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North Road style bars on a racer?

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North Road style bars on a racer?

Old 09-03-10, 05:14 AM
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North Road style bars on a racer?

I've got a cheap 90's racing bike with drop bars, but I'm sick of riding about in the crouched position. Does anyone know if it'd work putting North Road (aka 'tourist', 'upright', 'townie' or 'M-Shaped') bars on a racer? I don't know much about bikes but appears to me the frame might be too long to suit this i.e. the seat is too far from the bar stem. Has anyone got or seen a racer with North Road bars on? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Old 09-03-10, 05:20 AM
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Like this?

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Old 09-03-10, 05:29 AM
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You've been waiting to use that bloody picture haven't you?

Those bars are the style I'm talking about, though maybe turned upside down. Other than that, my bike's well bigger than that mans.

Anything more productive?
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Old 09-03-10, 05:35 AM
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a bike that's long in the top tube will actually work out better for North Road style bars because they have considerable sweep.

That being said, putting them on a road bike won't make it a good town bike, it will honestly cause you even more comfort problems. When in an upright position, your body looses a lot of it's natural ability to absorb shock, instead it goes straight up your spine. Traditional town bikes have wide tires to accommodate this. Your bike wont.
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Old 09-03-10, 05:38 AM
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what do you define as a "racer"
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Old 09-03-10, 05:45 AM
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This style.

You reckon it'd cause me that much discomfort? I rarely ride for longer than an hour or so in one sitting.
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Old 09-03-10, 08:05 AM
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if cheap is an important part of your biking equation you may want to think of the expense in replacing brake/gear levers since the ones on your "racer" won't work on flat bars
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Old 09-03-10, 08:16 AM
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You can make it work. As has been said, you'll need to change out the brake levers. I assume it has downtube shifters; those will have to go as well. Use thumb shifter instead. You'll also want to swap out the saddle. With the more upright position, you'll want a wider saddle. Consider a sprung saddle, like the Brooks B.66.
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Old 09-03-10, 08:33 AM
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Go ghetto:



12 year-olds and DUIs have been doing it for decades...

Why not?
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Old 09-03-10, 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by DScott
Go ghetto:



12 year-olds and DUIs have been doing it for decades...

Why not?
YES!! and i thought this was just a New Hampshire phenomenon.

why is it that guys who get DUIs end up riding around on bikes with the drop bars turned up?

the NH version looks like this: dude in jeans and no shirt, bad facial hair, butt dangling from lips, one hand on up-turned bars, other hand holding 6-pack of Black Label.
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Old 09-03-10, 08:59 AM
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I have seen people rotate the handlebar up and toward you like DScott's photo. How well that feels on the hand grip is another matter.

Haven't tried this to see if it works. Maybe you can spin the handlebar stem back 180 degrees instead of facing the front, then adjust the handlebar rotation to a more comfortable position. Might also want to pull up on the stem, as your legs will likely hit the handlebar when you turn. Also move the saddle all the way forward.
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Old 09-03-10, 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by scotch
YES!! and i thought this was just a New Hampshire phenomenon.

why is it that guys who get DUIs end up riding around on bikes with the drop bars turned up?

the NH version looks like this: dude in jeans and no shirt, bad facial hair, butt dangling from lips, one hand on up-turned bars, other hand holding 6-pack of Black Label.
I'v seeen those guys. Always smiling for some reason.


But around here, it's mostly day-laborers. You supply the visuals...
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Old 09-03-10, 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by DScott
Go ghetto:



12 year-olds and DUIs have been doing it for decades...

Why not?



That's the cheapest and easiest solution.
__________________
I like pie
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Old 09-03-10, 11:30 AM
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those are fixies.
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Old 09-03-10, 11:41 AM
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great thread!

herez my contri
buccolic

determined


bump
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Old 09-04-10, 03:16 AM
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Thanks for all the input.

I'm english so I don't know what a DUI is- something to do with drinking?

It actually looks pretty passable on the picture, but I've seen people rocking the upside-down drop bar style on modern bars, and it just looks weird. It's definitely not something reserved for a particular type of alcoholic over here though.

As for the cost element, I'm going to turn it into a single speed so don't have to bother messing about changing the shift system. London also has a bunch of places where you can pick up second hand bike parts so I'll just scope it out and hope to get lucky on some bars/brake levers. Sprung seat's a good suggestion too.
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Old 09-04-10, 07:12 AM
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Its called bum-bars.
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Old 09-04-10, 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by fraser
Thanks for all the input.

I'm english so I don't know what a DUI is- something to do with drinking?

It actually looks pretty passable on the picture, but I've seen people rocking the upside-down drop bar style on modern bars, and it just looks weird. It's definitely not something reserved for a particular type of alcoholic over here though.

As for the cost element, I'm going to turn it into a single speed so don't have to bother messing about changing the shift system. London also has a bunch of places where you can pick up second hand bike parts so I'll just scope it out and hope to get lucky on some bars/brake levers. Sprung seat's a good suggestion too.
(DUI) Driving Under the Influence...or (DWI) Driving White Intoxicated...aka 'dee-wee' here in NH.
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Old 09-04-10, 05:21 PM
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Originally Posted by fraser
I've got a cheap 90's racing bike with drop bars, but I'm sick of riding about in the crouched position. Does anyone know if it'd work putting North Road (aka 'tourist', 'upright', 'townie' or 'M-Shaped') bars on a racer? I don't know much about bikes but appears to me the frame might be too long to suit this i.e. the seat is too far from the bar stem. Has anyone got or seen a racer with North Road bars on? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
It works just fine. Here's one I built on a frame that I got for free. Like yours, this bike originally came with drop bars and gears. It's now a single speed with coaster brake.





Light, fun and comfortable. I've done a 25 miler on this.
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Old 09-04-10, 05:46 PM
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Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
It works just fine. Here's one I built on a frame that I got for free. Like yours, this bike originally came with drop bars and gears. It's now a single speed with coaster brake.





Light, fun and comfortable. I've done a 25 miler on this.
SaWeet!
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Old 09-04-10, 05:52 PM
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..
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Old 09-04-10, 05:57 PM
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fraser, I've heard them also refered to as "moustache" bars. Nitto makes them and I'm sure someone else else does too.

Working out the shifter and brake lever stuff is the problem.

You might take this question to the Classic & Vintage forum or the Hybrid forum. Those guys may have some good stuff, maybe not.

I want to thank you for being a sport. I really enjoyed having the chance to use that picture.
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Old 09-04-10, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Gluteus
..
This is so over-the-top I am wordless.

Needs streamers and playing cards in the spokes.

I just realized how old I am.

Kids today probably never used a clothes pin to hold a real playing card so it flaps in the spokes.
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Old 09-04-10, 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by ahsposo
This is so over-the-top I am wordless.

Needs streamers and playing cards in the spokes.

I just realized how old I am.

Kids today probably never used a clothes pin to hold a real playing card so it flaps in the spokes.
Disclaimer:
Not my bike.
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Old 09-04-10, 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Gluteus
Disclaimer:
Not my bike.
Claimer:
The filter will not allow me to express what a wuss I think you are. It starts with "P" and ends with "Y"
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