BobbyG

Trust me, my two road bikes have conventional drop bars.

But, my MTB-based commuter has a very non-conventional jungle-gym arrangement, born of necessity.

Today at lunch I made a small adjustment that yielded the results I wanted.

In my 40's I developed "crampy" hands which begged for multiple hand positions, and my straight-bar MTB-commuter had only one. I added bar ends, but because the bars were wide I moved them inboard. At 49 I added an aero-bar for even more positions. This bike is now my winter commuter, but I still like to ride it now and then for variety year-round. But last winter, the angle of the bar-ends was becoming uncomfortable, and today I rode the bike to work and my hands found no relief on the bar ends, just the aero bar.

Because of the slight curve of the handle bars, the bar ends were slightly splayed which rotated my wrists slightly outward. At 56 years old, this was now a problem. I needed to get the bars more "straight ahead".

I realized that if I moved my horn and bell inboard of the bar-ends, and pushed the rapid-fire shifter/brake outward slightly, I might achieve "straighter" bar ends...

...and it worked!

The ride home was more comfortable and easier on my hands.

The proper solution for me would be to fit proper drop bars to the bike, but that would necessitate (I think) changing shifters and brakes and either getting ones that work with the MTB gears or get adapters. Plus, this is a 21-year old mountain bike from the 90s which isn't getting any newer, and considering the state of the frame and components, is not worth investing that much time, effort and money in. Plus, in the winter with studded snow tires, the wide straight bars really help tame icy ruts and mushy snow conditions.

My only other change in this area may be to get straighter bar ends rather than curved.

So now here are my franken-bar pics in all their kludgy glory!


The previous set-up. Notice the red horn button on the left and the bell on the right are outboard of the bar ends. Also notice the angle of the bar ends as they come off the bar.


Now the horn and bell are inboard of the bar ends, and the base of the bar-ends are"straighter, more parallel to the front wheel.


And here are the hand positions...





It works for me.

xrayzebra 

Those bars are a bold statement, my friend, no irony or sarcasm intended, you are a brave guy to post 'em here for the naysayers and serious cyclists to sneer at. I'll offer, in solidarity, that what works for you, works for you. I hate flat bars, they don't work for me. I added a set of extenders to my flat bars like those horns you have sticking out of yours, and it worked great for me. I ignored every serious biker who sneered at them. Straight flat bars kill my shoulders, I just can't keep my hands in that position very long, I need to rotate my hands to the extender position or use old fashioned touring bars. I can't bend over long enough to ride drop bars. Maybe I should stay in the 50+ riders section, eh? I wouldn't be caught dead with aero bars, mainly because you could look at me and tell they were strictly for show and I can't even use them, but I bet you wouldn't be caught dead riding with the ape hangers I have on most of my bikes. To each his own, and whatever works for you keeps you on a bike, where you belong.

rgconner

If an octopus could ride a bicycle, what would the bars look like?

Now I know...

=)

If it works, it is not stupid. Stupid is using what everyone else does when it does not work for you.

subgrade

The first of the hand positions depicted looks really uncomfortable to me. I would swap the bar ends, so the angled parts point inwards, but that's probably just me. What works for you, works for you.

BobbyG

I was considering that, but they would likely interfere with the aero bars. Instead, I may go for different straighter bars.
...or a cry for help.
The first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem.
First they have to "catch" you!

hankaye

BobbyG, Howdy;

My old bike is a "95 Stumpjumper, it has the bar end 'extenders' they came on the ends and face inwards.
Perhaps if you slide them to the outboard ends, flip them so the ends point inwards and slide the regular grips
inwards that 1/2 to 3/4 inch it may help. For ME, it's a matter of helping keep my arms straighter rather then
having them angled inwards to a narrower position gives me a feeling of better leverage. Just a suggestion.

hank

doubravsky 

Great thread! I too have a flat bar commuter bike with an aero bar and bar extensions and struggle with hand position. I like how those aero bars have the elbow pads behind the bars-- gives you more room for additional hand positions. I have profile Air Stryke bars on mine and haven't loved them. What brand of bars are those?

BobbyG

Unfortunately I don't know, they were "on special" hanging on the LBS wall "as is" at a price so low, that if they didn't work, I wouldn't care.

Aubergine 

Squeeze

Great setup, BobbyG.

I can relate. I returned to cycling at age 45 after a 20-year hiatus. I started commuting on a flat-bar MTB and had the same problem - I couldn't get comfortable while riding. I used some old bar-ends (not knowing they weren't "cool" anymore) both on the ends and then inside the grips/shifters/brakes. I also tried drop-bar ends before finally going to drop bars and bar-end shifters. Ahh. Perfect.

By the way, those gloves are awesome!

Signed,

Member #219 of the Hardware Store Cycling Gloves Posse

doubravsky 

I found and ordered these:

new aero bars

They look similar while not identical... and were super cheap. We'll see!

Milton Keynes

I have flat bars on my hybrid, but I added a set of bar ends I salvaged off an old junker bike:



The way they're designed they do lean in toward the center, but I like them that way. And I use them a lot. Much nicer to have variable hand positions since before just riding with the grips on the flat bars my shoulders would start aching after about 30-40 miles or so.

Now I call my bike "El Toro."

BobbyG

BobbyG

boy, those really do look similar except for the shape of the pads... The ones you have pictured look like they may be more comfortable on the forearms.

BobbyG