North Road style bars on a racer?
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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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Like this?
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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?
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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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.
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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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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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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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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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.
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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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.
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.
But around here, it's mostly day-laborers. You supply the visuals...
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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.
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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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.
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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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!
Light, fun and comfortable. I've done a 25 miler on this.
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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.
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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