...........

Don't tell me. You're a retrogrouch. One of those guys who says, "I personally don't need something therefore it's stupid." Believe it or not, there are about six billion other people in the world and some of them might just think a little differently.

That's why I told him to get it down to less than $150. Honestly, do you try to read before you knock something? And an awful lot of people don't trust used parts bought on eBay or refuse to buy on eBay at all. I have no problem with doing so, but I'm not like you in believing my attitude is the only one that matters.

That's what happens when you rely on Google rather than experience. AFAIK, only one disc brake will work with road levers because of the different cable travel: the Avid BB7 version designed specifically for road use, and BB7s aren't cheap. So yes, most cable-operated discs won't work. You could add pulleys and other things to change cable travel, but this attitude of yours that "it's too complicated, so I can do it my way by adding different complication" is rather silly, too.

You're making assumptions that aren't very defensible. Touring cyclists don't use drops just to rest their hands. They also use them to vary their body position. Go lower to fight headwinds. Sit higher to breathe easier and take in the sights. Switch it up to use tired leg and gluteal muscles slightly differently. Use your favorite tool, Google. Do an image search for "touring bike" and you'll find that quite a few have flat bars. Over decades of riding, I've owned drops, flat with bar-ends (I used bar-ends before most people even heard of them), Scott AT-2/3/4, cowhorn, WTB flared drops, trekking and other handlebars you've never even heard of. When I did have drops, I spent over 95% of my time on the hoods because it was the most comfortable position and I could reach the brakes. I never had tired hands that needed rest. But again, unlike you, I don't believe my experience is the only valid one.

I appreciate the input from everyone. I learn so much from reading this....Thank you.
From my own experience, (as the inventor, maybe a bit bias)
I don't care for drop bars because I do not like to stay in the down position all of the time and I don't like having my hands so close together in the up position.
I have used the EZRIDE for over two years now. It does add weight and it is a mechanical device and yes it will cost somewhere between $100-$150.
As a sanity check I put my original stem back on occasionally just to see if this "contraption" is worth it. In doing so I continue to find more benefits:
When I ride wearing a backpack (laptop), I like to ride higher up. This keeps my back straighter and less "pull" against the straps.
Also, the shock absorption feature of the EZRIDE is something that I have grown very use to. I did not realize this until I went back to a solid stem.
This may not be for everyone. There is something to be said for keeping things simple and less mechanical. But, if you ride like i ride (in many different conditions) and want to have the ability to adapt to different conditions...this is worth the trade-off. Keep sending your comments...
I wonder if the bicycle rental folks would be interested in this? www.jlsdesignworks.com

Bike Guy, The video got me fired up to buy some Jeff Beck. The stem didn't do much for me. Good luck with it!

I get it...Old stuff is safe, new ideas take some imagination/risk...After 30 years of mechanical design and 26 patents I understand completely, stay safe my friend.

Have you considered a coil spring to provide height-adjustment force plus an elastomer bumper for shock absorption? It would reduce costs considerably over air cylinders. Better yet, use the same size elastomers as Cane Creek uses for their Thudbuster, which would provide widely available and inexpensive spares. Hate to say it, but if you don't reduce costs as much as possible, a big company can easily come in and undercut you.

The issue has been ...how to lock it in one place by using only the force of a thumb lever. This led to the clylinders. I am open to any ideas as you are completely correct about pricing. I will check out the Thudbuster. Thanks Jon

Are you interested in trying one of the EZRIDES?
 

Hello Sixty Fiver,
Would you like to tryout an EZRIDE system and then give us your feedback? Free of charge of course.
If so, contact me and I will arrange to send you one. You need a 1.125" diameter fork shaft and a 1" diameter handlebar. An installation video is on my website. It usually takes about five minutes to install.

my email is jonlsullivan@hotmail.com and my website www.JLSDESIGNWORKS.com

Take Care
Jon

Hello,
I am very interested in this. Where can I buy one? What is the cost?

email sent

I saw the Youtube video. Interesting. For $50 I might well consider that.

On the other hand, regarding the video... Did pay Jeff Beck his due royalties for using his music? ;)

I think it's very interesting but personally I'm not sure what bike I'd have it on, as I'm generally a fan of drops or bar ends - I like having my wrists at those angles and it feels more natural to me (I even do push-ups this way).

Too bulky/heavy for my road bike for which I like the drops enough on (but I agree that when riding more upright I don't always like the narrower grip).

I also wouldn't put something so exotic/expensive on my commuter/beater which I have to lock up. The extra 3 lbs or so probably wouldn't be worth it over the relatively short length of my commute, as my commuter is heavy enough already...

Maybe if I was a tourer/randonneur I'd consider it though. Weight/bulk wouldn't matter, but comfort would. The extra damping on the wrists/arms would be nice and being able to adjust on the fly would be handy when you're riding so many hours in the day.

I think it might be the other way around, lots of stuff happens at the Taipei Bike Trade Show because lots of manufacturing happens there.....

z

Just watched the video.

The engineer geek in me says that is a cool looking toy, I like what you did there... but the commuter in me says no, it doesn't solve a problem that isn't better solved with drop bars. Sorry dude but the added weight, cost, and complexity makes it inferior to drop bars while not provoding any additional functionality over drop bars IMO, but good luck with it.

Interesting idea. I like the concept, seems like after some iterations it'll be a slick product. Lot sof pinch points and 3lb will be a problem for many cyclists because of the weight weenie factor. I suppose with the amount of carbon fiber flat bar "fitness bikes" being sold there is certainly a market. Just needs to be mass produced and marketed.
Good luck! Nice to see innovation is alive and well in the US!

CH - The design allows for more positional changes than drop bars.

Why don't you take this to kickstarter and see if you can get some backing?

Wow well im fairly new to biking and to this forum and i love them both and i must say that is a wonderful idea.My bike weighs a ton now so whats a few more ponds?i just don't understand this weight thing.For me a Clyde the more weight i lug around the more i hope to lose also with my neck and shoulders problem always tighting up on me it would be wonderful to have the freedom to switch positions on the fly. Any way great job if i see one around and have the extra cash i will for sure give it a try.
justtom

I think part of the point of this is not that you absolutely must use flat bars, but that you can keep your preferred hand position through a range of torso angles. You like your bar-ends, but you can't brake or shift from those. Switch to this and North Road or similar bars and you can reach all your controls whether you're sitting upright or low in a headwind.

bike fitter version
 

In addition to a retail product, if you had a version with a built-in protractor (or digital readout) for the stem angle and perhaps an adjustable length, I could see that product being attractive for bike shops.

Good luck!

If nobody mentioned it yet, you might check with the CPSC to see what they require for product certification, especially if it can be used on children's bikes. Liability and consumer protection issues often over-ride design and manufacturing issues. Good luck.

Years ago I came up with a series of bicycle trailers but never got to the manufacturing point. Manufacturing cost was one factor, ability to defend the product from competing companies was another big factor and my pockets weren't deep enough to pursue it.