Please help me find a better commuting handlebar.
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 706
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From: Portland, OR
Please help me find a better commuting handlebar.
My current bar is a Nitto Dove Bar, which is comfortable, but has too much back sweep for me (angle is fine, but the bars come back too far). I'm looking for a not too wide, angled bar without a lot of back sweep. I've thought about Mary bars, but they'd be too wide. Right now I'm looking at the Bontrager Satellite Trekking bar. It's wider than I want, but looks as though I could cut it down.
Here's my current bar:

Here's what I want to try, something like the Satellite Trekking:

What other options might I have? What do you use and how do you like it?
Here's my current bar:

Here's what I want to try, something like the Satellite Trekking:

What other options might I have? What do you use and how do you like it?
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
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The Milan bar that Velo-Orange sells is similar to the Mary bars, but a bit narrower. I had one on one of my bikes for awhile but ended up replacing it with a Mary knock-off (the Origin8 Space bar) because I wanted something wider.
On another bike, I use a Soma Noah's Arc. Aesthetically, I don't like it as much as sharper-angled bars like the Milan or the Marys, but it's extremely comfortable.
On another bike, I use a Soma Noah's Arc. Aesthetically, I don't like it as much as sharper-angled bars like the Milan or the Marys, but it's extremely comfortable.
#4
Mary (or Space Bar) cut down? The Mary bars are very comfortable, but I needed more than 1 hand position.
What about a real trekking bar? Sure they are ugly, but hard to beat for comfort.
What about a real trekking bar? Sure they are ugly, but hard to beat for comfort.
#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 706
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From: Portland, OR
I've thought about this, but with the brake levers I'm using (Shimano Alivo) I don't have much room. Even with the lever as close to the bend as I can get them I could only take about a half inch off each side before the lever blades extend past the bar.
#6
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Santa Cruz County, CA
#8
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Louisville, KY
Bikes: Jamis Coda
You may wish to try a moustache bar, as they sweep farther forward before coming back to about the same final angle as your Dove. So you would have a similar final angle, just placed farther forward.
#10
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 706
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From: Portland, OR
This is the easiest solution and certainly one I thought of, but here's where I get soft. The current stem is 30-35 years old and was my dad's. It sat unused for at least 25 years in his parts bin before I found a use for it. It's my favorite part on the bike and I'm really hoping to keep it. I'd have to go pretty long to get the hand position I'm looking for... at least to a 130-140mm.
#12
Soul filled with grease
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 254
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From: Hills-Vegas, NC
Bikes: Early Surly XCheck;1960 Schwinn Speedster;1996 Giant CroMo Camper;1986 Fuji
+1 for this option. I put the SOMA 3-speed moustache bars on and I'm completely happy with them.
#13
you could go with a Nashbar Trekking Bar, though you might need a different stem, and it is pretty wide.
Offers similar hand position that sweeps back much less, in addition to a few more hand positions. I have them on both my road hybrid and MTB. Love em, and wouldn't trade them for anything else.
Here are some threads displaying how people set them up. Mine's set up similar to this one, but with ergon grips on the "flat-bar" part.
Offers similar hand position that sweeps back much less, in addition to a few more hand positions. I have them on both my road hybrid and MTB. Love em, and wouldn't trade them for anything else.
Here are some threads displaying how people set them up. Mine's set up similar to this one, but with ergon grips on the "flat-bar" part.
#15
#16
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 706
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From: Portland, OR
These have all been great suggestions. Thanks for the help!
So far I really like the Sparrow and the Milan Bar. I think I'll look into those, but I'm still open to more suggestions. Keep them coming!
So far I really like the Sparrow and the Milan Bar. I think I'll look into those, but I'm still open to more suggestions. Keep them coming!
#17
I got a straight Mtn bike bar with a slight rise to it and chopped two inches off the ends. works great for me.
__________________
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
#18
Biker, Lover, Fighter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 414
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From: CA
Bikes: My own hand built frames
#19
h-bar
I've seen a lot of people have no end of trouble setting up their H-bars. Shifter position is usually the stickler. It seems to come down to a choice between bar end shifters, or Paul Thumbies (Which i guess are also bar ends) But once they have it down, people do seem to like them.
#20
Drops small screws


Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 9
From: NYC Metro Area
Bikes: Soma Grand Randonneur, modified Xootr Swift, Trek 1000SL with broken brifter from running it into a hotel porte-cochère
I have a Titec H-Bar I decided not to use, and haven't gotten around to putting it on eBay. If you're interested, drop me a PM.
#21
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,882
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From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Peugeot, Motobecane, Joannou, Kona, Specialized, Ironhorse, Royal Scot, Dahon
I've been using my touring bike with On One Midge bars as a commuter lately. I was a little uncertain about this bar until I bought a tall stem. It's just about perfect now. I'm surprised at how good it feels. The midge has a very short reach and shallow drop, and should be setup level or above saddle height. You can search the touring forum for pix.
#22
My current bar is a Nitto Dove Bar, which is comfortable, but has too much back sweep for me (angle is fine, but the bars come back too far). I'm looking for a not too wide, angled bar without a lot of back sweep. I've thought about Mary bars, but they'd be too wide. Right now I'm looking at the Bontrager Satellite Trekking bar. It's wider than I want, but looks as though I could cut it down.
What other options might I have? What do you use and how do you like it?
What other options might I have? What do you use and how do you like it?
I would definitely second the Soma Sparrow bars. I have these on another bike and they are fantastic. Only thing is, wherever you put your hands, you are basically leaning or putting pressure on the same areas. So even though you can widen or tighten your grip on them, they don't provide as much variety of hand placement to deal with sore spots as moustache or drop bars.
Then there's these: https://www.jitensha.com/eng/flatbar05.html
I haven't tried them but they seem to be exactly what you're looking for.
Another route would be to check out some of the more severely angled mtn bike bars--there are flat bars and risers out there with at least a 15 deg angle, if not more. Not a flat bar, but nowhere near even Mary bar angles. The Soma Arc bar would fit this description as well.






