moustache bars: anyone using care to comment?
 

I have albatross on my surly xcheck and am thinking of swapping them out
to my atlantis and putting instead moustache bars on the surly xcheck...but have heard that they can make one's hands go numb....??
http://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2006/cc...llins1206.html

also: anyone using aero bars on albatross (grant peterson/rivendell) says
they go on quite well...even better for that tucked down position.

Canali,

I put on mustache bars last summer on a commuter -- they are a bit of a change, but they offer lots of hand positions. Depending on your flexibility, your intended usage, and your positioning on the bike you may want to keep in mind that flipping your stem or raising your step with spacers might be necessary. I have found that the mustache bars put you somewhere between the top of your standard road bars and the drops, which isn't uncomfortable, but for commuting it may be a little low -- particularly for being able to look around at traffic, at lights and signs, and what not.

Overall though, I like them. I picked mine up for 10 bucks on a sale from nashbar, so you could always get some and not feel guilty if they don't work (probably cost you more in time installing and taping them then $10).

I used a set on my single speed road bike and liked them a lot. I switched them out with some randoneeur bars from my girlfriend's bike because she liked them a lot too.

I most often rode on the hoods for a semi-aero position and on the ends of the bars for a more upright position. The ones I had were also nashbar and seemed to hold up fine. For an even more upright position, you might want to try them with an MTB stem.

I tried them for a while. They are GREAT for steep climbs. I found them uncomfortable on longer rides though. The hand positions just aren't different enough.

I had them on my commuter/tourer for a while. I don't use them any more because right after my multi-day tour a couple of years ago my index finger tip started to go numb and it's been numb since.....
I also discovered during that trip that these bars were not suited for long distances.

Can you elaborate on this some more? I was thinking of installing one especially for a long trip. Why are they not suitable?

I think I'll try nashbar trekking bars
 

I think I'll try trekking bars on my atlantis...will see how they fair.

Although they somewhat provided multiple hand positions for me, they didn't really allow me to drastically change my upper body position like drop bars did. I especially missed the straight bar top sections most other bars provide. I think they're fine for 50 mile rides but I don't want to be on those bars for a full day.

My daily commute, and the city I live in, is nothing but hills, and I use a Nitto moustache bar on my commuter, the most excellent Long Haul Trucker by Surly. Even though it may ruin the aesthetic somewhat, I've found a nice pair of MTB grips on the bar ends guards against numbness pretty well. I love them.

I have some drops I switch to when I go on tours.

I used to ride a bike with moustache bars in the early 80's, and I loved it. Very comfortable. It had downtube shifters. I don't remember who manufactured the bars; they were aluminum and had a fancy name badge on the bar clamp area, I think made in France.

I've recently got a pair of Dimension double-bend urban bars, but am still working on how to mount shifters. I'll keep y'all posted.