Ape hanger bars
 

I saw the most interesting handlebar set up on a mountain bike diring my commute in this morning. Ape hanger bars with bar ends sticking up mounted to a girvin flex stem. Because of the angle of the ape hangers at their ends the bar ends made a v shape with the bar and stuck out a an odd angle. I could see them sticking wayout past the cyclist when I was coming up behind him. The just looked like they were made to hook something and pull the bike down. Different strokes for different folks but that looked dangerous.

...the HELL are you talking about?
(I'm sure you're right. But you reminded me of a Steve Martin routine....

"Ok, I don't like to gear my material to the audience but I'd like to make an exception because I was told that there is a convention of plumbers in San Francisco this week - I understand about 30 of them came down to the show tonight - so before I came out I worked-up a joke especially for the plumbers. Those of you who aren't plumbers probably won't get this and won't think it's funny, but I think those of you who are plumbers will really enjoy this…

This lawn supervisor was out on a sprinkler maintenence job and he started working on a Findlay sprinkler head with a Langstrom 7" gangly wrench. Just then, this little apprentice leaned over and said, "You can't work on a Findlay sprinkler head with a Langstrom 7" wrench." Well this infuriated the supervisor, so he went and got Volume 14 of the Kinsley manual, and he reads to him and says, "The Langstrom 7" wrench can be used with the Findlay sprocket." Just then, the little apprentice leaned over and says, "It says sprocket not socket!"

Were these plumbers supposed to be here this show? Or…"

- Steve Martin, Let's Get Small (1977)

Just try to picture the handle bars on the old Schwinn Orange Crates, take the tassels of the bars and put mountain bike bars ends on sticking up rotated slightly forward. I can't even picture how you could ride this setup if you put your hands on top they woulod be turned palm out with the backs of the hands facing eachother or you are gripping the bar ends from underneath. Either way seem like it would be hard to control, besides the distance between the bar ends measured almost 30" out to out (wide load).

All that bike needs now is a chopper fork and a 24" rear wheel and it'd be awesome.

Unfortunately it didn't have nearly the scrounge bike style you are attributing to it.

http://entirely-adequate.com/keiki/keiki2.jpg

I need some bar ends, I guess.

Those are not by definition, ape hanger bars. These bars were over 20 inches of rise with hand grips that sloped down and away on a full size mtn bike.

I guess you had to see it, if I see the bike again I follow him and get a photo.