Cablestein

Anyone out there mounted barcon's using alternative means?

For example, using hose clamps to mount anywhere along a handlebar?

The shifters at the end of my drops get in the way of my knee's sometimes. I'd like to mount the shifters more forward somehow.

So I am thinking of using two horse clamps together, one tightened around the handlebar, the other one looped through that clamp, then tightened onto the piece of the shifter that is meant to go inside the bar end. This way I could perhaps mount them right under the brake hoods, and make them stick upwards on the inside, potentially being able to thumb-shift when I'm using hoods.

Another option is to cut down the handlebars (so the drops end earlier, furthur forward) and keep the barcon's inside the barends like usual. This would push the shifters forward and help clear them from being hit. I don't mind this so much because I don't ride drops so much.

Anyone else done similar stuff?

I was looking at getting bullhorn bars like Profile Design Stoker, but I think some hose clamps right under the brake hoods may be better?

vpiuva

Makeshift brifters, almost? I think I'd cut the bars a little shorter. If you decide you didn't like it you can sell them to the SS/FG crowd as chop-n-flops.

I'm not sure that putting them on the end of bullhorns wouldn't put them too far away.

slide13

Check out Paul Thumbies. They let you mount them as thumbshifters on the tops of the bar. Also, check out Kelly Take Offs...they are actually for downtube shifters, but do something like what you are talking about.

https://www.paulcomp.com/ (go to the Thumb Shifter tab)

https://www.kellybike.com/2nd_xtra_takeoff.html



I have never seen anyone rig up a system like you are talking about. I don't think hose clamps are going to hold them firmly enough for the long term but I could be wrong. It will look awfully bad IMO but I guess it would be cheap.

Mudu93

You could always pick up a pair of Paul's Thumbies that allow your to mount barconns like thumb shifters. If not those Kelly bikes make some kind of shifter things that mounts by the brake levers. I forget what it was called.

Mud

Slide13 you must have been typing at the same time I was.

Bolo Grubb

This is why I changed my bar-cons to down tube shifters on the commuter bike. Takes a little getting used too, but now I can shift both front and back with one hand.

ratebeer

mount barcons on mini aero bars.

Cablestein

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Yea, hose clamps wound be ugly but maybe I could find black one's, and maybe I can cover them with handlebar tape?

I'll give it a shot first because it'll only cost a couple of dollars at the hardware store!

Oh, and they should be extremely solid. You tighten those bad boys up enough, they really clamp. I have some supporting my old metal bed frame.

merlinextraligh

Lesarn to pedal with you knees in the proper position would be another answer.