"Other" handlebar styles, need opinions.
 

So I have a Cypress (pictured below)that has the basic slight rise Hybrid bike bars and I am having wrist pain and numbness issues on anything over a few miles. I was upto riding 35 miles at a time last year and want to go further more often this year. So I am considering changing the bars. I would love to hear some experiences with other types of bars: trekking bars, mustache, h bars, any of the one that give more hand positions.

Here are a couple I am considering.

http://bike-nashbar.amazonwebstore.c...B000R2LJGK.htm

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...&category=3250

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...4&category=516


So has anyone used these, good/bad experiences? Are there better choices I am missing?


I am leaning towards the trekking bar, it seems to have the best options and I can use the break levers and twist shifters I have so its less money to see if it helps than going to drop bars.

The first bar setup looks like the best option. The other two look like your hands will be in an awkward position.

I've noticed that on longer rides on my MTB, that I experience wrist pain but I don't on any of my other bikes. My feeling is that this is because the straight bars on the MTB don't sweep back enough to keep my wrists in a "neutral" position. I've been looking for bars that sweep back, but don't look as crazy as those posted by the OP.

Here are a couple of options:

The Fu, Fu2 and Nu bars by Misfit Psycles
The On-One Fleegle and Mary handlebars
The Origin-8 Space Bar (a knock-off of the Mary; may be easier to find in the U.S.)
The Surly Torsion Bar has a 15-degree backsweep
Salsa also makes a number of bars with 17-degree backsweep

Personally, I'm tempted to try the Salsa Pro Moto Flat Bar with a 17-degree bend or maybe the Fu or Nu Bar from Misfit Psycle.

a cheaper, quicker option would be "shaped" bar ends.

Cheaper than the $23 the Trekking bar costs?


Something else I have noticed, it feels like my hands/arms are too far apart on the stock bars. Could width also add to hand/wrist/arm apin and issues?

Thanks for the replies.

You could fit Ergon grips.
Bars can be cut down. My On-one Mary bars are a bit wide so Im planning to take 1" of each end.

I have trekking bars on my hybrid, wrapped in road tape. Pretty much fixed a lot of the wrist issues. Lots and lots of hand positions help. You may also take a close look at the angle of the line between your saddle and hand position. If it is considerably not parallel to the top tube, you may be putting extra pressure on your hands. Also, try noticing how much you use your core while distance riding. Can you lift your hands off the bar and still hold your chest position? If it is not too easy to do that, perhaps some core exercises could also help.

Just my 2 cents

core strength is an issue I am working to address. I have damaged discs in both my neck and lower back that make core training a bit of a challenge. I know it will get easier as i lose more weight. I am pretty set on trying the Nasbar trekking bar option. Will report back on the results.

You can get bar-ends starting at $8.99 at Performance online...

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=5252

will the gripshifters work with the touring bars?

Messing up your gears is the big thing to watch out for. With a completely new type of bars, you may end up having to buy and cut custom cables and housings for those shifters. I would just get bar-ends, and play with what position you put them in, so that you get more hand positions, so that you can move your hands around a lot more often. That, and tweaking your saddle position should keep your hands much happier.

Yes the grip shifter work on the trekking bars, that's why I am leaning that way, its a cheap choice to try.

set them up similar to this
http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/r...w/IMG_0322.jpg

stock grip shifters, stock ergos, and tape

A pic or two of you on the bike would help.

I tried a trekking bar, didn't care for it. I tried a lot of bars, eventually winding up
with drop bars.

Nitto Noodle
http://www.rivbike.com/images/produc...5/16-111-1.jpg

This is the classic Rando style
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/GBRando.jpg

Thanks MrDanw that's very helpful. Do you like them?


Here's a pic of the bike. Am trying different bar and seat position changes, but think a bar change is needed.

Seeing the pic setup makes sense looks like a good setup. You probably will have to shorten the cables, but let the LBS deal with that if they are gonna install them and wrap the bars.

I really like the bars. No mods to anything. The front cable loops are a little bigger, but not by much. Someone said you need to switch to bar end shifters but there is no need to. You can also adjust the angle at which they mount in the stem and you can get a little more "aero" when you grab the top. The sides are great for climbing.

Trekking bars work really well and (IMHO) are much better than adding bar ends to a riser or flat bar. I ride a converted mountain bike that started out with a flat bar and bar ends. Decided to try the trekking bar (they go on sale a few times a year for about $14-15) and never looked back.

I put about 2200 miles on that bike last year. As this riding season is getting under way, I have begun tweaking the bars angle a little bit and think that I will be able to make them even more comfortable than they have been.

I`ve got one set of trekking bars and several Northroad. Just put the trekkingbars on a folder I built up.

I like both, but for different bikes. Hybrid type bikes with a short toptube the easy and great solution is trekkingbars.

My best ride at present is an old MTB (90`s Everest) with a toptube that is too long for my ridingstyle. With the Northroad bars I get a more upright riding position than any other bars would provide. On a shorter toptube bike you might need a new looong stem. I like the Northroads on old (long toptube) MTB`s and more roadtype bikes where you want to change the riding position.

I am planing on riding my dumpsterfind Miyata ninetwelve (60 cm) this summer with Northroad bars and enjoy the quality of the bike. The bike is a bit big for me . I am keeping it around for my son that I expect is going to be taller than me.