THIS IS a commuting bike:

To answer the OP question - Maybe this week. Tune back in next week to see the latest ultimate doo-dad.

The only possible disadvantage I can imagine with these sort of bars is maybe a little lack of room when making tight turns, as the bar comes back and into contact with where your legs are. Most other bar designs won't have that particular problem. Hard to say how big a deal that is though.

''The only possible disadvantage I can imagine with these sort of bars is maybe a little lack of room when making tight turns, as the bar comes back and into contact with where your legs are. Most other bar designs won't have that particular problem. Hard to say how big a deal that is though.''

not true at all...no one would make a practical bar that would be a possible health hazard...these come no where near your legs...remember you have to go with a stem that is a good 2-4cm longer to compensate for the sweepback.

below is a link to the albatross fan club, for more ideas and inspiration.
www.bessasandackerman.com/blog/?p=46

''The only possible disadvantage I can imagine with these sort of bars is maybe a little lack of room when making tight turns, as the bar comes back and into contact with where your legs are. Most other bar designs won't have that particular problem. Hard to say how big a deal that is though.''

not true at all...think about it: no reputable vendor would make or sell a bar that would be a possible health hazard...these come no where near your legs...remember you have to go with a stem that is a good 2-4cm longer to compensate for the sweepback.

below is a link to the albatross fan club, for more ideas and inspiration.
www.bessasandackerman.com/blog/?p=46

Great link.

I don't know about the merits of albatross bars, but riding home today from lunch downtown I saw the Freddiest-Fred trackstand on a dime. He had an old white mushroom-style Bell helmet with a rear view mirror, was dressed in casual work clothes (maybe even sandals), and was on a old blue steel frame with a basket up front attached to, you guessed, albatross bars. He's got my respect.

actually: I've read of people who TOUR long distance with these bars, too
and seen pics of people doing so

I am considering putting extenders on mine for more versatility.

have Albatross bars on a surly c-c, my "winter bike".
they are ok for short commutes, on a longer ride (>16 km)
they would be more comfortable with some sweep; perhaps
20 degrees.

what do you mean 'sweep' specifically?

I'll let you all know if the extenders work on these babies

still in search of the ultimate all round handlebar
(even the jones bar (now cheaper h bar by titec)
doesn't sweep forward enough...

ay vay!!!

canali
Albatross hand grips are almost parallel to the bike frame,
so when you hold them your wrists are turned slightly,
not in a natural position. some bending or "sweeping"
of the grips outward a few degrees would result in a
more natural and comfortable grip section, especially
on longer rides. the inner section of the Albatross bar
is shaped well and creates a good position for climbing
or getting a little more aero in a strong head wind.

oh now i understand...thanks...what, then,of the on-one mary bars (considering those with extenders, too).

the popular nashbar/rei butterfly/trekking bars seem pretty wide

at least the modolo yuma bars came in 3 sizes

still searching for the ultimate true all rounder handlebar
(or at least a tweaked configuration therein).

so lend me your ideas, folks...would love to hear of 'em.

The Mary bars are great.

Both have their place though. On my Giant the riding position is bolt upright and the Albatross bars are very comfortable, but I would not want to be leaning over them for any long stretch.
My Salsa I set up with Mary bars and my riding position is about the same as riding "on the hoods" of drop bars. A position the Mary's are better suited for.

Oh, if you put the Ergon grips (the ones on the pic above) on the Albatrosses, you can rest your elbows on the "flair"* like the elbow pads on aero bars and get into a similar tuck.



*

thanks!

Please excuse my humble attempt at an illustration of sweep. The angles I've drawn are more for comparison than for actual numbers, which I can only guess at. The On-One Mary bars are a variation on the All-Rounder, an English bar that was also very popular on some of the more commuter-like bikes in Europe. In fact, they still are. They have less sweep than NR's and have a shorter straight section at the clamp. Hope this helps.
https://i15.tinypic.com/2rm39cw.jpg

The OP asks about the Ultimate Handlebar. Tough to say. There are some basics to use as a Go-By, tho. I do this, and it has worked fror me:

1) Stand with your arms relaxed at your sides
2) Look down and notice the natural pronation (twist) of your wrists.
3) Lift your arms to the approx position of your H'bar grips and notice that your wrists haven't changed their pronation.
4) Good, your are a human, not a chimp.
5) Match a set of bars to that approx postion and you will choose North Roads or Mary's. Like McD's - Billions and Billions sold.

Oh yeah, one more thing. AllenG says it well. He doesn't sit bolt uprigth with Marys because they don't sweep back as far AND today's bikes are alot longer than the old 3-speeds. With my NR's I have a good comfortable lean in much the same way he describes with his Mary's. Thus, long rides are the norm out to 70-100 miles.

My commuter has a set of Nitto Curved Promenade's that are excellent. 90 degree sweep on those.

when i service my bike in the spring, i'm planning to swab the albatross
for a on one mary bar. will have to add a thumbie to the bar end and
perhaps modify the brake cable lengths.

I have north road bars on my bike. My girlfriend rode it last weekend and she said "its like hanging out, on a bike."

I love the mary bars:

lovely bike!!

here is my bike with (amber) shellacked (cork) bar tape
(and on rear chain stays: the mudflaps are from rivendell)
https://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2006/cc...llins1206.html

I think that either the mary on-one, promenade, north road or albatross
COULD be the ''ultimate'' all round handlebar with tweaking...all of these
give you that up right/comfort position for city commuting, single track
fire road...BUT with the correct stem length (read: longer, esp or albatross
northroad and promenade since they sweep back) and angle and even with
bar ends for more stretch, that they'd be also then equally competent
at handling touring, randonneuring, fast rides/windy day rides.

on my albatross I have a 120mm stem (grant of rivendell suggests adding
a good 2-4 cm over your regular stem for drops, to compensate for the
bar sweep back) and today put them more on a horizontal plane for
further stretch....may try either those or the on-one mary bars (with
bar ends) for the ultimate stretch.

I'll share with you all my findings.

your thoughts?

btw, today in my local bike shop i tried on for width
a pair of scott bull horns...at 55cm. I felt them too wide
(and since the nashbar and other trekking bars are even
wider, ie, 56-58cm, I'll pass on that option, although I was
considering them)....at the front ramp of my albatross
they sit about 48-50cm if I recall

Canali:
Lovely bike. Good taste.

thank you....today also, in response to another poster,
I did remove about 4" of tape from both sides of the clamp
to show that satin nitto bar finish...I may in the near future
also try a 140mm stem: a stunning (satin silver finished
Thompson Elite (absolutely gorgeous!)

If you like the wooden fenders on my surly xcheck, btw,
check out cody at www.woodysfenders.com
He's a great guy, has awesome styles and his prices are
about 1/3 to 1/2 of the competition...and just as good.

cheers
joe

Was Mary a long lost sweatheart?

I have North Road bars on my rain bike, and they're not bad at all. Not great but certainly not bad. I think they would be better with a more upright seating position for sure. I find them much more comfortable with bar tape instead of short rubber grips.