Thinking about bull horns...
 

So, I am updating a mid 80's Peugeot to use as a commuter, and all around comfortable road bike. I have been thinking about changing the handle bars to bull horn bars, as I like the look. I am looking for some responses as to benifits, or downfalls of actual riding, as I do not have any riding expereience with them.

I'm pretty happy with mine. I never rode in the drops much, so it made sense. I think it looks pretty sharp, too:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87...n/197_9711.jpg

Some people find them comfortable others don't. I am one that does not find bullhorns comfortable. The downside is that they don't offer many hand positions and they also put lots of strain on the hands. If you tip them upright it will work but you'd be better off with a flat bar and risers.

For commuting short trips 5-35 miles I'd say the mustache is very good. Very narrow bullhorns might have a good advantage for zipping in between traffic and violating laws :) But they are not exactly comfortable. I think the bullhorn bars are more of a fashion statement than actual function.

I don't think cow horns style bars work well for those us with larger hands. I once ran mustache bars reversed like a bull horn and they looked unique and offered a more comfortable hand position.

All things considered drop bars are the most versatile. I like the randonneur style bars with the flared bend. It makes for a comfy ride.

I was using drops and sparrow bars for a long time. I finally took a chance and bought some RB-018 bullhorns and haven't looked back. I don't hold the ends except for when I'm sprinting hard, but it feels the most comfortable to me when I'm out of my seat sprinting.

That's my problem with bullhorns. If you set them high enough that riding on the ends is comfortable, then you don't have a "drop" position for those long upwind slogs. If you put them low enough for aerodynamic effect, then you don't have a comfortable top position.

Bullhorns were made for for specific short duration events like time trials, where aerodynamics were thought to trump other concerns. Their popularity these days is a fashion thing, not practical concern.

Having never used em, my impression is that they could compensate for a too short top tube. Is this not right? Also strikes me that the steer would be tiller steering like. No?

I have bulls on three bikes and they are very comfortable. The only downside is the loss of the drop position. But you do have variable hand holds along the horns. Keep in mind that bulls come in a variety of drops or curve from 0 to 6cm. I prefer the narrower bars, i.e. 40cm or less, but I like narrower drops as well.

Does anyone have any pics? I dont ride in the drops very much at all, and my commute is 8.5 miles each way. Most other riding will be cruising with the family, or just putting around. Thanks for all the responses.

For 8.5 miles I doubt you'd have a problem with bullhorns.

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/1...widebigok7.jpg

such cool bike.

I was gonna post up my picture, but who would try to follow after seeing that beauty? ^

I'll post a new pic later once I stop drooling.

Don't switch to bullhorns just because they look cool. Do what's comfortable.

I have bullhorns on one of my bikes. They're very comfortable. I prefer drops for long rides just because I like to ride the drops on fast downhills.

But what kind of bullhorns are you considering? Some have a shape similar to the top of drop bars. Other bullhorns have a deepish drop, like 55/Rad's picture, above (and I've seen deeper ones).

Depenz on what you want.

Right now, I am liking the nitto bars I have found on e-bay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nitto-bull-horns-silver-42cm-26-0-clamp-alloy-used-XLNT_W0QQitemZ130295045538QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item130295045538&_trksid =p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

I have bullhorns on my single-speed and they are awesome, especially when I am in traffic as the visibility is much greater than when riding in the drops PLUS the braking power is far superior to the braking power when I am riding on the hoods.

I completely agree. I like being able to stretch out on bullhorns and I feel a lot faste sprinting with bullhorns than I do with drops.

Here are mine. Nitto RB-018s, most comfortable bars I've tried so far and I've had them for quite some time now. I commute 30ish+ miles normal commute to/from work and to run errands.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n/DSC02791.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n/DSC02790.jpg

Please tell me about that brake lever.

Hey Dirtdrop,

It's a Gran/Dia Compe shot lever. Recent product I believe. My local LBS had it for sale, It was between that and a Paul E-lever, so I went for the shot lever.

I took it on a quick run and I like it a lot, but I haven't been able to give it a nice stress test yet. Little on the pricey side

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...oducts_id=5970

Well, of course you'd have better visibility than from the drops, but from the hoods it is about the same. I do agree about better braking. I have short fingers and find bullhorns allow me to get a better grip of the levers. I have better braking on bullhorns than from the hoods or from the drops because of this.

I've thought about getting some of those, but I have never seen them in person. The only thing holding me back is not knowing the length of the upswing part of the bars. Sorry, hard for me to explain. The part of the bars towards the end that rises. If it is not too much trouble, could you tell me the length of that part, I guess measured on the top part of the bars.

Once I get home I can try to take some measurements

i have mavic bullhorns on this bike. i dont think there is much reach difference between properly placed hoods on drops then bullhorns. in fact, drops are probably going on this bike.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...g/1e4114dc.jpg

Hey what stem is that?

Aaaahhh.... I shouldn't have clicked on this thread. Now I have to go get me a set of those for my giant. And I thought I was done spending money on it...

Wow! I LOVE the copper rails etc. on that Brooks! - Is that a standard option, or did you have it specially replated? Nice looking and well thought out bike altogether, the brake lever makes a lot of sense.

I'll have to get me some real bullhorns someday. I turned my dropbars upsidedown and used a pipecutter to chop my bars. I repositioned my crosscreek brake levers. My bike is now very comfortable.
Ernest

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...icture2782.jpg