I like the way road / track bars look, but my bullhorn bars are just too comfortable for me to give up right now. It started me wondering about when / where / why they were developed. Does anyone know? Was it from triathlon bikes?

TT bikes?

TT and Tri bikes.

People used to ride bulls around by the horns to get around. When these people switched to bicycles it was only natural that they should decide to use the same kind of handhold.

yeehaw!!

I'd say this is the most reasonable response.

This is my mum's favorite Picasso. Flipped cruiser bars are pretty close to bullhorns.

assos claims that they were the first to use them on their carbon track bike in the 70s.

anyone know any different?

fsnl
sparky

they evolved from the time trial bikes in the tour de france. it was either Miguel Indurain of Greg LeMond who where the first ones to use the aero-bar, and also came up with the idea of wind tunnels in cycling.

So the idea was, it's something aerodynamic (moreso than drops) that time trialists using aero bars can hold onto when moving at slower speeds?

Edit: Thanks goodall! I see what the deal is now.

Lemond used an aerobar in 1989. He got the idea from triathletes, who started in 1984 and maybe earlier. Before then roadies would use a chop and flop set really low. These seem to be the main precursor to bullhorns.

Bullhorns in 1987: https://youtube.com/watch?v=BBIV2gXV2tM

in 1984:

1976: first aereo "cow-horn" bar. according to assos.

Nonetheless, image features said bars on what apears to be a track/pursuit bike.

https://www.assos.com/en/facts/

those bars are so dope.

I've seen that pic before, but thanks to your helpful comments in concert with that pic I finally know how to set up my sloping top tube pursuit bike. THX! I will be switching in between a road stem with road bars, and a deep drop track stem with flop and chops with not too much cut off.

Would they let you use those mass start on the track? Thats my only issue really...

My biggest question is how did they run the brake cables? On long or very hilly rides I use a pair of chop and flops (which many TDF TT riders were using for a long time) with a traditional brake lever similar to those in the video. But the cable comes out the wrong side (ie. the top). I've thought if two solutions.
1. Cut a notch in the bottom of the lever body similar to that on the top and hope the housing doesn't crimp running it the opposite way that it was intended to run.
2. Drill the bar for internal cable routing. i'm not afraid of the hole to let the cable in b/c its near the end where there's not going to be much stress. but the hole to let it out will either be at the first bend (similar to syntace bullhorns) or near the stem.

The old school mechanic at the shop I work at said drilling it wouldn't be a problem, especially with steel bars.

just flip the levers... i did that and you actually get more leverage seeing that the lever doesn't ever come in contact with the curve of the bar.

No. Pursuit/TT only.

My boss claims to have done it around '82-'84 using nothing other than PVC pipe. Naturally, the kids at the 'drome laughed at him.

That video is so awesome.

edit: What was the mph/kmph pace of the winner? I couldn't figure it out from the video.

Roche - 45 kph/27.96 mph

Over how long? At the beginning of the clip they said there was 200 miles left. (?)
The scoreboard at the end must have been the overall tour standings.

I just noticed that that clip was aired on CBS originally.

That TT was only 38 km if I heard correctly. I think 200 miles was the amount left until the end, including that stage. What confused me was the announcer saying something about Paris being very close (maybe he was insinuating that 200 miles is just a small amount of the total).

they said 50 mins...

...OT, but I dunno how serious TT racers do it. I just don't feel competitive when riding by myself, so I have no desire to inflict pain on myself.

50/60 = .83

38/.83 = 45 km

45 km = 27.96 mi