Help me Pick Handlebars?
#1
Thread Starter
covered in cat fur
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Willkes-Barre, PA
Bikes: Papillionaire Sommer, '85 Schwinn World Tourist, 2014 Windsor Kensington 8, SixThreeZero SS Cruiser
Help me Pick Handlebars?
Not too sure where to ask this question....
I bent the handle bars on my mixte. Need a new one. Right now it has rather wide North Road style bars on it. They are OK, but not great for any speed. Too wide.
I don't want drop bars, too low and I don't like them on mixtes. The bike has a twist IGH shifter as well. It's a Kensington 8 Windsor from bikes direct.
So... what all is out there that will fit my bike's shifter and brake levers but allow me to be a bit lower?
And, a picture. Those are sometimes helpful..
I bent the handle bars on my mixte. Need a new one. Right now it has rather wide North Road style bars on it. They are OK, but not great for any speed. Too wide.
I don't want drop bars, too low and I don't like them on mixtes. The bike has a twist IGH shifter as well. It's a Kensington 8 Windsor from bikes direct.
So... what all is out there that will fit my bike's shifter and brake levers but allow me to be a bit lower?
And, a picture. Those are sometimes helpful..
#2
Trekking handlebars from Nashbar-
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#4
Thread Starter
covered in cat fur
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Willkes-Barre, PA
Bikes: Papillionaire Sommer, '85 Schwinn World Tourist, 2014 Windsor Kensington 8, SixThreeZero SS Cruiser
Oh... those look promising!
Can't. I bent them. Bike slipped on a hose, I landed on the bars. Got a nice deep bruise on my belly and the bars bent sideways.
Can't. I bent them. Bike slipped on a hose, I landed on the bars. Got a nice deep bruise on my belly and the bars bent sideways.
#6
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Vught, The Netherlands
Bikes: Van Nicholas (Titanium) Deveron, Pinion 18 speed, Gates belt, disc brakes; Brompton - 5 speed Sturmey-Archer
I bought a new bike this year and wound up swapping out the handlebars. The dealer from whom I bought the bike helped me make my choice. (Long story that dealt with spacers.)
I'd go to a bike store and take a look at what he already has on other bikes.
If you go to Koga Signature by Koga select Configurator, start with a frame (to get the process started) and then click on handlebars, you'll see eight options. That should give you an idea to start with.
I'm not suggesting you order from Koga as that would be expensive. This was just to give you an idea.
I'd go to a bike store and take a look at what he already has on other bikes.
If you go to Koga Signature by Koga select Configurator, start with a frame (to get the process started) and then click on handlebars, you'll see eight options. That should give you an idea to start with.
I'm not suggesting you order from Koga as that would be expensive. This was just to give you an idea.
#8
Thread Starter
covered in cat fur
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 612
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From: Willkes-Barre, PA
Bikes: Papillionaire Sommer, '85 Schwinn World Tourist, 2014 Windsor Kensington 8, SixThreeZero SS Cruiser
Well, the stem is, from the website, a threaded 1 inch quill. I assume the handlebars are the standard size? I'll need to measure the clamp or the fat part of the bar..
Yeah, the sad thing about buying from bikes direct is the lack of a local dealer. But... no local shops had anything like this bike.
Great informative link, BTW!
Yeah, the sad thing about buying from bikes direct is the lack of a local dealer. But... no local shops had anything like this bike.
Great informative link, BTW!
#9
Thread Starter
covered in cat fur
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Willkes-Barre, PA
Bikes: Papillionaire Sommer, '85 Schwinn World Tourist, 2014 Windsor Kensington 8, SixThreeZero SS Cruiser
I'm OK with loosing some of the wide-ness. I tend to ride this bike fairly fast in the street and it just feels awkward leaning over with my elbows sticking out.
#10
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Generic type "northroad" as on zillions of 3 speeds , cheap , Nitto 'albatross' wider not cheap. likewise Nitto Mustache Bars..
given the above statement , the Trekking bar suggestion is a good one , reaching the forward curve functions like
going in the drops, in that it lowers your upper body.. Brakes on the rear bend, .. rather easy to move your hands back & forth.
given the above statement , the Trekking bar suggestion is a good one , reaching the forward curve functions like
going in the drops, in that it lowers your upper body.. Brakes on the rear bend, .. rather easy to move your hands back & forth.
Last edited by fietsbob; 07-25-14 at 09:16 AM.
#11
Thread Starter
covered in cat fur
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 612
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From: Willkes-Barre, PA
Bikes: Papillionaire Sommer, '85 Schwinn World Tourist, 2014 Windsor Kensington 8, SixThreeZero SS Cruiser
Well, they finally arrived and I was finally able to install and go for a ride. I rather like them, but they will take some getting used to! The bike feels 'twitchy' now. Great positions and the bike is actually more comfortable to ride.
I do not like the brakes at the back though. I will move them to the 'second' position, on the outsides of the bars. But that will have to wait until I order more bar tape (and maybe cruiser handles for the rear because my twist shifter just feels odd with just the tape) as the stuff has built in sticky stuff even though the website said it didn't. Bit annoyed about that.
So, pictures. Windsor Mixte, with trekking bars. Great match up.
Trekking Bar, First Set-up by katsrevenge42, on Flickr
Grey Mixte, new trekking bars by katsrevenge42, on Flickr
I do not like the brakes at the back though. I will move them to the 'second' position, on the outsides of the bars. But that will have to wait until I order more bar tape (and maybe cruiser handles for the rear because my twist shifter just feels odd with just the tape) as the stuff has built in sticky stuff even though the website said it didn't. Bit annoyed about that.
So, pictures. Windsor Mixte, with trekking bars. Great match up.
Trekking Bar, First Set-up by katsrevenge42, on Flickr
Grey Mixte, new trekking bars by katsrevenge42, on Flickr
#12
#13
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
You can get "interrupter" brake levers, a second set of levers you can put where you want. My road bike has traditional drop bars, and brake levers on the front, but I spend most of my time on the uppers. So I got a second set of brake levers up there. It's like the old dual-lever brakes from the 60s and 70s, but they are separate and could be mounted anywhere. They're called interrupters because they interrupt the brake line or something like that.
You've already purchased the touring bars which look like a good choice. So FWIW to you or others, on my MTB-based commuter I sport wide bars with a slight rise. To achieve more hand positions I mounted bar ends, but INBOARD. This gives me a jockey-like position I have come to enjoy. I then added aero-bars that give me two more positions: stretched out and upright, using the elbow rests as hand-holds. See my video here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=12EyzRuPlZA
You've already purchased the touring bars which look like a good choice. So FWIW to you or others, on my MTB-based commuter I sport wide bars with a slight rise. To achieve more hand positions I mounted bar ends, but INBOARD. This gives me a jockey-like position I have come to enjoy. I then added aero-bars that give me two more positions: stretched out and upright, using the elbow rests as hand-holds. See my video here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=12EyzRuPlZA









