Mountain Bike as Road Bike - Middle Hand Holds
 

I have a 2007 Specialized Hardrock that I've rigged for road riding/commuting with Schwalbe big apples. I have bar ends already but I'm looking for bar ends or aerobars that I can mount in the middle of my dashboard for a few more hand positions on long road rides. The biggest hurdles are the bends in the handlebars that block the area where single-unit (joined) aerobar arm rests would go. Any suggestions for equipment that will fit the 25.4 mm handlebars? I don't need to lean too far down, just looking for another place for the hands and don't really want to get new handlebars and deal with everything involved in that. Thanks for any advice!

Dashboard? Drive the car a little too often...:innocent:

Unfortunately, yes.

well, this probably isn't what you want to hear, but there's a reason why people ride roadbikes on the road. I would put the money towards a reasonable used road bike, or something else better suited to the commute.

I don't know how long your commute is but I have ridden my Hardrock as much as 35 miles on the street without any mods and it was great.
Or just get a straight handle bar and you'll be OK. :)

I'm a very beefy clyde. Cost of a road bike that would hold me is prohibitive for now. I'm also enjoying most of the best of both worlds benefits of the MTB with big road tires. Did the 65-mile Flying Wheels ride in the Puget Sound area today and passed many roadies fixing flats. Crowded ride, was nice to have the option of riding further into the shoulder schmutz.

I'm fine on my commute (8 miles in, 14-22 miles home) but my hands were pretty achy after the 65 miles today.

How about a set of these to give you some extra hand positions.

You'll get better traction asking this question in the Commuting forum as I am sure there are plenty of commuters that use mountain bikes.

That being said, maybe you can look at using Ergon grips or any of the knock-offs. I made fun of Mtnbiker66 because he uses them but later decided to put them on my family/city/commuter bike (Surly Big Dummy) and think they are pretty good.

You said you didn't want to change bars but to get what you want you might need to; don't think they make them anymore, but maybe you could find a set of Scott AT-4 handlebars

Titec H or J bars would be another fine option. You will have to see if you like a heavy sweep hand position thought. They also don't work well with some kinds of shifters. I love the things for my mountain/touring bike where It's not unusual for me to ride 75 miles on a mix of roads, dirt roads, and trails though.

i have a gary fisher 29er paragon set up for commute and multi day rides. Rack and riser handlebar with bar ends. I also have a xcaliber set up the same way. I do own touring bike etc, but the mountain bike is comfortable. I went to Dennis Kirk online store and bought some superbike grips part no 59-5291. they are great foam grips. I am taking the paragon pulling a trailer and doing a trip this year. My wife has ridden her Giant mountain bike with me to MN which was few hundred mile trip. when i bought my touring bike the salesman stressed that I would have more places to put my hands, but its nice when on a rutty road to flip the front suspension and let that ease out the rough road. I did put much narrower tires on my bike 47-622mm continental top contact tires.