grampa.sjb

Who here has used trekking handlebars? How do you rate them for touring against normal drop bars? How are they riding against the wind? Any brands/models better than others?

I'm thinking of putting them on a Surly DT - I have to retape the current drop bars, and I have an old but not much used 3x9 XT brifter set, so it might be a convenient time to switch,

So if you've used them, what do you think?

Also, do you run the open section at the top or bottom? I've seen both in photos.

fietsbob

I have 2 Bikes with them , Both Benefit from the ease of using the MTB controls, full Hydro Brakes and the R'off grip Shifter..

I slip the controls on the open rear end. and have open face stems so once taped (2 layers),
they dont have to be undone to remove the bars to pack for shipping. (Trans Atlantic touring)

Here's one: WB Bicycle Gallery: Robert Clark's Koga Miyata WTR

Open Palm across the sides is pretty comfy .. bar Higher and closer than a drop bar setup..

have to sort out personal preferences on that



I have Drop Bars on my Derailleur bar end shifted Bike. shifters and brake levers are different .

Drop bar touring is a US choice, Trekking Bars more common on European touring Bikes , my Bars came from the ITM company--Italian .



US sellers, most trekking bars come from Asia but they're only $25.


Reaching the forward bend and bending the elbows, yours, will let you lean over as low as down in the drops.

staehpj1

I tried them and didn't care for them. For me, none of the possible hand positions was an adequate substitute for my fav on drop bars (hands on the hoods).

Bezalel

I have trekking bars on a hybrid conversion that I didn't want to invest that much in. Since I'm primarily a road guy, I prefer drops. This was a conversion for my nephew to accompany me on a tour. I used the Nashbar bars and put the open section down, it put the grips (and ends) closest to where he wanted them without lowering the stem. Since the bike was mine but the conversion was for my nephew, I didn't want to cut the steerer and since I was mounting electronics on the stem, wanted the stem at the top of the steerer. I had to get a longer stem for the conversion.

The Nashbar logo is silkscreened in both orientations, indicating that it can be properly installed either way.

mstateglfr 

I just rode a Schwinn CrissCross last night with some butterfly/trekking bars. Picked it up to restore a few weeks ago and it was the first chance to ride.

I loved the bars. They are completely different from drops though.
I wouldn't be able to get in a position that is close to similar to riding in the drops.

The bar is a great alternative to a flatbar as it allows for so many more hand positions.
It reminded me of some Scott AT2 bars that I ave on a mtb- bullhorn with hooks that allows for a lot of adjusting while in the saddle.

I don't follow when you mention a brifter set- those wouldn't go in the trekking bars.

DeadGrandpa

Trekking bars came on my Novara Safari, new last labor day, and I was skeptical but after a few adjustments to the angle, they became very comfortable. The open side is closer to the seat, and the grip shifters and brake levers are at the bar ends. The front and back portions are nearly level, the back portion being where my hands are most of the time. I find the front hand positions very handy for going downhill or into the wind, and my wrists lightly rest on the rear part of the bar when I grip the front. The outside curve offers an alternate position to alleviate numbness, and the bar tape is double wrapped for extra thickness. The leading edge of the bar at the curve is where I have mounted an oval Bell mirror with velcro strap.

I bought another trekking bar ($20 BikeNashbar) to put on my Miyata 215 ST, because I'm not as flexible as I used to be and I simply don't enjoy the drops on my sport bike. I am more comfortable with a more upright position most of the time, leaning forward to grip the front part of the bar when I feel like it for more aerodynamic travel. For touring, I like the trekking bars, and at this point in my life, I'm not pretending I'm in a race to get there.

Recycle

I have had trekking bars on my LHT for about 6,500 mi (of a total of 12,000 mi on the bike) , and find them far more comfortable than drop bars. The open end is towards the rear and lower than the front. The slope is a bit less than 45o. I put the bar end shifters on the bars using Paul's Thumbies and replaced the Tektro brake levers with short pull flat bar type levers.

BensonFlyer

I run Velo Orange Crazy Bars on my Space Horse. Not that similar to trekking bars but very different from drop bars. After commuting and touring with drop bars, the switch has been very positive. I love the variety of different hand positions and I had many choices on how to set up my cockpit. I can tell you that I rarely think about riding drops, and I still have the other bike and love it very much, from a comfort standpoint, you can't beat the crazy bars! I hope this helps, even a little! Thanks!

rifraf

I'm a convert to Jeff Jones H-loop bars and happy with my choice.
I initially went with a second hand Titec J-bar as the Jones comes with a hefty price here in Australia.
The Titec J-bar (now discontinued) is a copy sold under licence utilising the same style of bar with mostly the same angles etc.
Having enjoyed the J-bar, I made the switch recently and bought a set of the genuine Jeff Jones bars and I'm very happy with them.
They offer a multitude of hand positions which I think if you scroll down on the link I provide there is an animated example.
H-BAR
Grabbing the frontmost loop of the bars results in a bent over aerodynamic position somewhat emulating being in the drops of a racing bar.
The further back positions you grab result in more upright positions which I favour for most of my riding, exceptions being riding into the wind.
I was sceptical at first which is the reason I grabbed the budget copy J-bar but am now a happy convert and addition to the choir.
I built up my Surly Ogre from parts but my understanding is that many Surly models now come with them complete from the factory.

Just thought I'd pipe up with another option compared to the racing bars/treking bars, especially having seen DT's utilising them with happy riders

MassiveD

Ergonomically and aero MTBs have the worst bars out there. The argument in favour is high stress precision control of the type you don't need on a road touring bike. Trecking bars give you twice the bad positions. The only good thing about them is the name. My current preference when I need some more control and the better positions one gets on drops is I like dirt drops, these are extra wide drops. I am extra wide in the shoulders anyway, so it isn't much of a reach for me.

Drops are a misnomer on touring bikes, they are three level bars with lots of hand positions. Many people have them set so high the drop part is not in effect. But you can still borough under the wind, or sail with it using the different heights.

irwin7638

I have used them but am lukewarm about them. My son continues to use them on both his Jamis Commuter and Raleigh Gran Prix, he loves them. I have become devoted to the Rivendell Bosco Bars, they provide a much greater range of body positions than anything I have ever used.


Marc

trainsktg

I put a 710 Jones Loop bar on my Big Dummy two days ago and took it for an inaugural 35 mile road ride yesterday. It literally feels and rides like a new bike; I was able to comfortably drop low and get 'aero' for about 34.8 of the 35 miles this way. I have a Defy road bike that I've been training on over the winter to do a local double century this summer, but after yesterday's ride I'm now seriously considering using the Dummy instead.

Keith

grampa.sjb

Thanks for all the input. I still haven't decided, but it's been good to get the information.

bikemig 

I've been using drops for a very long time and took to trekking bars like a fish to water. They're excellent on vintage mtbs; easy conversion and you get extra handpositions.

3speed

Has anyone run a brake at the top of a trekking bar in order to have a brake within reach while in the aero position? If so, how did you feel about it? Good control? Not having a brake right near my hand is one thing that makes me hesitant to try a trekking bar. I like to get low when descending hills, and going down a hill without a brake in my hand isn't my idea of a good time...

edthesped

The Bosco bars used to be my favorite but as I'm riding more I'm feeling more cramped and slower on the Bosco's and am taking a liking to drops. I will say that I can ride all day on Bosco's and never have hand or arm fatigue and being positioned in a way that lets me take in my surroundings is a definite plus. My daughter has Trekking bars and likes them a lot but I prefer Bosco's or drops over them, she HATES the Bosco bars with a passion, her gripe is the cockpit feels too cramped. I'd really like to try a set of Jones bars but can't rationalize $100 to experiment.

Tourist in MSN

Have never used trekking bars, I use drop bars. You asked about the wind. If I am pushing into a headwind I can usually increase my speed about 8 to 10 percent by using the drops instead of the tops or hoods.

If you switch to trekking bars, you might need a new stem with a longer length.

FrenchFit 

I have them on a day touring MTB that's pretty tricked out. Trekking bars are fairly stupid, but I like my set-up for fun rides with the family. Essentially, they give you the option of keeping yourself in the same posture, with different hand positions that aren't as comfortable as most straight bars. Additionally, they are heavy -- massive. I would not recommend them to a friend.

tarwheel 

I haven't tried trekking bars but had bullhorns on one of my bikes for a while. I really enjoyed the bullhorns and they seemed to make the bike more fun to ride, but ultimately I replaced them with drop bars because I had nowhere to "hide" on windy days. I suspect that the same issue would arise with trekking bars. Drop bars really help when you are riding into headwinds or crosswinds.

I will refrain from making gratuitous comments about aesthetics, but I personally don't like the way they look and would have a hard time putting them on my bike even if they had certain advantages.

enigmaT120

I liked them on my Rocky Mountain for commuting, and by putting my hands forward and resting my wrists on the near portion I could really get out of the wind. When I got my Fargo and started commuting on that my Rocky Mountain became my bike for poking around logging roads, and I found that it was difficult to control on fast descents on loose gravel with my hands on the controls which are close together. So I found some Bull Moose bars and put those on it.

rex615

This seems to be one of those subject that is geographically polarizing, Europeans are partial to Trekking bars, whereas Americans are unimpressed by them and prefer drop bars.

Trekking bars are great for an MTB because they readily take MTB shifters and brakes. They also offer more positions (though similar) than straight bars. I have them on an MTB and really like them for off-road use.

I also have them on a touring bike and although I do prefer them to Drop bars, my favorite bar for the long haul is a Northroad, with the brakes at the front (like you would run them on a Moustache bar).

For a bike that came with drop bars and brifters, it doesn't seem to make sense to change to Trekking bars because you would need new brakes and shifters.

Like many things bicycle, you really owe it to yourself to try a set and make up your own mind.

gregjones

I had thought about that. I have a few pair of Tektro Cross Levers and was thinking of using them. I got my bars in the other day and saw that if mounted next to the stem they wouldn't be too accessible anyway. Now, having seen the bars in person, I have no plans for use them.

atufft

I agree with this. Flat bars might be good for popping wheelies and MTB, but for road riding flat bars rotate my elbows outward in a way that getting out it the saddle, controlling the bike, then seating again are unfamiliar and awkward relative to the elbows down, palms in, hood hold orientation.

Sixty Fiver

I have trekking bars on my Extrabike and love them, prefer drop bars on my touring bicycles and drop bars in general.

My customers love them and I have retrofitted a lot of touring bikes, most often those that came with riser bars that limit hand position.

For those who pack and transport their bicycles the trekking bars also pack flatter and if you never ride in the drops they are an excellent choice.

vikingdude

Just installed a set on my older MTB and i love them. Only a few hours in the saddle, but my wrists prefer them to straight bars for sure. With my experience on dropbars, I would say the trekking bars feel more upright. Definitely comfier than any of my drop bar bikes