I can imagine these perhaps...

....or these WTB Dirt Drops on my tourer...

Oops. I am drunk as hell. Didn't see the link to the scorcher bars, those are much closer to what I had in mind. What choices are there for something like that?

F*ck. Drunk. keep posting and not seeing previous posts. are there bars like the last two pictured that don't bend out so wide? But that first pic by fixer...the dirty ones...what are those?

Too much gin and obsession leads to too many posts in a row.

Basically, I find bullhorns too much out in front and too high, and drops too low and too close to the knees. I want something in between. Kinda like if you had a long stem with a steep downward angle and put bullhorns on backwards. Damn...maybe I'll just try that, except bullhorns curve up at the ends, so that doesn't work. Those scorcher bars would work, only I would flip that stem upside down (if it wasn't so steep and long, and, you know, could actually flip it).

OK. I drunkenly did my best to draw what I mean, but its not quite right, but hopefully it shows what I mean...

This drawing wins. I love it.

Good picture.

I still say drops are the best and make adjustments with stem and frame size.


looking at picture I say adjust drop bars with stem height and length.

Computing While Intoxicated. That's beautiful.

Someone must sell these "path racer" bars but it looks to me like the simplest approximation is to use a pair of Nitto albatross, flipped over. Or try chopping and flipping a pair of MTB risers--not as much sweep, but a similar angle downward.

What about mustache rides?

These are the handlebars I want...where do I get these?

those are nice. i have had the same trouble with the moustache/bull/drop problem. i am riding drops now but i want a longer extension, a la time trials. but then i feel weird, too far out from the center of the frame. these look they could pull you out a bit, but also give options closer in. let us know if you find them.
seems like you could maybe flip the nitto 'north road' and get somewhere???
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/handlebars.html

Upon further inspection of nylund's drawing,

i think that I agree with 53-11: the best solution is to adjust stem height and extension and use drop bars, specifically "randonneur" style drops that will offer a few more positions and are actually designed for long rides, hence the name. for some reason (a handlebar tape thread?) i was reading the Rivendell site this morning and they have a lot to say about the value of drop bars in a carefully adjusted, comfortable position. they also have a good selection of variously-designed drop bars and stems to make these adjustments possible.

None of these options will get you bars as cool-looking as what shall now be known as the Path Racers, but they may help you find that sweet spot 'twixt the Bull and the Drop, yo. Someday I'm gonna go over to that Rivendell place and find out for myself.


edit: but flipping and chopping those North Roads seems like a pretty good idea.

One last pic then I am done. Do they have a real name? or is "path racer" bars the best anyone can come up with?

now THAT is the bike i was looking for. So sweet! I have a b/w line drawing of the exact same bike I found in a dictionary or old magazine or something. "1904 fixed gear roadster" it sez.

I like Path Racer. Back then they were probably called Handlebars.

I tried moustache bars, because they looked great and I want to live everything Rivendell. But they weren't for me. Most of the time, I just used the side positions (like bar ends on a mountain bike), and found I was just happier with a Scott AT-2 type bar.

Sounds like you mounted them backwards. The "side positions" wouldn't be like an MTB bar end unless you pointed them forward...

If you look at that bullhorn position you'll notice a little curve going upwards from the flat spot. You could move the stem up and lengthen it and the curve of the drop could theoretically be the same spot. Plus you would have a "laid back" top position too.

Nitto makes some crazy wide 48cm "noodle bars" too if you wanted extra wideness with your drop bars (Rivindell site has these)

I know a lot of people hate ergo drops here, but there are some that have a little "unobtrusive Flat spot" to grob that doesn't look so heinous as the ones with the "palm swell". I'm speaking strictly function here and It may clash with the "style" but that's what's on the table for ergonomics.

I think drop bars are the most elegant handlebar ever made in form and function so I'm biased.

i just went to the shop and looked thru their old cruiser bars til i found something with a bend, drop and sweep that i liked, then cut about 3" off the ends.
https://fixedgeargallery.com/2005/apr/JohnMarkBoling.htm
it cost me $5, but i hear that on-one has the same sort of thing for a lot more...

hey peeps - Soma's new catalog has bars listed as "Major Taylor Track Bars"
25.4mm Center
42-52cm in 2 cm increments.
Chrome-plated, Tange steel.
shoot 'em an email! (no pic on the site yet)

Moustache bars made my bike ugly.

Purist trackies among you notice the wide clearances !

I think bullhorns ugly. Mustache pretty. Old-style track bars prettiest.

Has anyone found a pic for those Major Taylor Track Bars yet? I'm having no luck.

PS. So with stories like Cindarella Man, Seabiscuit, etc., how long until they make the movie "Major Taylor"?

"before there was jesse owen, before jackie robinson, there was major taylor, the greatest athelite the world forgot." (not my quote).

Seriously, from his youth in the circus, to being a black athlete during the turn of the century, the fights on the track, the racism, his exciting, crowd pleasing racing style, to his death as a pauper during the great depression...it has Oscar written all over it.



OK. WOW that pic was big.

They may have made a movie, or at least a tv-movie, about Taylor, and I'd like to see a big-screen version, yeah if they can do Cinderella Man, they can do one about Taylor, I'd go see it.

Maybe when gas is $5 a gallon and more people are biking, at least riding their SS "utility" bikes to the market etc., we'll see more movies with bicycles in them.

If Nitto had called the moustache bars "Turn of the Century Track bars" instead, they'd be selling out of them.

Funny how the bars Major Taylor is riding are nearly identical to current moustache bars. His have a bit more drop, but they are darn close.

Wouldn't that be cause for celebration? I thought you liked ugly bikes. My world is crumbling, jim-bob.

m.