle handle bar grips and maybe some Fizik Dual handle bar tape. Not sure yet what to do but could some of you please post some pics of your trekking bar set ups to give me some optional ideas? Also explain in detail maybe what tape/cover that you prefer? Thank you for all your help.
Mark
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06-22-09, 09:57 AM
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Why, gladly. This question comes up so often I've created a dedicated diagram with a detailed explanation of my setup in response. So here you are, copy-pasted from previous threads. I use plain 'ol cork tape. I've seen people use every type of tape on these, though, from long foam grips to leather Brooks tape. Keep in mind, the tricky part is finding the right angle/bar position that works for you, which took me a bit of trial and error. Also, if you're using GP1s, you might have to cut off some of the end for the shifters/brake levers to fit on the ends of the bar.
Image A: I have mine with the "butterfly wings bowing downward, and tilted about 10 degrees(back to front).
Image B: Using Ergon grips elimated all my wrist pain after extended leaning on bars. Bar tape is a must around the rest of the bars.
The most comfortable positions for me are
1: Using the ergon grips (gives me extended comfort in cities when I need to keep my hands near brakes)
2: Wrapping my hands around the two sharpest curves closest to me (I find myself using this position the most for long distances, which feels most natural and is the most similar to gripping hoods)
When out of saddle or climbing I use:
3: grabbing the upward tilting bar end-like part(especially when climbing)
And when it's flat or downhill and I feel like tucking in I use these positions:
4: grabbing the curve farthest from me(palm facing down)
5: grabbing curve closest to stem (palm facing up), which is similar to grabbing aeros.
I did have to play around with the angle and position of my trekking bars and the ergon grips to get it just right though, but once I found the right position I was very happy with my multitude of positions. If you try setting up your trekking bars I'd suggest to adjust the tilt based on what feels most natural in your saddle using position 2. I find that distributing your weight evenly on your palms is key.
Of course, this is just one way to set up trekking bars. Some people set them up (in relation to mine) upside-down, backwards, or both. I saw someone with clip-on aero bars on his backwards installed trekking bars and someone else with clip-on mtb bar-ends mounted on the bars where I put my hands in position 5 to act like aero bars (I might try the ladder eventually). The great thing about trekking bars is their versatility: They're like combo mustache/flat bars, and if you play around enough you can find a position that works for you. It took me months to discover position 2 (the most comfortable to me) and position 5. Ergons were a godsend. If you get drops, ergons arn't an option, but if you stay with flats or trekking, I'd reccomend ergons with the built in bar ends no matter what.
Also, I just discovered this video of the 2009 Novara Safari bike which comes with trekking bars stock. In the video you can see one way they can be used.
Image A: I have mine with the "butterfly wings bowing downward, and tilted about 10 degrees(back to front).
Image B: Using Ergon grips elimated all my wrist pain after extended leaning on bars. Bar tape is a must around the rest of the bars.
The most comfortable positions for me are
1: Using the ergon grips (gives me extended comfort in cities when I need to keep my hands near brakes)
2: Wrapping my hands around the two sharpest curves closest to me (I find myself using this position the most for long distances, which feels most natural and is the most similar to gripping hoods)
When out of saddle or climbing I use:
3: grabbing the upward tilting bar end-like part(especially when climbing)
And when it's flat or downhill and I feel like tucking in I use these positions:
4: grabbing the curve farthest from me(palm facing down)
5: grabbing curve closest to stem (palm facing up), which is similar to grabbing aeros.
I did have to play around with the angle and position of my trekking bars and the ergon grips to get it just right though, but once I found the right position I was very happy with my multitude of positions. If you try setting up your trekking bars I'd suggest to adjust the tilt based on what feels most natural in your saddle using position 2. I find that distributing your weight evenly on your palms is key.
Of course, this is just one way to set up trekking bars. Some people set them up (in relation to mine) upside-down, backwards, or both. I saw someone with clip-on aero bars on his backwards installed trekking bars and someone else with clip-on mtb bar-ends mounted on the bars where I put my hands in position 5 to act like aero bars (I might try the ladder eventually). The great thing about trekking bars is their versatility: They're like combo mustache/flat bars, and if you play around enough you can find a position that works for you. It took me months to discover position 2 (the most comfortable to me) and position 5. Ergons were a godsend. If you get drops, ergons arn't an option, but if you stay with flats or trekking, I'd reccomend ergons with the built in bar ends no matter what.
Last edited by thehum; 06-22-09 at 10:03 AM.
06-22-09, 12:08 PM
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Mountain bike levers, Paul thumbies convert the bar end shifters, regular cork/rubber grip tape. I like them.
06-22-09, 02:06 PM
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I bought 2 sets of gel pads to go under my bar tape for extra cushioning. If you want a bar
mirror, look at either the Zefa "SPY" or the Ultralite on hte Ortleib site. The Ultralite is a lot larger
mirror, look at either the Zefa "SPY" or the Ultralite on hte Ortleib site. The Ultralite is a lot larger
06-22-09, 03:24 PM
#6
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I'm also a big fan of bar gels.
I've used the Ergon grips too, and I do recommend them if you insist on torturing yourself by spending most of the time in that flat-bar hand position.
I've used the Ergon grips too, and I do recommend them if you insist on torturing yourself by spending most of the time in that flat-bar hand position.
06-22-09, 03:33 PM
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I actually found upside down and backward to be the most comfortable orientation for my trekking bars. Puts me in a much more "aero" position. I hated the feeling of the trekking bars when I mounted them in the traditional way. They are on my commuter bike.
06-22-09, 05:36 PM
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Building up my commuting bike:
Probably going to change here and there over the summer. Need to get a taller stem.
Probably going to change here and there over the summer. Need to get a taller stem.
06-23-09, 05:15 AM
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Nashbar Trekking Bars with Ergon grips, gel padding under the bar wrap. DeloreLX STI shifters with brake noodles to neatly curve the brake cable down.
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06-23-09, 04:08 PM
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I have been thinking of putting trekking bars on my bike instead of drops. I have seen the 'standard' setup with the levers on the open flats close to the rider but I had wondered whether anyone had experimented with putting the levers on other positions? I see politicalgeek has them on the front.
Looking at the bars I imagine the most comfortable position for me would be the sides. Obviously, as with most bar setups, I could shift hand position to the levers when needed but that would mean staying on a leass favoured position when regular braking was required, ie in traffic etc. It would be nice to have brakes available in the most comfortable and used position but I have never seen anyone put the brake levers on the side.
Looking at the bars I imagine the most comfortable position for me would be the sides. Obviously, as with most bar setups, I could shift hand position to the levers when needed but that would mean staying on a leass favoured position when regular braking was required, ie in traffic etc. It would be nice to have brakes available in the most comfortable and used position but I have never seen anyone put the brake levers on the side.
06-23-09, 06:46 PM
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Mine was more for the fact that with the grips, I couldn't get my levers in the right position for the cable to come out "normal". I don't even know if my grips are on right. They are the Serfas lock ons.
06-24-09, 01:18 PM
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Thanks. I followed the directions and they weren't too clear. I'll play with those later.
06-24-09, 04:00 PM
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There's a hundred ways to set up trekking bars. Here's how I did it. I just finished a 620 mile tour around Lake Ontario with this setup. I like it. I hook my map holder to the aero bar.
06-24-09, 08:31 PM
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Both post #7 and #11 are well thought out set-ups, they pair the grips with the shifters and brake levers, I have toured with both of those. What I found was that in both cases the grips were either too close or too far for my preferred reach, and more importantly both were in the horizontal position. I have a real problem in that horizontal hand position, it was just not comfortable over a long day (for me).
So I took all my same components and swapped them over to what I call Granny bars which put the primary hand position at an angle that was much more natural for me and comfortable all day long.
Try this little test. Stand with your arms relaxed at your side, now reach forward to a handlebar position. Look at the angle of your hands. Is it vertical, horizontal or somewhere in between? Mine matched the handlebars in my attached photo almost exactly.
Please Note, I'm not trying to discourage anyone from using treking bars, but if you find that you are not satisfied with them, maybe try Granny bars.
Oh BTW nice bell rugerben : )
So I took all my same components and swapped them over to what I call Granny bars which put the primary hand position at an angle that was much more natural for me and comfortable all day long.
Try this little test. Stand with your arms relaxed at your side, now reach forward to a handlebar position. Look at the angle of your hands. Is it vertical, horizontal or somewhere in between? Mine matched the handlebars in my attached photo almost exactly.
Please Note, I'm not trying to discourage anyone from using treking bars, but if you find that you are not satisfied with them, maybe try Granny bars.
Oh BTW nice bell rugerben : )
Last edited by gregw; 06-24-09 at 08:35 PM.
06-24-09, 08:33 PM
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What brand and type of handlebar tape did you use xyzzy834? It looks really nice.
06-24-09, 09:11 PM
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06-26-09, 06:18 AM
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Thanks everybody for you imput. You've given me many options and ideas. Take care.
Mark
Mark
