Thanks for all the recommendations, folks!

I have not made a final decision yet- I am just finishing the refurb, so I need to get the bike on the road to get a sense of what might be most comfy (for example, whether the bar slopes back, or bullhorn forward, riser, etc). You gave me a great set of options!

I have a bit of a concern about whether some of these bars will fit on my stem - it's an older style that has one bolt, and handlebars need to be "slipped" in. I didn't want to drop another $30 or so on a new road stem (and what new stem could be used with center-pull cantilever brakes, anyway?). Below is a "before" pic that shows the stem (note the hole where the center-pull cantilever brake cable goes through the stem). I included an "after" pic, just for fun (I still have a couple things to add, like a chain guard).

So, I still have the question, of whether I could actually mount some of these more complex handlebar designs on my existing stem, and if not, where the heck could I get a stem with the hole for the brake cable?

Oh, and here's a compilation of all the suggestions so far (I think), for the next guy who's lookin':

Nashbar Time Trial

Nashbar Trekking

On One Mary

Soma Urban Pursuit

Bontrager Courier

Nitto North Road / Albatross

Origin-8 Space Bar

Dimension Trekking

Add bar ends

Add aero bars

Ditto on the Nashbar trekking bars. I have mine mounted the other way but whatever works is what's right! They give numberous hand positions which helps me on longer rides.

han, I have the same kind of "slip" through stem you have and my nashbar trekking bars did slide right through with no problem.
And thanks for taking the time to set up those links. I have been wondering what most of those bars looked like but I am too lazy to do a search. Not to add to the confusion, but I really dig those Origin-8 Gary bars. Definatly keep us updated with the build up!

Thanks MBGS, and your welcome!

I'll post after I figure it out - it'll probably be a couple weeks.

I have the Dimension Trekking bars on a Raleigh Twenty I use to commute and it is nice that you have a lot of bar to mount lights and such but hand positions are limited. I guess it doesn't help that I lopped off about 2" of each end. They just were too wide for me. I originally had the handle bars to close and high so it was a bit hard fighting head winds. Changed that set up. I put on a 130mm stem and lowered the bars and am very happy with it. I am setting up my winter commuter and I also bought the Nashbar Trekking bars and am setting it up now. I have the open end towards me with the brake levers and shifters right up to the ends of the bars. So far it seems pretty nice. I do like a long stem so I can stretch out good and far when I am heading into the wind though. Kind of like Superman. You just have to fool around until you find the set up best for you.

My wife was having wrist pain from the flat bars on her hybrid. I got her a set of North Roads and the wrist pain disappeared. It's a much more natural position than flat bars and you're still nice and high. Very comfy.

Welp, I finally decided on the Dimension Riser Bar. Just a simple, cheap ($17) bar with a 10degree bend and 90mm rise. The bike is a little small for me, and instead of getting a new stem and such, I opted for the high riser bar. Also, I have grip shifts, which somewhat limits the bars I can use. I'm also thinking about adding aero bars or placing "L" bar ends in the middle of the bar somewhere for variety of hand positions. So many options!

I have a Surly LHT with Ritchey Biomax bars and Campy brifters as well as a Bridgestone MTB with BBB Trekking bars and MTB shifters and brakes. Both are great but if I had to choose -- trekking bars it would be. I really like the "aero" position it offers on the front with hands close in. There is a really great set of trekking bars on wallbike.com. Maybe once the wife forgets my Dinotte 600L light / taillight and my Arkel Commuter bag ...

Photos! Must see!

please

Hey han, thanks for keeping us updated, but I would have to agree with Cody

Hope you enjoy them!

Welp, it's still lookin' more or less like the pic I posted earlier (top of this page), except for the bar and a suspension seatpost. I'll post another pic once I get a basket for the rack and get my new lights on.

Thanks again for everyone's help! I finally posted a pic on the bike pic sticky:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...49471&page=103

Sorry you can't really see the handlebars! I'll update the pic when I can.

For future reference:

I like Soma Sparrows. Less rise/drop than North Road/Albatross bars. I had the same problem as you hanshananigan, my flats are just a little reachy for me. So, the Soma Sparrow will bring them back every so slightly and up.

The Origin 8 Gary mentioned before is a knockoff of the On One Midge. The midge is better. The Origin 8 Space Bar is a knock off of the On One Mary. The Space Bar only takes road levers, which is weird because it's basically a riser MTB bar. The Mary takes MTB levers.

Hey,

I am pretty new at bike-commuting. But recently I installed Nitto RB021 (This is a classic road bull horn, isn't it?) on a commuter MTB with a good result. Here is the pic.



I was hoping to get an effective handle area like the drop of a drop-bar; so I can practice drop-bar till I get a "Midge". So roof ain't a good position, I know. I've been riding this thing for few weeks now and I kinda like this thing.

Is it me or flat-bar isn't really good for a long ride? This is my first attempt at drop-bar (like) bar and spent most of my life with flat bars. I recently rode for a while on a riser bar (Nitto B102?), but I feel more relaxed with RB021 when I am riding.

T

What he said.