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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Thoughts on handlebars

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Old 11-09-16 | 07:08 PM
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Thoughts on handlebars

Personally, what are your thoughts and preferences on these 4 kinds of handlebars? pros and cons?

1. Dropbars
2. Bullhorns
3. Riser
4. Pursuit
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Old 11-09-16 | 07:39 PM
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5. 780mm flat bars
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Old 11-09-16 | 08:14 PM
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Drops for president. Mucho hand positions, classy looks, ride many miles, very nice. Risers are good for being chill and/or booping around town on your sweet fixie. I'm pretty sure bullhorns are mostly for nerds at this point, and pursuit bars are for those who are either under the age of 18 or doing pursuits.
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Old 11-09-16 | 09:14 PM
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I recently switched from drops to risers on my everyday bike. Obviously there are not as many options when it comes to hand positioning. I messed up my left wrist pretty bad back in the day and the risers are a much more comfortable option for that particular situation.
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Old 11-09-16 | 09:48 PM
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Currently using base bars from a tri setup on mine. Absolutely loving them because of the flat tops and short horns. Such positions. Much comfort.

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Old 11-09-16 | 10:04 PM
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I loved traditional dropbar

Going drop is zoom zoom for me and I am flexible and comfort on drop position

But if you ask for super comfort ride, go for flat
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Old 11-10-16 | 12:02 AM
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Compact shallow drop bars with hooded levers are my favorite. The most generous of hand positions.

After that would be bullhorns. Followed by pursuit bars. Then risers.
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Old 11-10-16 | 08:41 AM
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Handlebars are for suckers.
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Old 11-10-16 | 09:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
Handlebars are for suckers.
So... just grab the stem with a monkey wrench?
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Old 11-10-16 | 09:19 AM
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Used to ride bullhorns when my fixed gear was my only bike and got used for longer rides. Nice to have a variety of hand positions.

Since I've gotten a road bike for longer rides, I switched to risers on my fixed gear and recently from risers cut very narrow to wider risers. Really enjoying the wider risers. Make squeezing between cars a little sketchy but feel like I have more power and they are just sorta fun. Nice to switch things up sometimes.
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Old 11-10-16 | 09:35 AM
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48cm risers for fixed (though considering MAP Ahearns), drops with hoods for road. Never saw the point of drops without hoods for street riding.

Also don't get the super wide riser trend.

Last edited by Wendell F; 11-10-16 at 09:37 AM. Reason: mm to cm
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Old 11-10-16 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by nightfly
Used to ride bullhorns when my fixed gear was my only bike and got used for longer rides. Nice to have a variety of hand positions.

Since I've gotten a road bike for longer rides, I switched to risers on my fixed gear and recently from risers cut very narrow to wider risers. Really enjoying the wider risers. Make squeezing between cars a little sketchy but feel like I have more power and they are just sorta fun. Nice to switch things up sometimes.
I know the feeling. I have tried short risers and a few different sets of drops on here. The last drop bar I bought was really the best one of all, and I may still throw it on there for a change.
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Old 11-10-16 | 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Leukybear
Compact shallow drop bars with hooded levers are my favorite. The most generous of hand positions.

After that would be bullhorns. Followed by pursuit bars. Then risers.
+1, except I'm probably never going to ever use pursuits or risers. Although, never say never......right?
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Old 11-10-16 | 11:44 AM
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^ This as well. Drops all day. And then maybe bullhorns.
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Old 11-10-16 | 03:35 PM
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Risers or drops, bullhorns aren't that bad but I wouldn't use them for an extended period of time. Pursuit bars never.
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Old 11-10-16 | 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
Handlebars are for suckers.
Originally Posted by JeremyLC
So... just grab the stem with a monkey wrench?
Nah, fix a boxer's mouth protector to the top of your steer tube and steer with your teeth. Hold your arms behind your back for that super-aero benefit.
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Old 11-10-16 | 09:37 PM
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1 and 3.
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Old 11-10-16 | 10:00 PM
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Old 11-10-16 | 10:06 PM
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^ pretty sure that bike belongs in the jack-awesome thread
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Old 11-11-16 | 11:24 AM
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Old 11-11-16 | 11:28 AM
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A good way to experience his steering abilities is to put both your arms up to that similar position, and see how maneuverable they are from side to side...
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Old 11-11-16 | 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Leukybear
A good way to experience his steering abilities is to put both your arms up to that similar position, and see how maneuverable they are from side to side...
Not just the total lack of control, every time I see a Harley dude with ape hangers I think about how fatiguing that would be. It seems like it wouldn't take long at all for some serious dull ache to set in. Lame award.
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Old 11-11-16 | 12:30 PM
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I really liked my Profile Airwing tri base bars, but yeah, it's hard to top modern compact drops with SRAM levers. So comfy and versatile.
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Old 11-16-16 | 11:27 PM
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Bullhorns. More comfortable to hold than brake levers for climbing.
I really only miss having drops for sprinting, but don't do that often anyway.
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Old 11-16-16 | 11:55 PM
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Drops. I've been riding dropbars since 1964. I don't think I could get used to anything different.
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