I cut 4 cm from my handlebar width
#2
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From: San Juan, PR
Bikes: 1980's Royce Union "fixed wheel", 1995 Trek 370, 406 -wheeled kludged " shopper/minivelo"for running errands, early 90's Raleigh M60 (no longer SS; now 7-speed 1x), (2) Zizzo Campo (one stock, another slightly mod'ed)
Glad you made the bike more comfortable to you but, I'd be concerned about not having the pedal threads fully seated in the alloy crank, especially ones that look quick release. Perhaps find a bottom bracket/crankset with a wider Q factor?
#3
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So did I. I took the bar to my neighborhood metal shop and within minutes they cut 2cm from each end of this 580mm wide bar, narrowing it down to 540mm. I paid $0.90 for their troubles.


#4
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Nice. I trimmed the bars on my Bike Friday about 4cm just to make it less cumbersome to carry up the narrow stairs of our basement.
Looks like you're building a mini rocket. Are those Assioma power meter pedals? How does the Zizzo compare to your 700c bikes?
Looks like you're building a mini rocket. Are those Assioma power meter pedals? How does the Zizzo compare to your 700c bikes?
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#5
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Total width of the handlebar = 44cm. The pedals are basic quick release MKS. The nice thing about these is that they will fit both the MKS road pedals and the Zizzo quick release flat pedals. I have not done a back-to-back test to 700c road bike, but I think the Zizzo is 1.0 - 1.5 mph slower. It's those long folding bike cables hanging in the breeze. 
Yah, full pedal thread engagement is ideal. Typically, the first 5 threads of a bolt carry the majority of the load. With two 1.5mm washers for a total of 3mm, there are 5 threads remaining. The washers need to be steel material. I'll put them on my routine inspection list.
I was cool weather today. When I departed in the late afternoon it was 1C. The lobster gloves did not give me any problems in the bike cockpit. Some warm soup midway helped. 30 miles today and the handlebars are a keeper.




Yah, full pedal thread engagement is ideal. Typically, the first 5 threads of a bolt carry the majority of the load. With two 1.5mm washers for a total of 3mm, there are 5 threads remaining. The washers need to be steel material. I'll put them on my routine inspection list.
I was cool weather today. When I departed in the late afternoon it was 1C. The lobster gloves did not give me any problems in the bike cockpit. Some warm soup midway helped. 30 miles today and the handlebars are a keeper.



Last edited by A2022; 02-21-26 at 08:22 PM.
#6
Love the handlebar setup. Be careful over potholes, railroad tracks, etc., though. The amount of slender tubing between the headset and the bars and the prospect of having your full upper body weight on the forearm pads over jarring road surfaces looks like a material engineer's nightmare.
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#7
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I wanted a narrower Q factor on my heavy duty touring bike by about 10mm, I used a shorter bottom bracket spindle than ideal. My chainline is off by 5mm, but it is on an IGH bike so that is not much of an issue.
#8
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I removed one washer from my clipless pedals, leaving just one. I had been feeling slight knee pain in the same spot on both sides when using clipless shoes with two washers. After a 40-mile ride yesterday, I think the issue is resolved. It’s amazing how such a small adjustment can make a big difference. For flat pedals, I use two washers.




#9
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Getting better and better!
I'm not worried about the force on the forearm pads as those are centered over the flat bar. But high down or up force on the aero bars is another thing. But usually you won't do that.
I wanted a brake on my aero bars in case something jumps out in front of me, easy to do, I just got a mid-cable/interrupter lever and mounted it left front on the aero bars, for the front brake (between the flat bar lever and the v-brake). Those levers are usually short-pull for road bikes, but it works fine on my long-pull v-brakes as the wheels are super true and pads adjusted close, and I like the added mechanical advantage when holding the bike at an uphill or downhill stoplight.
Right front on the aero bar is a small bell.
I haven't shortened my 58cm bars yet as I lack the real estate to do so, interference with flat bar stuff and the aero bar armrests. The aero bar forearm pads are a bit too close together for me, even on the widest setting, but I have a new set with flip-down rests that is wider. But I want it mounted 75mm higher than the flat bar mount. They make risers that would fit, but not approved by Profile, as they are narrow, and my only guess is, the arm rests would then put too much side torque into the risers and base, that's my guess why Profile does not approve for that aero bar. I will probably do some kind of double-stem-clamp (dogbones) to raise the aeros, and with flip up rests, might narrow the flat bar. I might need a different flat bar because the taper is so slow on the OEM Dahon one, can't clamp anything there. But I ran across a bike friday H bar used, didn't buy it because it was too narrow. I used to ride a road bike with 40cm bullhorns, but that's too narrow for me these days for best comfort.
My aero bar is also my drink bottle mount, Profile makes both. That's especially nice as the stock Dahon bottle cage location, the cage would constantly get bent from my foot hitting it getting on or off, plus the bottle leaks when horizontal like that. I really like the bottle on the aero bar.
OP, are those aero bar cam levers backwards? Or just not locked down?
I'm not worried about the force on the forearm pads as those are centered over the flat bar. But high down or up force on the aero bars is another thing. But usually you won't do that.
I wanted a brake on my aero bars in case something jumps out in front of me, easy to do, I just got a mid-cable/interrupter lever and mounted it left front on the aero bars, for the front brake (between the flat bar lever and the v-brake). Those levers are usually short-pull for road bikes, but it works fine on my long-pull v-brakes as the wheels are super true and pads adjusted close, and I like the added mechanical advantage when holding the bike at an uphill or downhill stoplight.
Right front on the aero bar is a small bell.
I haven't shortened my 58cm bars yet as I lack the real estate to do so, interference with flat bar stuff and the aero bar armrests. The aero bar forearm pads are a bit too close together for me, even on the widest setting, but I have a new set with flip-down rests that is wider. But I want it mounted 75mm higher than the flat bar mount. They make risers that would fit, but not approved by Profile, as they are narrow, and my only guess is, the arm rests would then put too much side torque into the risers and base, that's my guess why Profile does not approve for that aero bar. I will probably do some kind of double-stem-clamp (dogbones) to raise the aeros, and with flip up rests, might narrow the flat bar. I might need a different flat bar because the taper is so slow on the OEM Dahon one, can't clamp anything there. But I ran across a bike friday H bar used, didn't buy it because it was too narrow. I used to ride a road bike with 40cm bullhorns, but that's too narrow for me these days for best comfort.
My aero bar is also my drink bottle mount, Profile makes both. That's especially nice as the stock Dahon bottle cage location, the cage would constantly get bent from my foot hitting it getting on or off, plus the bottle leaks when horizontal like that. I really like the bottle on the aero bar.
OP, are those aero bar cam levers backwards? Or just not locked down?
Last edited by Duragrouch; 04-02-26 at 10:06 PM.
#10
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The cam levers are locked. They lock in the downwards position. I just purchased another set of these for another Zizzo. For a Zizzo you need the additional 25.4mm split shims on their website and then you will need to make some additional split shims from:
Aluminum Round Tube: 6061, 1 in Outside Dia, 0.035 in Wall Thick, 6 ft Overall Lg, Mill, T6
As I will need to make more of these for the new bars. I will make from a 6 ft piece I purchased.... let me know if you need some and I will make and send to you.
#11
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The cam levers are locked. They lock in the downwards position. I just purchased another set of these for another Zizzo. For a Zizzo you need the additional 25.4mm split shims on their website and then you will need to make some additional split shims from:
Aluminum Round Tube: 6061, 1 in Outside Dia, 0.035 in Wall Thick, 6 ft Overall Lg, Mill, T6
As I will need to make more of these for the new bars. I will make from a 6 ft piece I purchased.... let me know if you need some and I will make and send to you.
#12
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Where do you fit your front light and bell If you have shortened the handlebar? There doesn't seem to be enough space to attach them anymore. Be careful in Japan, I've seen people get ticketed by police doing traffic stops for bicycles for not having the lights.
#13
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My bell is on the right front of the aero, mid-cable brake lever is on the left front of the aero.
But for lights or bell, if no aero bar, those can also mount to the handlepost or vertical section of a conventional stem. I did that with the bell on my road bike. A light, need not be immediately at hand, can also attach to the top deck or sides of a front rack.
#14
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Be careful of "flamethrower" lights if you go to Germany, legally you need a light certified for German regulations StVO, which require a cut off above the horizon so it doesn't blind oncoming traffic. Although I'm not sure anybody enforces since all the stuff on eBay and Amazon from China are not certified. And blinking bicycle lights are not allowed.
The German lights are actually great because you really don't get blinded by the other cyclists unless they have the Chinese lights or don't install them correctly and point them above the horizon. The B+M lights are great because they're rechargeable, and can act as power bank for your phone in an emergency, don't sag or change position on the handlebar, fairly bright as advertised.
You can tell if it's German certified by the wavy logo and a certification number embossed somewhere on the plastic body.
The German lights are actually great because you really don't get blinded by the other cyclists unless they have the Chinese lights or don't install them correctly and point them above the horizon. The B+M lights are great because they're rechargeable, and can act as power bank for your phone in an emergency, don't sag or change position on the handlebar, fairly bright as advertised.
You can tell if it's German certified by the wavy logo and a certification number embossed somewhere on the plastic body.
Last edited by tomtomtom123; 04-05-26 at 08:38 AM.
#15
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Be careful of "flamethrower" lights if you go to Germany, legally you need a light certified for German regulations StVO, which require a cut off above the horizon so it doesn't blind oncoming traffic. Although I'm not sure anybody enforces since all the stuff on eBay and Amazon from China are not certified. And blinking bicycle lights are not allowed.
The German lights are actually great because you really don't get blinded by the other cyclists unless they have the Chinese lights or don't install them correctly and point them above the horizon. The B+M lights are great because they're rechargeable, and can act as power bank for your phone in an emergency, don't sag or change position on the handlebar, fairly bright as advertised.
You can tell if it's German certified by the wavy logo and a certification number embossed somewhere on the plastic body.
The German lights are actually great because you really don't get blinded by the other cyclists unless they have the Chinese lights or don't install them correctly and point them above the horizon. The B+M lights are great because they're rechargeable, and can act as power bank for your phone in an emergency, don't sag or change position on the handlebar, fairly bright as advertised.
You can tell if it's German certified by the wavy logo and a certification number embossed somewhere on the plastic body.











