Originally Posted by
bassogap
Installing tourist handlebars is extremely popular on this site. Besides looking extremely ungainly, they also look very uncomfortable. I know it was a standard for racers in the 1930s........But I still don't quite get it.
In my case it's quite simple: I've never found a drop-bar setup that I was comfortable with. I rode motorcycles for a lot longer than bicycles, and before that it was mountain bikes. Both of those basically offer one hand position - or two with MTB climbing handles.
With drops, the over-the-hoods grip feels unnatural to me, the top-bar grip is too narrow, and the drops themselves are way too low.
The setup I have on these bikes with the upside-down touring bar gives me the fixed position that is most comfortable, with an alternate forward/narrow grip for stretching out occasionally or long descents where aero becomes a factor. The fact that it looks pretty darned cool, at least to some of us, is a nice bonus.
I don't wear lycra or a plastic bowl on my head either. Essentially, I ride like I did when I was 8 years old, with the same sense of wonder and adventure*. No pressure / all pleasure. See? Simple.
*See the book, "Just Ride", by Grant Petersen, founder of Rivendell Bicycle Works.
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Roulez pour la joie, jamais pour la douleur.
USMC 1981-1991 Semper Fi!
Last edited by DQRider; 12-06-17 at 10:58 AM.
Reason: added a citation