Hi folks, I'm new to the forums...hoping this is the appropriate place to post.

I recently picked up an 84 Trek 610 in great condition with the intention to use it as a commuter bike and perhaps some road cycling for exercise when I can. I'm no bike expert, but looking forward to learning as I go. I'm considering changing out the original sakae handlebars for something with a flatter ramp for more comfort, as I'm told. I'd like to keep the width to 40cm, and I'm pretty happy with the bars an inch or so below the saddle. I believe the Nitto "Noodle" (mod. 177) only comes in 42cm or above. Someone has mentioned the nitto "dream bar" (mod. 176) as another possibility.

Any suggestions or feedback from personal experience would be much appreciated. Is having a flatter ramp all it's cracked up to be? Do bars with flatter ramps sacrifice anything in the drops, or any other hand positions? Also, I'm assuming a bar with flatter ramps means the brakes are positioned a bit more angled up (could be wrong here). If so, is this going to reduce access to the Shimano 600 brake levers, which seem to have a greater angle between the top of the hoods and the lever than some of the more modern brakes. And lastly, does anybody advocate for upgrading the brakes for any reason? The 600's seem to work great, although require a bit more finger squeeze than some of the newer brake systems I've tried - especially noticeable when I'm braking from the hoods.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions to the noob.