Originally Posted by
noglider
If you use the Italians as a role model, this is what my old boss, Lenny Preheim (RIP) observed. They consistently set up handlebars the very same way.
Top of bars slopes downward slightly. Bottom of bars points to rear axle or slightly higher. I.e. neither drop nor top is horizontal. Tips of brake levers protrudes very slightly from the plane formed by the extension of the bottom of the bars. I.e. you can run a ruler along the bottom of the bar, and the tips of the levers intercept this ruler.
This positioning makes the levers accessibly equally from the top and bottom.
I like the Italian set up for my bars... the bottom of the drops always points down and the degree varies according to the bar and what I use the bike for.
I looked at the original ads for the 1957 Peugeot PLX8 when I set mine up... seems to be a common set up for touring and club bikes of the era.
On a touring bike it gives you a very comfortable had position when you are in the drops... having the hoods level with the saddle and a degree or so if rise reduces hand / arm fatigue.
