mchuntley

I have a Schwinn Crosscut. I have had this bike for _years_.
It has a straight handlebar, and it is getting rusty through the paint.
I am pondering a few choices:
- Sand a paint the bar
- Replace it with a straight aluminium bar
- Replace it with a 'moustache' bar. I like this one, I think the hand position will be more comfortable.

I am curious as to what advice I can get about these choices/options?

Thanks,
Matt

norwood

- Sand a paint the bar
If it's steel, might be O.K. How good of a painter are you?

- Replace it with a straight aluminium bar
Probably the best bang for the buck. Shop around.

- Replace it with a 'moustache' bar. I like this one, I think the hand position will be more comfortable.
OK but you'll likely have to replace your shifters and brake levers and possibly your stem, UNLESS you can find a moustache bar thats the same diameter as your current straight bar. I think Nashbar used to have one. There may be others. But most moustache bars are road bike bar diameter, ie. made for road brake levers. And flatbar (MTB) controls and levers don't work that great on a moustache bar anyway IMO.

mchuntley

Thanks!
I appreciate the feedback. I think you are right about the levers, they will not work with that other bar.
I will probably pick up a aluminium one this weekend, maybe with a little bend!

Thanks,
Matt

illwafer

option 2. you can get barends if you want to try other hand positions.

JiveTurkey

Butterfly bars? https://lh3.ggpht.com/_f5trLqJB4qw/SJ...U/IMG_0627.JPG

fuzz2050

butterfly, or trekking bars are the best (and by best I mean cheapest) way to get more hand positions on a flat bar bike. You can re-use your shifters and brake levers, and maybe even your stem. Plus you also get a whole new world of adjustment, you can run the brakes and shifters close to you, or on the far end, or who knows, maybe even on the side.

Much easier than the switch to drops or moustache

mchuntley

Thanks all for the advice.
I have sanded and painted the bars.
Now I am looking forward to riding it!

Jeff Wills

Geez, Matt... you coulda asked me! I have a set of Moustache bars (not Nitto, but an incredible simulation) gathering dust in my garage.

What happened to the Paramount?

mchuntley

HI Jeff!
How have you been?
I was tempted by the moustache bars, I am not sure how they will do with the levers.
Still may try it!

the paramount was not getting ridden, I had no good places to store it. Money was tight.
Sooo... I found someone who wanted to restore a bike from that era.

Panthers007

Measure what the bars on your bike are currently. For both "Butterfly" and "Moustache" bars - look at Harris Cyclery. Former roost of Our Lord: Sheldon Brown...

https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/handlebars/index.html

crx7

Moustache, really comfortable and great for trails too.