Would the Handlebars Work?
#1
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 208
From: Chattanooga, TN
Would the Handlebars Work?
I'm getting tired of my hands getting numb and wrists uncomfortable with the flat bar on my trek fx 7.3. I've tried adjusting the existing bars to no avail. Would these work with the shifters and brake levers I have?
SUNLITE Northroad Touring Handlebar https://a.co/d/a0wNHTg

Or.maybe these??
SUNLITE Northroad Touring Handlebar https://a.co/d/a0wNHTg

Or.maybe these??
#2
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 4,244
Likes: 907
From: Northern Shenandoah Valley
Bikes: More bikes than riders
The bar shown will work with your brake and shift levers. However, you need to be aware of at least two things:
- It looks like that bar uses a 25.4mm stem clamp diameter, and your FX likely has a 31.8mm stem clamp diameter. You can get shims to fit a smaller diameter bar into a larger stem, or you can also buy a stem with a 25.4mm clamp diameter. Either way would work, but it's something you'll need to check on. You can also get swept-back handlebars with 31.8mm stem clamp diameters, but they are less common.
- You'll very likely need to re-route or even lengthen your brake and shift cables, since the back-sweep on that and similar bars will move the levers rearward. Depending on the configuration of your cables, this may require longer cables and housings. This is most likely to be an issue for the front brake, which generally has the most direct routing and, thus, the least amount of slack of free play.
#4
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 817
Last edited by Jeff Neese; 04-06-23 at 09:10 AM.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 925
IT shouldn't be too hard to mount those bars, as mentioned above, but this won't necessarily fix the problem. Excess pressure on the hands leading to discomfort and numbness is often caused by other details of bike fit, especially saddle adjustment.
#6
I like my Ergon GP5's, three hand positions, and very supportive. You just need to make sure they are adjusted properly so when on the bar portion of the grips, your hand and arm align so your not bending your wrists. Otherwise you will still have wrist pain. Following is copied by Ergon's site:
#7
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 208
From: Chattanooga, TN
Food points, all. I've fiddled with the seat and rotated the bar every which way to try to keep my wrists straight but no matter what I do, I still have issues. Fortunately Amazon has a pretty liberal return policy (for now) so I guess the Ergons on worth a shot
#8
Not lost, just exploring

Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 1,782
From: Near the Heart of OH
Bikes: '25 Jamis Renegade S1, '18 Quick 1,'04 Trek 2300, '97 730 Multitrack, '95 750 Multitrack, and a few others
Another Ergon user here. One of my favorite additions for sure and greatly improved my comfort. You probably found my Quick 1 thread with pics.
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 820
Likes: 2,179
From: Boston, MA
Bikes: 2021 Trek FX Sport 4, ~1996 Mongoose Crossway 4.50
I've always wondered, how does one brake if your hands are on the bar ends? Seems dangerous. On the MUP I ride I have at least one panic stop per week to avoid rabbits. So I've been reluctant to move my hands so far from the brakes. I often ride with my fingers on the brake levers themselves.
Mark
Mark
#10
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 4,244
Likes: 907
From: Northern Shenandoah Valley
Bikes: More bikes than riders
Another solution is "hooked" brake levers, similar to these: https://www.amazon.com/22-24mm-Brake.../dp/B08NPGN52K
You can configure those so that you can pull the main part of the lever from the main grips, or the hook or curved part of the lever from bar ends.




