best type of handlebar
 

Just wondering what the best type of handlebar is for people new to fixed gear riding?

Right now I ride a roadie with drops. But I've seen these cow-horn bars, flat moustache bars, and curved moustache bars. Anyone know the benefits of each and preference for fixed gear riding?

Thanks!

comfort and aesthetics. you find what you like and you use it. either you like the way it looks or you like the way it feels, but preferably both.

cheap

don't listen to that fool, he can't even reach his drops. ride what feels good.

i can reach my drops, i just like to have my head up in the air when i ride on the streets. and as we discussed yesterday, i am in the search for a more practical bar set up.


although i would rather get a negative drop stem and some major taylors...

-bullhorns are designed to mimic the hood on a road drop. Some long ones can also allow for a moderately aero position on their ends.
-People either hate mustaches or they love them those that love them say they give you the widest range of positions. Those that hate them say none of the positions are comfortable and they lack any aero position for headwinds etc.
-Track drops are designed to be ridden in track races where you are forced to ride in the drops all the time. They therefore lack any other ergonomic positions but give good forearm clearence in the drops.
-Risers and straight bars are designed to give alot of leverage really far out(60+ cms) while still being ergonomic. They are often cut off for fixie usage though and at that width hae no advantage over the tops of road drops.
-Cruiser bars are good for upright riding because they sweep up and back and bring the bars closer to the saddle. They will probably get in the way on a track bike or road conversion with it's shorter tt though.
-Road drops are the best of most of these other styles combined. A good ergo road drop with a good hood is will provide many comfortable positions for all sorts of situations.

Road drops are probably your best bet, but try to pick up a few different kinds on the cheap and see what feels best.

It also depends on the kind of riding you do. For running around town bullhorns are tons of fun, but I prefer track drops for training rides in the park (especially for climbing!).

And don't forget to get some good tape/grips/gloves...I see bikes around all the time with bare bars and they look all kinds of uncomfortable...

Used road drops (no ergo bend, please), flop 'em into bullhorns when you get curious. And then buy real 'horns. Also, give chopped risers a run. They're super fun for around town type stuff.

Bullhorns all the way for me my friend. 'Love em'!!

ape hangers look cool

I'm big fan of the shoulders on track drops, I think they're super comfy once you get some tape on there, hell even with only inner tubes.

I started with flip'n/chops and while they seem comfortable, I ultimately ended up getting numb hands and I missed not having a more dropped position.

I switched to road drops and love em. If you ride without brake hoods, it takes awhile to get used to, but you get used to holding onto the bends. You can easily get some real cheap road drops on ebay.

Avoid track drops IMHO if you don't ride on the track...the drop position is too low and the flats and bends are akward on your wrists.

I don't use handlebars. I wrap both my hands around the stem to steer, and I lean forward, and tuck my elbows if I want to go fast! :p

I am partial as well to the drops on track drop bars, the round feels great on my wrists.

Anyone else do this: Run a little bit longer stem, so that the curve on pista bars is about at the same reach as the top of their hoods on their road bike? I got a stem that's a bit too long, and I'm trying to justify it by telling myself that's what I'm doing.

:D :D

I don't even have a stem, or front forks!! I steer whilst leaning forward and holding the front spindle!! :p

i like drops, i am usually up top or on the shoulders, though when i have an empty road or some hills to climb i like getting low. i want to try moustache bars though. ive tried bullhorns and love the way they look but just havent been able to get comfy with them.

prefer drops, but were real narrow, liking 44 cm bullhorns cuz of width

Bullhorns for me most of the time. Rocking chopped risers (easton EA30s) with a short stem right now because my side got tore up in a crash, and being bent over the bars kind of hurt. It's interesting being more upright.

i got all type of bars, my mood dictates there use.

Er 44cm is pretty wide.

Have > 10 bikes, so you can run all bar setups.

Road bars and track bars are good if you like to reacjh low, give you more stability when you're going fast, the raised bullhorns are nice for fixed riding because you can stand up on the cranks and be upright when slowing down, I like riding with a short straight bar, gives me nice control in the city

yeah, he said he likes them because they are wide. it makes perfect sense.

I recently put a set of riser bars with some oury grips on my bike and I'd reccomend it to everyone who fools around in the city. The upright position lets you see so far in traffic.

I had to switch from drops to risers after killing one of my testicles on a training ride. One ball later and one ball wiser i use risers. but i still swap the drops on for sex appeal from time to time for pics. hehe.