travbikeman

Interesting idea for anyone that likes or curious about the idea of turning a hybrid into a gravel bike:

hokiefyd 

It's interesting! In the vein of "more information is always better", Russ posted a video on this today as well.

travbikeman

Yea, I just watched that as well. Seems like an interesting idea to do something like this if drop bars are desired.

hokiefyd 

I know $100 is not expensive for a quality handlebar and, as Russ noted, it's a lot cheaper than trying drops with STIs and deciding you don't like it...but it's still quite a bit of money to drop on something just to try it out. The widest model is 540mm, which is much narrower than I tend to prefer. I guess the ergonomics of drop bars are different enough to where a 660-700mm width would be pretty awkward anyway.

travbikeman

Last night I was checking the measurements on my Sub Cross to this widest bar. I came to the conclusion that yes, these are cool bars, but it would be best for me to just stick with what I have.

While 540mm of the top bar would also be too narrow for my comfort, the wider portion of the drop would be comfortable, BUT would stretch my brakes out requiring extending the brake lines. Then additional weight since this bar is over double the weight of the aluminum bar I have, I have to agree just not worth spending that money on trying out.

ColonelSanders

Do you think you would even notice the extra weight when riding your bike?

travbikeman

Most likely not. Was just listing excuses to keep me from buying more parts.

Darth Lefty 

I'm going to buy one even though it's steel and wrong clamp size. I just switched my bike over to flat bar mainly because I hate drop bar brake levers. Not sure if the extra inch of tubing behind the brake perch clamp is going to irritate me or work fine.

Darth Lefty 

Yes. It's in the steering MOI

DorkDisk

I see this geared towards the millions of old MTBs out there and converting them into trendy "gravel" bikes" as the 25.4 clamp means you can even run your old stem, as long as it is front loading. Included shims take care of the other stems.

The nub can be trimmed down or extended a bit to suit.

It's good to have so many options these days.

SkinGriz

I’ve probably only ridden a drop bar bike for 50 feet so I have no context.
Why do you hate drop bar brake levers?
Thank you.

Darth Lefty 

I just find them awkward. Very much in the minority. Most people like them fine. Preference not science.

They're also twice as expensive as flat bar parts.

ColonelSanders

Thank you for that link to the handlebar extenders, which would be ideal for extending the nub/horns on this Surly bar.

As a happy owner of a Moloko bar, this new Corner bar's weight doesn't put me off at all and looks like a great way to experiment and see how well drop bars may suit someone.

I'll definitely give this bar a go, sometime over the next 12 months.

nomadmax 

This was a heck of a find, thank you OP. I'm gonna try a set of these on my MTB.

PDKL45

Running the same stem as the bike started with--when converting a hybrid or old MTB--will probably result in excessive reach and drop. I'd look into a new stem, like a Ergotec-Humpert High Charisma, to get the bars up high enough that you're in a comfortable position while in the drops, where you'll be most of the time, as they don't really have a hoods position.

Darth Lefty 

Can't believe this is a real product name. it's like a parody

PDKL45

Probably better as just "Ergotec High Charisma?" That company was called Humpert for ages, though, and many people recognize the Humpert name, rather than Ergotec. Strange name, but they're basically just the same as the VO Happy Stem, probably from a Taiwanese OEM catalog. They work just fine to get dirt drops up to the right height.

https://www.ergotec.de/en/products/v...isma-25-4.html

prj71

You can buy these for 1/2 the price and accomplish the same thing.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ACO5T769&psc=1

711 grams on the Surly corner bar...ouch.

bikemig 

I like these and they seem a good option for an older MTB that you want to use as a gravel bike. Trekking bars are a lot cheaper and they're comfy for long days in the saddle as well as they give you lots of hand positions. That's how I set up my '92 Trek 950.

Korina

My husband and I saw both those videos, and our fist thought was to get a Jones riser loop bar and flip it upside down. You'd have more bar to hold onto than Surly's nubbins. Lots of others have had the same thought. Here's the $79 version.

DarkSkyHUnter

I wish the Corner Bar came in a 42 cm at the pseudo-hoods and in Aluminum (or another lighter weight material). I'm going to notice the weight imbalance on my FX 6.

I wonder how difficult if would be to borrow the design and scale it to my liking in a material meeting my preference?

I'm currently running SQLabs Innerbarends with a 34 cm spread between the hoods.

prj71

At 770 grams and made of steel...this bar will be a failure IMO.

DarkSkyHUnter

There's a lot of potential for this design. An option for Fitness Bikes would be amazing, but I know Surly is all about steel and bike packing.

hokiefyd 

Yes; it's not likely that most Surly riders are counting grams. If they were, they probably wouldn't be on Surly bikes to begin with. Their bikes are generally built pretty sturdy, and it looks like this handlebar is built to match the strength and character of their bike frames.

DorkDisk

Complaining about Surly being steel and heavy is not understanding Surly or steel.