Originally Posted by
dahut
SO what were getting here is a road bike (light, fast, aero position) and an upright bike (usually heavier, slower, non-aero) are apples and oranges.
Some sort of compromise is in order. I'd suggest a road bike with low rise mountain bars, but with an assortment of mountain bike "ends" attached:
1. Straight or angled ends, moved to the middle....
2. Gripper knobs, on the bar ends....
3. Drop ends, just inboard of the gripper knobs...
The angled ends (1) offer a laid out, relaxed aero position. The gripper knob ends(2), provide a more upright position. The drop ends(3) give the more traditional tucked aero position.
You could do that but if you want bars with multiple riding positions you might as well get a drop bar bike with the bars set higher, - either through a more relaxed frame geometry, a stem with more rise, or both.
The advantage is that the road shifters and brakes will work from multiple positions.
The downside is that road shifters drive the cost of the bike up, but if that's not an issue you might as well get the real deal.