Handlebar setup suggestions needed for road bike
 

Hey everyone,

So I have been conflicted. I have always have road bikes since I was a teen. This summer I was hit by a car while biking to work which left me with a broken arm. Since then I have really been thinking about sitting more upright. The other month though, my main do everything semi-touring commuter bike was stolen (it was gorgeous). Since then I bought a Trek 420 sport touring road bike and a Schwinn Crisscross 90s hybrid bike. Im building the Trek with a back rack for groceries and using it for going on longer rides around the city. The Schwinn I’m building as a casual city beater bike with a small front basket, wider tires and commuter handlebars (maybe even only a rear derailleur).

My main biking is done around the city, I am a true commuter. I don’t go on long tours or races or nothing like that. I live in the city of Detroit where there are no hills, wide streets, long distances and no cars. This being said keep in mind I rarely exceed +25 miles in a ride (although my weekend rides are around 15-20miles).

I am interested on how I can make my posture more upright on the Trek 420 road bike while keeping an aggressive posture available for when there are head winds. What got me started about the handlebars were mustache bars which I had the pleasure of trying out on someones bike and I quite enjoyed them for city riding. So I have been wondering what I can do to my Trek since I NEVER use the drops and pretty much leave my hands at the conners where the first bend starts (from flat bar to bar end spots) unless I have to break or cut through wind.

These are the options I thought would solve my issue:

1) Taller stem: Get a new stem that brings the drop downs to the height of the seat. Probably the cheapest of the options. The idea would just bring up everything, making the flat bar spot more upright and everything else less aggressive.

2) Mustache Handlebar: What got me into this conflict. Taller & shorter stem and mustache handlebars. No new brake would be needed. Although what I have been reading online this may not make me anymore upright than drop bars. I like the idea of getting away from the drop bar style as well (from a purely vanity stand point).

3) Inverted Albatross/North Road/Swept back bars: This is where I have been leaning. Taller stem and the bars. Will this setup lift me up at all? I know it would bring me closer (un-stretch me). Can you use the bends like mustache bar (as in does it feel alright to do)? It would look cool and provide more leverage as my current drops are really narrow.


I am bring this to you all because Im in a pickle for ordering and sizes. My drop and trekker bar (on my schwinn) are both 25.4mm diameters (as well as the stem I have with them obviously). I would like to just order a taller stem and see if that fixes the problem but if i were to get the inverted swept back bars then id probably go with 26mm diameter cause it cheaper (the mustache can be found in either 25.4 or 26 for reasonably cheap prices). So I don’t want to have to order two stems and not use one. Also as I said, part of me wants a style change but I don’t know if inverted swept backs are actually enjoyable to ride with or just look nice. I did always figure if I didn’t like the inverted swept backs I could always use them right side up on my schwinn hybrid.

What do you think my best course of action would be? New bars or old bars? Mustache or swept backs?

-Aaron

You need in line top mount brakes like I have. All about versatility. I mostly ride on the top bar but it's nice to jump on the hoods or down into the drops when you want to go fast. https://smile.amazon.com/Tektro-RL72...ds=tetra+rl720

http://i.imgur.com/Ndk7tXW.jpg

Taller stem.. Bullhorn handlebars...

After riding riding road style it will be hard to adjust to mustache bars. You will probably need to keep your bars and brakes wide. Don't forget to lower your seat stem about 1/2". Just slowly make your adjustments. Its a process. Heres how I had to configure my UNIVEGA after a bad back injury.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1476405218

You wll notice that the bars are up pretty high and I had to use a mountain bike stem to get them up there. I really like the Tektro bar end brake levers, and its a simple set up. All in all its a good configuration for a 63 year old with a bad back.

Tell me more about these in line levers. I have never used them. Do they interfere with the regular brakes and are they hard to install???

+1 for inline brakes (or cross top)

They add the possibility to brake from the tops (upright), without interfering with the ability to brake from hoods or drops. I have the Tektro RL720

I didn't install them myself, because I'm not very good at mechanical stuff, but it seems relatively easy?

Lower the seat stem? Wont that hurt my knees? Ive had knee pain when the seat hasnt been in the right position.

I used to have bullhorns and I loved them... Just dont feel like spending money on them if they are already "built in" to my drop downs, you know? (maybe im just being cheap but its hard to spend money on something when it can be taken from you so easily [theift :mad:])

Any chance you know what stem you are using on the Univega? I like the curve to it.

The wider bars is some thing I have been considering... I purchased nice wide AL drop bars with Ultegra shifters on them for $5 at a reuse shop. The only problem is they are 31.8mm dia and I have no stems for that size. It may be the most expensive option if I wanted to install them....... (I have been considering trying out the shifters with my suntour Blaze groupo, I know typically they say to keep them all on the same groupo but I think it may work since thwy are the same cog #s and relative spacing?? but thats for next summer anyways)


P.S. Gorgous Univega! Love the color! Since it already has yellow accents I would put strips of yellow reflective tape on the fork + back triangle, it could look really cool and provide you with extra safety.

Already got them in my amazon order, just wanted to see if I was going to stick with drops or not (and waiting for free shipping aka $49)

So I ordered one of these
Sunlite Alloy 2-Bolt Quill Stem - 180 x 22.2 x 80mm, Silver
but with the diameters I needed. Figured Id just raise up the bar before trying a whole new set of bars.

Although,,, I just found I can get a tall technomic stem with the aggressive "road" styled angle to it for $30.. I would set either of these to probably the same height tbh. Is there any advantage (other than original style) to using the road angled stem? What do people think about the looks of a tall curved stem vs a tall hard angle stem? I never take handlebars off so I dont care about face plates/2 bolt systems (actually make me nervous about being stolen).

You're going down a rewarding path of self maintenance. I've gone through a few vintage road bikes that I set up for commuting this way. They don't interfere at all, the regular brake levers are not effected. I'd recommend them for nearly any road bike. The only con is a minimal weight penalty. They're easy to install but it is a good idea to consider your whole cockpit set up while you're at it. Do you want new brake levers for the hoods, bar tape, stem size? Best to do this all at the same time. You'll need to cut the brake cable housing and replace the wire, ferules, and end caps. While you're at it definitely replace the bar tape too. The only special tool you'll need is a wire cutter and a few allen keys. Plenty of good youtube videos on how to do all of this and I also recommend 'Zinn and the art of Road Bicycle Maintenance' and it's a such an improvement in comfort. Well worth the minimal cost.

People add these??? I removed them off of my TriCross because they were really redundant and ate up a lot of bar space.

In my case, I added them on my first road bike, meaning I wasn't used to drop bars at all. Inline brakes felt like something familiar from my old flat bar bikes. It still scares the crap out of me to brake from the drops, so if I need a full stop, I usually reach for the inline brakes.

+1 Interrupters on the uppers. I have them on both my drop bar bikes.

A taller angle stem and drop bars will give you the most options. Use the drops for headwinds. I have trekker and moustache bars. Neither gives as many positions as my drop bar bikes. It's easy & cheap to add additional cross levers if desired.

Tall stem and Time trial aero bars work quite well. I have an older female friend who does this. She doesn't lean over too much, but resting on her arms is quite comfortable.

I like Quill stems (like you have in the pictures above), cause it takes about 5 seconds to raise or lower them. With "modern" stems, it takes about 15 minutes to unbolt everything and put it back together.

come again? I can swap a threadless stem in like 3 to 5 minutes. Nothing needs to come off the bars at all.

I have 3 different bikes, and 2 of them have stem risers attached to the fork steer tube, and then the stem attaches to the riser. On one bike I did it because the bike frame is really too small for me. I made it work with the stem riser and a longer stem. It's a rigid MTB that I use as a "gravel grinder" to ride on both gravel roads/trails and on pavement. The other one is actually a frame that's a tad too large for me, but my goal was to make a Dutch-inspired bike where I sit bolt upright, and I use that one to haul groceries or other around-town errands. I have swept-back FSA Metropolis bars on that one, and I love it.

My road bike has the bars lower than the saddle, though not by a huge amount, but it's also the right size and fit for me. I use that for commuting, because my commute is long, and the other bikes are just too heavy and slow to be commuter bikes at that distance.

If you never use the drops, I would suggest bullhorn-type bars, either with interrupter-tyle levers, or bar-end brake levers like those used on TT bikes. I'm not sure if you could do both on bullhorn bars. I'm sure someone has tried it.

True - its more of a PITA (and time consuming) when I need to flip the stem upside down too. But still, 5 minutes is more than 5 seconds.

Nitto Of Japan Makes a stem like that The Technomic and Tallux

still may want a tall stem . Bars up near saddle height

the radius of that forward bend is quite a Bit tighter than the Albatross. use them as designed curved Upwards from the stem, Not Down

In 4th option : figure 8 bend Trekking Bars , also probably need a taller stem, I have mine slightly above My saddle height :50:




'/,

I set just added this road bar to my Curtlo and I love it!

Was tired of drops and brifters and the MTB bar I originally fitted was too flat.

Much happier now...

Anyone know where I can find a bar like this in black with a little bit of rise? Prefer it not too wide either. It would be for my wife's bike.



-Kedosto

All of my bikes have swept bars. One has a "FSA Metropolis" with 31.8 clamp diameter. Another is "Origin8 citi classic" which has 25.4 clamp diameter, and more rise and sweep. Both come in black.

BTW, I meant "road bar'; nothing I do or own is "rad"...

What bars are these? Ive been looking for something exactly like this for my hybrid. I like Metropolis bars but dont want to buy a different stem (for the 38.1mm) since its supposed to be my cheap beater bike. The Origin8 Citi Classics look nice but seem to go further back than yours or Metropolis bars.

I did end up getting a tall Technomic stem for $32 on ebay, hoping to install it and the neon green grip tape today :D

Do you know of any bar similar to the Metropolis that is 25.4mm diameter? The Origin8 Citi has more sweep than I am looking for (I dont mind the rise because my current stem is on the short side). (this is for my hybrid FYI)

MARY STYLE MOUNTAIN BIKE MTB HANDLEBAR BAR | eBay

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