Friday I'm in Love
05-16-10 | 08:00 AM
#51
cyclopath
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,264
Likes: 6
From: Victoria, BC
Bikes: Surly Krampus, Surly Straggler, Pivot Mach 6, Bike Friday Tikit, Bike Friday Tandem, Santa Cruz Nomad
We finally got a chance to ride the bikes for a while. Not too far, about 50 kms. I really like the feel of the bike, it rolls beautifully and the gears are perfect!
I like how smooth the bar-end shifters are, but I wish I didn't have to reach so far down for them.
The only real problem was with breaking, which is a big one. I had a really hard time reaching the levers, but then figured that if I lean my body forward, I can reach the breaks much better. Still, the space between the bar and the lever seems far away, and even after such a short and easy ride (this is a ride we do when we don't have time to go for a "real" ride, and have done it hundreds of times), my hands are killing me. I can't imagine touring on roads with cars, it just doesn't feel safe. Any ideas how could I fix this? Is the stem too long? The hoods too big for my hands? Are drop bars not for me?
I like how smooth the bar-end shifters are, but I wish I didn't have to reach so far down for them.
The only real problem was with breaking, which is a big one. I had a really hard time reaching the levers, but then figured that if I lean my body forward, I can reach the breaks much better. Still, the space between the bar and the lever seems far away, and even after such a short and easy ride (this is a ride we do when we don't have time to go for a "real" ride, and have done it hundreds of times), my hands are killing me. I can't imagine touring on roads with cars, it just doesn't feel safe. Any ideas how could I fix this? Is the stem too long? The hoods too big for my hands? Are drop bars not for me?
05-16-10 | 09:03 AM
#52
Eschew Obfuscation
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
Bikes: 2005 Fuji Professional, 2002 Lemond Zurich, Folders - Strida, Merc, Dahon, Downtube, Recumbent folder
Given the troubles you have with drop bars, maybe it's time to consider moustache bars like these: https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...1_10000_200388 . It's a $25 solution and uses the same parts you have on your bike now.
Here's a picture of of one on my Moulton TSR:
It allows a comfy "sit-up" position when you hold the ends of the bar. In this position, your hands are very close to the bar-end shifters. When your hands are in the curved part of the bar, the brakes are easily reached by the hands. It's a more natural hand position than drop bars, IMHO.
Secondly, on the brake levers, there is an adjustment for the reach of the levers. Have you made sure that yours are adjusted for the shortest reach?
OFF Topic rant: Given the prices of Bike Fridays, why on earth aren't they installing brifters instead of cheesy bar-end shifters. Sheesh!
Here's a picture of of one on my Moulton TSR:
It allows a comfy "sit-up" position when you hold the ends of the bar. In this position, your hands are very close to the bar-end shifters. When your hands are in the curved part of the bar, the brakes are easily reached by the hands. It's a more natural hand position than drop bars, IMHO.
Secondly, on the brake levers, there is an adjustment for the reach of the levers. Have you made sure that yours are adjusted for the shortest reach?
OFF Topic rant: Given the prices of Bike Fridays, why on earth aren't they installing brifters instead of cheesy bar-end shifters. Sheesh!
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Last edited by SesameCrunch; 05-16-10 at 09:08 AM.
05-16-10 | 08:08 PM
#53
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From: Canada
05-16-10 | 08:20 PM
#54
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From: Canada
I agree, we need to talk to somebody. I will email the BF rep tomorrow and see what she says, not sure if we should try to make adjustments to drops or just change the bars all together.
I've been looking at Bike Fridays on Flickr for some ideas, and found this one: https://www.flickr.com/photos/number5/393969311/
Maybe that's what I need? Not sure, we'll see what they suggest.
05-16-10 | 08:25 PM
#55
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From: Canada
Given the troubles you have with drop bars, maybe it's time to consider moustache bars like these: https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...1_10000_200388 . It's a $25 solution and uses the same parts you have on your bike now.
Here's a picture of of one on my Moulton TSR:
It allows a comfy "sit-up" position when you hold the ends of the bar. In this position, your hands are very close to the bar-end shifters. When your hands are in the curved part of the bar, the brakes are easily reached by the hands. It's a more natural hand position than drop bars, IMHO.
Secondly, on the brake levers, there is an adjustment for the reach of the levers. Have you made sure that yours are adjusted for the shortest reach?
OFF Topic rant: Given the prices of Bike Fridays, why on earth aren't they installing brifters instead of cheesy bar-end shifters. Sheesh!
Here's a picture of of one on my Moulton TSR:
It allows a comfy "sit-up" position when you hold the ends of the bar. In this position, your hands are very close to the bar-end shifters. When your hands are in the curved part of the bar, the brakes are easily reached by the hands. It's a more natural hand position than drop bars, IMHO.
Secondly, on the brake levers, there is an adjustment for the reach of the levers. Have you made sure that yours are adjusted for the shortest reach?
OFF Topic rant: Given the prices of Bike Fridays, why on earth aren't they installing brifters instead of cheesy bar-end shifters. Sheesh!
As per your rant, they do install integrated shifters. It was our choice to get bar ends, as they are supposed to be better for touring. Trek 520 comes with those, which was actually main reason I didn't get it last year. Oh, the irony....
05-17-10 | 12:59 AM
#56
Idiot Extraordinaire
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 121
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Given the troubles you have with drop bars, maybe it's time to consider moustache bars like these: https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...1_10000_200388 . It's a $25 solution and uses the same parts you have on your bike now.
05-17-10 | 01:03 AM
#57
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Well, he did have similar issues with the reach as well. We are both used to flat bars, so it is quite an adjustment.
I agree, we need to talk to somebody. I will email the BF rep tomorrow and see what she says, not sure if we should try to make adjustments to drops or just change the bars all together.
I agree, we need to talk to somebody. I will email the BF rep tomorrow and see what she says, not sure if we should try to make adjustments to drops or just change the bars all together.
Another data point is to test ride a "normal" bike with drop levers and bar end shifters at a LBS and see how that feels.
05-20-10 | 05:59 AM
#58
Dead Men Assume...
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 852
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From: Singapore
Bikes: Bike Friday NWT
Lucille, go back to Urbane and talk to Carey, call ahead to make sure that he's in and see what he says. He's also a BF owner so he's in a much better position than us on here for advice.
05-20-10 | 07:18 AM
#59
cyclopath
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,264
Likes: 6
From: Victoria, BC
Bikes: Surly Krampus, Surly Straggler, Pivot Mach 6, Bike Friday Tikit, Bike Friday Tandem, Santa Cruz Nomad
+1 - this sort of thing will be hard for BF to diagnose and correct over the phone. A knowledgeable LBS can look at you riding the bike and how your hands are positioned to determine what your best options are.
05-24-10 | 09:15 AM
#60
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,421
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From: Out there, on my bike
You may need short reach levers if you have particularly small hands. I've never needed them, but I've heard of people with small hands who find them more comfortable. The main thing, with regular levers or short reach, is to practice good form. That means keeping your elbows relaxed and supporting your body with your core (as opposed to hunching on the bars). Start with going to the local shop to get an experienced person to look at your form and your levers, and then go from there.
Enjoy your bike!BF Yellow Wall 1March08 small.jpg
Enjoy your bike!BF Yellow Wall 1March08 small.jpg
06-06-10 | 06:25 PM
#61
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From: Canada
You may need short reach levers if you have particularly small hands. I've never needed them, but I've heard of people with small hands who find them more comfortable. The main thing, with regular levers or short reach, is to practice good form. That means keeping your elbows relaxed and supporting your body with your core (as opposed to hunching on the bars). Start with going to the local shop to get an experienced person to look at your form and your levers, and then go from there.
Enjoy your bike!Attachment 152246
Enjoy your bike!Attachment 152246
I will keep an eye on my position, always good to check yourself every so often while riding. I knew it would take some time to get used to the drops, as I've never had them, but I think the problem has been solved.
06-06-10 | 06:44 PM
#62
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From: Canada
I think I'm good to go. I had a dealer change the bars for me for smaller drops, and add another set of brake levers. It feels much more comfortable and managable, I think I'm done tinkering, but we'll after tomorrow's commute to work.
Here's some pics I took for you:
old bars: IMG_1725 copy..jpg
new bars:IMG_1871 copy..jpg
other views: IMG_1873 copy..jpgIMG_1872 copy..jpg
and we even tackled packing it into the suitcase today. Took an hour on the first try.
IMG_1880 copy..jpg
Here's some pics I took for you:
old bars: IMG_1725 copy..jpg
new bars:IMG_1871 copy..jpg
other views: IMG_1873 copy..jpgIMG_1872 copy..jpg
and we even tackled packing it into the suitcase today. Took an hour on the first try.
IMG_1880 copy..jpg
06-06-10 | 07:09 PM
#63
cyclopath
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,264
Likes: 6
From: Victoria, BC
Bikes: Surly Krampus, Surly Straggler, Pivot Mach 6, Bike Friday Tikit, Bike Friday Tandem, Santa Cruz Nomad
Sweet...
06-06-10 | 08:10 PM
#65
Part-time epistemologist
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,870
Likes: 3
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Jamis Nova, Bike Friday triplet, Bike Friday NWT, STRIDA, Austro Daimler Vent Noir, Hollands Tourer
Cool.
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
06-07-10 | 05:36 PM
#66
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,421
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From: Out there, on my bike
Looks great. Those bars are alot smaller, so they ought to be better for you. Can't wait to hear about your commute. How far is your commute, by the way?
I had a great ride on my Friday on Sunday. It was very hot here, but I rode a strong 34 miles before having to douse my head with ice water.
I had a great ride on my Friday on Sunday. It was very hot here, but I rode a strong 34 miles before having to douse my head with ice water.
06-07-10 | 05:50 PM
#67
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From: Canada
Looks great. Those bars are alot smaller, so they ought to be better for you. Can't wait to hear about your commute. How far is your commute, by the way?
I had a great ride on my Friday on Sunday. It was very hot here, but I rode a strong 34 miles before having to douse my head with ice water.
I had a great ride on my Friday on Sunday. It was very hot here, but I rode a strong 34 miles before having to douse my head with ice water.
I have a hard time riding when it gets too hot, so exhausting! Good on ya though!
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