trickdog

Bought some moustache bars for the commuter. After 2 hours of riding and adjusting, I have the bars dialed for what feels to be the best setup for me...for now, however I may change the stem out for a one inch shorter one later this week as the lowest part of bars by the shifter/brake levers might be a bit too high.

Previously my hands would tingle and go numb about 45 minutes of riding no matter how much adjusting I had done with the seat position both up and down and front to back, different stems, gloves etc, The problems with the hands would not go away. Now with the moustache bars and many different hand positions, I had no problems with tingling and numbeness in the hands after 1 hour 20 minutes of straight riding.

I kind of like the look of the bare bars and with the very wet weather we get here in the winter, bar tape does not hold up for long. I also don't relish the thought of attempting to push regular grips all the way around the curved areas of the bar....it looks to be impossible.

Does anyone have suggestions for easy to add material for grips/cushioning on another area of the bar, especially on the semi-upright area just past the curve.

Thanks
TD

The Rob

Isn't that actually a trekking bar? I've been tempted to look into converting my bike with one.

As to the tape/grip question: I have no idea, but surely your LBS has fielded such a query. I'd ask.

spider-man

For moustache bars, I use cotton handlebar tape, sometimes over an old innertube. If it's going to be abused, I put at least a couple coats of shellac over the tape.

You pictures, though, show a trekking bar. I have no experience using them, but you might consider the same treatment for it.

I-Like-To-Bike

1" foam pipe insulation, cut to size. Cheap and effective.

jcm

I second the 1" foam insulation. The soft black stuff, not the stiff gray closed cell type. Works great. Excellent winter chill insulation. Seems to fill my hands better, too.

trickdog

I went to the local hardware store and all they have is the grey type. I guess Home Depot would carry the black insulation?

icedmocha 

Insulation....genius. I didn't want to tape my treking bars. Now I know what I'll use.

Lamplight

The stiff gray insulation is split-wall. What you need to look for is the foam rubber solid-wall insulation. Comes in many sizes and would probably work quite nicely.

dobber

Them ther bars ain't moustaches, they're a version of Trekking bars. But then again, if they work for you, call em what you want.

What's the manufacturer / model? Can you post a side view, it looks like they are a bit more vertical then I've ever seen a set (but then again, what works fr you is the key).

An old inner tube, cut and split makes a nice cushioned wrap.

n4zou

Grips. I soak grips in very hot water and liquid dish washing soap in one of those insulated coffee mugs making sure to leave it in long enough so the grip has time to fully expand due to the hot water. They will slide right on and the soap will lubricate allowing easy sliding and when dry will stick them in place.

I like the Cat eye sticky back cotton tape and cork plugs, which cut down handlebar buzz. Wine bottle corks with embossed ends look really cool on real Moustache bars!

Anyone looking for handlebars like these….
Bike Nashbar has trekking ATB/Hybrid bars similar to these listed in the current catalog 221 on page 56, item "L", stock number NS-TRK for $14.95. It's not listed on the website and may be sold out or may be a catalog only deal. Call them at 1-800-NASHBAR

trickdog

I bought the bars at the LBS and did not notice a name on the bars. I will take a closer look today when I wrap the bars.

I will also post a side view of the bars. The pictures that were originally posted are deceiving...the bars are not as vertical as they appear in the pictures.

TD.

Pigtire

Nitto Moustache bars from the Rivendell site. As long as it's comfy and it works, those bars will do you well.

Brian Sorrell

I just added trekking bars and what a fantastic difference from flats! I wrapped them with tennis racket grip tape. You can find that stuff pretty cheap and it's designed to handle sweat -- but the insulation idea is sure clever.

dalmore

pipe insulation? I don't know - certainly worth looking at BUT it's going be much bigger around than any handlebar or grip I've ever seen. Not sure that would work for me I have trouble reaching the brakes from the drops as it is. And if I recall, that stuff is slick when wet, I'd have a hard time with that given the way I sweat.

Certainly a creative use for a readily available product though.

trickdog

I have been to Home Depot, Rona and Canadian Tire and no one carries the black foam insulation. Does anyone know where I can find this insulation in the Vancouver BC area?

Thanks

TD

I-Like-To-Bike

Try the grey stuff. It works fine for me.

Alloy Addict

More pictures would be great. I've been contemplating giving these a try, but they aren't too common around here and the more info I can get the better.

Bklyn

I'm using trekking bars, and regular bar tape works well up until the grip shifters. I'd like to see a picture of insulation on handlebars. Could it possibly be more efficient and cheaper than $9 worth of handlebar tape?

I-Like-To-Bike

Yes, costs less than $1 year per bike. Four of my bikes so equipped.

Sammyboy

I'm liking the fuzzy dice.

I-Like-To-Bike

And better yet, they are roadside treasure!

trickdog

Finished with the trekking bars. I bought a new shorter and less angled stem which dropped the overall height of the bars by approx 1-1/4 inches.

I could not find any soft black insulating foam so I used the grey split foam and covered it with black hockey tape. Total cost for foam and tape: $2.34

With the foam providing hand relief and the lower height of the bars, they are extremely comfortable and well worth the investment.

Sammyboy

Wait. What?

Alloy Addict

trickdog,

What brand are those bars, and what was the price? I've been looking at trekking bars a lot lately, but I haven't seen any that look exactly like those.

Wogster

I'll have to remember this one, I have about 1' of the stuff left over from doing the legs of my camera tripod, the easiest way to carry it, is over one shoulder, so the foam on the legs makes it much more comfortable. Still haven't figured a way to carry it on the bike though, thinking about lashing to the top of the rack, once I get that installed, but I think it will hang past the end of the rack, maybe tie a piece of red cloth to the end, sort of an indicator of a long load