Trekking Handlebars: Pro or Con?
 

I am considering putting trekking handlebars on my Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc. The single grip available on flat bars isn't enough.

I've considered bar ends but I am thinking that trekking bars would offer more hand positions and more sitting positions ( upright and more upright ).

A roadie friend thinks that trekking handlebars should be restricted to clowns in a circus.

I wanted to solicit opinions from others more experienced than myself.

I bought a trekking bar a few years ago, for the same reason, but I have never tried it. I think I may throw it on my back-up hybrid just to give it a try. I even have angle adjustable stems in 2 lengths, so I can obviously fiddle with positioning to get it right.

As far as what people think... unless they are the people you are building the bike for, don't sweat it. DO what makes riding your bike pleasant for you.

Ignore the rodie. Try them! I have them and love them.

+1, ditch the critic , they're stuck in their own cult group think ..

2 bikes with trekking bars .. R'off gripshifters :thumb:

1 bike with Ergon integrated Bar-end comfortable grips .. ( my road bike rarely on the road any more )

Advice for life...

I just started a thread reporting on mine. Here: http://www.bikeforums.net/hybrid-bic...ai-ohh-my.html

Love them. I have my stem up high and can still get into a semi-aero position on the front part of them. Very comfortable bars and recently saved my hands in a crash.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=401032

Ask your roadie friend how many snowstorms his road bike has been through. :p

Where do you suggest that the brake levers and gear shifters go? Anyone try auxiliary brake levers?

I like your setup a lot! Inspires me to put those handlebars on my bike!

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=401086

Just one set of brakes. On the back they are at the position you want to be stopping and slowing at anyway.

Just keep in mind, that front end gets massive. Lov'em on my 26" tourer.

Thanks. It's a Nashbar bar and actually has a slight rise to it(~1"). I was on the fence about adding ergo grips but decided to just try the foam knowing I could always cut it off. Turns out the foam is really comfortable. It's a bit longer than standard drop bar foam and I waited awhile to receive it as it was literally shipped on a slow boat from China. Amazon.com : NuoYa001 A Pair Brand New Bicycle Cycle Bike Foam Rubber Handle Bar Grips 50CM Dia2CM : Bike Car Rack Accessories : Sports & Outdoors

Here's mine with twist grips.
As I'm cruising along I place my hands fully open with fingers extended and flat with the heel of my palms on the back outside curve and fingers on the front. That's a position you can't get with any other bar and is very comfortable for me.
http://i.imgur.com/6ZUfHEw.jpg

Is there any flex on the bar when you have your hands on the section that the twist grip gear selectors are on?

I've not noticed any flex while riding. I just went out and pushed down on the bar. It took ~50lbs of force on one side to deflect it 1/4".

I love my trekking bars. Added them earlier this summer and am getting them dialed in. The number of ways you can set up trekking bars is impressive. I will post some pictures of my setup later.

Thanks for that info. :)

Here's mine and I love them. I grew up on road bikes with drop bars, didn't like the switch to flat bars at all. These are great - even better than drops for multiple hand positions.

Unlike many people that mount the controls as far inward as possible, right at the inside edge, you'll see that I've mounted them a few inches from the bar ends. That will give you much better control (with your hands further apart) when you need it the most - under hard braking. Mounting them so far to the inside makes the steering twitchy and unstable with your hands so close together. Put them as far out as you can and still achieve a full-hand grip on the bars and you'll be almost as wide as on normal flat bars.

You may have to use a longer stem, or maybe not. Mine look like they're angled up a lot, but that's where I get the most natural hand positions. Lots of ways to dial these in.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=401181http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=401182
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=401185

So is it as simple and cheap as getting the handlebars and grip tape then just moving the existing levers and shifters? Using the stuff already on my bike?

I've been riding road bikes for a long time and I'm a huge fan of drop bars. I have mixed feelings about many of the various flat bars I've tried over the eyars. But not trekking bars. They're terrific. I have a set on a vintage mtb and no doubt I'll start using them on other bikes:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=401202

What makes them terrific? Is it being able to change hand positions on long rides or is there a particular hand position that you can only get with these bars?

The conversion from a flat bar is easy as all the parts move over. Trekking bars give you lots of hand positions just like drop bars so they're very comfortable for longer rides. They work really well when the bike is a bit small since you don't have to drop down as far to reach the various positions. They just plain work.

As mentioned, it is an easy and a cheap switch from flat bars to trekking. Depending on setup, you can event get fairly "aero" positions, as well.

I installed Shimano trigger shifters with integral brake levers on the open section behind the stem. The installation is identical to the example in post 17. Very easy to operate the shifters and brakes.

As promised, crappy smart phone pics: http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=401253http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=401254