New Trekking Bars - A Newb's Experience
 

Finally tracked down a set of trekking bars. It was not as easy as one might think; I suppose for those south of the 49th Parallel it's as easy as a trip to the LBS or a few quick keystrokes online with VISA in hand, but for this Canuck it was a real "trekk". To make a long story short, an obscure, out-of-the way LBS on the edge of town was the only shop whose owners/employees did not look at me as though I was from Mars when describing my desired bars. Not only had they heard of them, they were only too eager to order them for me and I had them within a week.

Much to my chagrin the installation did not go without a hitch. For some reason, the geometry of this particular set brought my controls in contact with a bend in the bars right where I wanted them to be. Not only that, the OE stem that came with the bike was too short and made the cockpit feel very cramped. After a stem swap and a number of adjustments I finally feel comfortable with the set-up. I love all the hand positions that these offer me and I can stretch out much more than I could with the flat bars. It's the next best thing to drop bars, IMHO. I hope the tape stays put; it's my first taping job.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/...6300da239c.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/...a5e7bf3d05.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/...a849b137d9.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/...4780095964.jpg

I don't really like having to mount the light where it is but I just couldn't get the clamp to fit where the bell is so it'll have to do for now. Also, I lost my bar-end mount postion for my mirror so I had to buy a helmet-mounted one. We'll see how I adjust to that. Still very pleased overall.

Maybe something like this would be useful: http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/p...-mount-reviews

I woulda sent you the bars I am not using :D I tried them, but didn't like the feel.

I purchased one of these mirrors for my trekking bars and I like it quite a lot: http://www.amazon.com/MIRROR-SUNLT-D...665042&sr=8-13

I also like my trekking bars quite a lot in general. Have a very similar setup to yours..

PM sent.
 

PM sent. I want to try trekking bars.

I have my trekking bars reversed. I went through a lot of different types of bars and bar ends before I got my trekking bars. I love 'em. I thought I would like the Titec H-bars, found out that I didn't.

Meanwhile I got that same mirror, tried it on my trekking bars, on my wife's bike (not trekking bars), and eventually gave them to a friend. Ended up with an eyeglass mounted mirror that I love.

I had the same problem with mounting stuff to the trekking bar. Some solutions I tried with varying degrees of success: mounting my light upside down, so it could occupy some of the same space as the bell; Mounting the speedometer to the stem; getting a spacer-mounted bell that goes between the headset and the stem (didn't use that solution with my trekking bars, but it's probably still an option with them).

I've considered on of those accessory extenders and/or a 2nd, lower, stem with a shortened, flat bar for lights, but at the moment I've managed to relocate most of my stuff out of the way.

I had brake/shifter combo units like yours, and I kept feeling that they were not the best option for trekking bars, but I never tried any alternatives, either. I would expect the grips to be flipped, though, with the wider part supporting the meatier part of your palm.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Out of curiosity what did you not like about it? I mounted mine on the the flatish portion of the left side of my trekking bars right before the top curve. It is out of the way from the various hand positions I use on the bars, and provides good rear visibility.

irclean - love the looks of that setup. I plan on making the switch to trekking bars ASAP as well. They've been hard enough to track down here south of the border, even online, so I'm sure you had some issues finding them.

What brand bars did you get? I've been looking at the Kalloy ones available online from Wallbike.com.

What stem is that on your bike? Length/reach? I ask b/c we seem to have, with the exception of paint color, the same bike. (Eerily enough, I think we may even both have the same aftermarket saddle - Avenir Groove Light? - and is that a Greenfield Stabilizer sticking out the back in the fourth shot?! Cuz I got that, too...) Eerieness (sp?) aside, I've been wondering if the stock stem is going to provide sufficient reach and have been thinking about possible options if a change is needed. Your stem looks significantly longer than the stock adjustable one on the Schwinns.

Another idea for your mirror if the helmet-mounted one is not to your liking...

http://www.borealphoto.com/photos/847767767_wAaLr-S.jpg

as linked to in this thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post10743731

I've been planning on trying to do something similar w/ my Mirrycle bar-end mirror since I will no longer have the right kind of bar ends. Uses a light clamp around the handlebars w/ the mirror arm screwed into that.

Want mine? I picked one up from a local shop because someone else orphaned them off to get other bars. I can't say that I like them enough, and I'd rather have drop bars instead. Mine fit a 25.4 clamp, are painted gloss black and have the original sponge grip.

The stem length is the weird thing, I'd say. Your hands will either be close or far depending on which grip you use. If you shorten the stem so the farther portion of the bars is "normal", the near portion is way too close; if you lengthen the stem, the far portion will be far away. I just can't decide what to do about it.

If you're offering... ;) I'd gladly take them off your hands for ya. I'll shoot you a PM...

As for fit - I can certainly see that being an issue to be worked out, and one I expect to wrestle w/ a bit. Thing is, my current riser bars on my hybrid don't offer many hand positions (of course), and the cheap rubber grips that came stock are wearing out. I wwas going to buy bar end grips (Titec L types) and some ergo grips, and realized that for about the same price, I could buy a new trekking bar. I mostly want it for the side grip, where I picture my hands being positioned most of the time, especially for longer rides/overnight touring I hope to do over the summer, which was initially the driving force behind looking for more hand positions on the bike.

I'll pop 'em off right now since I'm done working for the day.

One thing they're good for is riding in a wide-elbowed TT position for a little bit. :D

That was one of the pros for me. My stem was too long with my flat bars. I installed the trekking bars so that the curve came towards me. This put the closest grips at a location that is very comfortable for me. The side grips are good to just get a change of position on a long ride. The far grips help me to bend down a bit when riding in to a headwind.

This is the main reason I'm tossing around the idea of trekking bars or drops on my hybrid. For those who have done such a thing, do you notice a significant difference when fighting a headwind?

Given the same kind of wind, heck yeah, it makes a difference. That pseudo-TT position I mentioned is as close as I'm going to get to a flat back on that bike, and I can sustain a higher speed for longer than if I sat upright. Try it for yourself by pivoting forward at your hips (don't just bend your spine) and crouching forward.

The rider creates the most aero drag on any bike. Duck down and it's like tossing away a sail.

The wider part of the grips IS under the meatier part of my palm. They are mounted in the same way as they would be on flat bars; it's just that the bar enters from and exits out the opposite ends of the grips. That being said, these particular grips are cheap knockoffs and I eventually plan to replace them with some Ergon grips. I have their GC2's on my other bike (they were originally on this bike) and I am very impressed with the quality.

Here's a pic of the OE bars & stem with my GC2's. You can clearly see that the "meaty" part of the grip is in the outboard position.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/...4b0a3a79_o.jpg

Thanks for the compliment and the suggestions! I'm afraid that I dont know the exact dimensions of the replacement stem; I do know that it was about an inch (or 25mm) longer that the stock one. Also the angle appears to be about zero degrees. The OE adjustable stem's shallowest angle was marked as 10 degrees. I definitely feel more stretched out when not on the grips (where the controls are) but that was what I was going for. I got lucky in that the length and angle of the stem give me all the positions that I was hoping to get.

I believe that the bars are Kalloy, the saddle is a Terry Liberator Y, and yes, that is indeed a Greenfield Stabilizer kickstand. All three changes were huge improvements over the stock pieces. I'd love to see some pics of your bike for comparison!

I haven't had much chance to try the bike out since the swap. I've been working out of town for the past number of weeks and I haven't been able to do much riding. I think next week I'll start taking my bike with me on the rack, parking on the edge of town, and riding into work. I hope it makes a difference in a headwind as that was one of my goals. I considered going with drop bars but decided this would be a much cheaper solution. Also, I am planning to buy a road bike next year.

Which LBS did you get them from? I've also been looking for trekking bars.

The shop is called "The Missing Link Cycle & Ski" in London. They don't have a website but their email addy is missinglink@ody.ca. Have you checked Urbane Cyclist in Toronto? They seem to cater to the commuter more so than other shops and one would think they'd at least be able to track down a set of trekking bars if they don't stock them.

Thanks for that, irclean. Compliments of BarrackSi, I've got a set of trekking bars on my bike now, too. So far, I'm actually pretty comfortable w/ the stock stem, so I may hold off a bit and see what my thoughts are once I get a few more miles in. My bars are black, though, and the rigid fork I plan on buying in the next week or so is also black, so I may replace the stem w/ a black one for aesthetics if nothing else (regardless of what I decide to do sizewise w/ the stem).

I'll post an update to my pictures in the commuter bike photos thread when I get a chance and maybe post a couple handlebar specific ones here, too. In the meantime, a handful of pics from February (sans trekking bars, pedals, saddle, Greenfield, computer, and probably a couple other upgrades I'm forgetting right now) are here.

As for improvements, I agree. All the changes I've made over time have also been significant improvements.

Yes, our bikes are eerily similar. It looks like the biggest differences are that your fork is threadless, where as mine is threaded. I too plan to eventually switch to a rigid fork - at which time I'll likely go threadless. Also, my bike has the Altus 8-speed drivetrain where as yours has the Tourney (7-speed?). A friend of mine gave me an Acera derailleur that he was not using and I'll be switching to that eventually as well. Other than those slight differences it looks as if our bikes could have been built on the same production line. Congrats on your acquisition of the trekking bars! Make sure to post some pics once you have it set up. Here's some pics of my bike before the recent changes:

Shortly after purchase:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2762/...a7e7185e69.jpg

In full Winter Warrior set-up:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/...9437d68b7b.jpg

http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashba...-NCL-FRONT.jpg

Nashbar has trekking bars for $15 and ships to Canada.

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...1_10000_200388

Nice to see you got your bars and have them installed... my LBS stocks them and think I have really depleted their stock by purchasing them for myself or turning other people on to them.

Since they are a narrower bar you will probably need shims to mount things.

Just did these up for a friend... you can see the shims if you look closely enough.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...rekkerbars.JPG

madchemist, I know the LBS where irclean got the bars! you just have to help me with this second year organic chem class im taking.....

im curious aswell, where were these bars from irclean?

Yeah, my fork is threadless. Picked out a suspension corrected rigid hybrid fork and a new headset last night. May place the order as soon as this afternoon. Interesting that your fork was threaded. Given my growing but limited knowledge of bicycle mechanics, I was under the impression that pretty much all hybrids and MTBs these days were using 1-1/8" threadless forks as stock, but I guess your bike might be the exception! ;-)

Yeah my bike is a seven speed in back w/ Tourney rear derailleur. Cheapest of the cheap in the brand name derailleur world, but it's gotten me through about 3,000 miles so far and shows no signs of giving up, so...

The rear wheel was originally a freewheel design, but when I replaced the rear wheel (for the second time) in January, I got one with a freehub.

Love the winter warrior photo BTW! I'll try to post some new ones of my own tomorrow night (going to a concert tonight, so probably won't have time).

Buy 'em while they got 'em. I checked that product several times a week over the last couple months as I thought about the transition to trekking bars, and they were never in stock. They're bound to disappear fast...