Hybrid bike modifications
 

Hey guys,

I've been riding a hybrid for nearly 4 years now and I was wondering if I could make it a little more aggressive by changing the flat handlebars with bullhorn handle bars. Is this recommended/ rather useful? Tbh I love my bike but I just want a little more aggressive posture as a change.
Thanks!

Bullhorns will mainly move your hands forward. You might not be entirely pleased with that.
And most bullhorns will have a different grip area diameter, forcing you to buy new shifters and brake levers.
You get 95% of the bullhorn experience at 5% of the cost if you settle for a pair of longish bar ends instead.
If you’ve already slammed the stem and still want lower, try some drop bar ends.

I used Scott AT4 bars on my hybrid for years, then put on touring bars (some call them butterfly...multiple hand positions, same shifters/brake levers) and rode it that way for a period of time. I have Velo Crazy Bars on it now. Again, these bars offered lots of multiple hand positions, but may not be as aggressive as you are looking for...

I second the motion for butterfly or trekking handlebars. They give me a choice of positions nearer to me or farther from me. The bends on the end give a wider spaced grip. If still too close, try a longer stem. I like 'em.

Have you tried flipping and slamming the stem?

I didn't like trekking/butterfly bars, FWIW. The mass of the bars towards the outside made the handling squirrelly.

Maybe Soma Lauterwassers? They're a little like drop bars, but they won't require new shifters/brake levers.

+1. This will get the bars lower and further away. You'll be leaned over more, reducing air drag and positioning your torso and legs to work more efficiently. But all at the cost of less comfort. You may want the added performance but not tolerate the position. Flipping the stem is a cheap, easy way to get some of your desired result without any investment, and allows you to be sure you want to go the performance route.

I did this on my Trek 7.3FX. Made a noticeable difference.

those bullhorns are more to give you a different hand position on long straights or on long climbs etc. they are not a handlebar adjustment. You can't shift or brake from them.
I have them and use them on long paths when I don't have to change speed or it is unlikely to need to brake. or uphill. Helps my hands to just be in a different position.

you may get a longer or adjustable stem. Or lower your handlebar is you have space.

Why wouldn't you want to try to improve your riding position?

People post endlessly on BF about the value of better components, losing tiny increments of weight and tires with minuscule differences in rolling resistance. If you really want to ride faster the low hanging fruit is your position on the bike and reducing the amount of energy that it takes to push your torso through the air.

Just save the old parts so you can put it back the way it was if you don't like the result for any reason.

Trekking bars..


Or maybe just Ergon GR 5 grips... their longest bar end, integrated with a comfort broad paddle grip.


I use the GR 3 on my folding bikes.









......

You could go with the horns while retracting the stem reward to comp the reach as long as it's within reason.
Example.
https://www.trekbicyclesuperstore.co...m-222603-1.htm
If this was your stem of choice, you would have a few options for length selection.