Combination of drops and bullhorns?
 

I used to ride bullhorn, and never messed with drops, but now after riding the stock set from my kilo, I rather enjoy them. But, climbing is not very enjoyable, and I bike in rather hilly areas.

Are there any bars out there that extend forward parallel to the ground or even rise at the start for climbing, then proceed to turn into drops? I was looking at moustache, but I don't think they give the amount of drop I truly am looking for.

I'm trying to find something that will allow me to climb hills, ride upright, but also be able to drop low for straight sections. I keep searching the internet, but you can only see so much from pictures, so I was wondering if anyone had any experience with something like this.

Thanks. (And sorry if I'm just being oblivious)

randeunner bars

but there's not much lift/reach added before they drop. just get some brake hoods, gut the levers out if you don't like them, and ride hoods.

it's also possible your stem is too short, bike fit is tricky but if you feel like bullhorns are better for climbing than drops are, you may have bad fit. nothing's better for climbing than drops on a bike that fits properly, for most people.

drops with brake hoods.

If you have brakes and set the bar up so that the part of the bars that reach forward are nearly level, then the brake levers work more or less like bullhorns and give you something to grab onto when you climb. They also give you another place to put your hands. On my fixie I have only one brake, but two brake levers, for those reasons (but on a moustache bar).

Alright, I'll mess around with adjusting them some. If I can't get comfortable with that, I'll look into gutting some drops. I can only find one set of faux drops that are just for the hold, and that I wouldn't have to deal with the other complications, but they're like $40. So screw that.

dia compe fake leavers are like 10..ill find a link when I get home.

If you can find some, that'd be great.
The only ones I could find were these: http://www.chariandconyc.com/diacompe-handrestknob.aspx

chari and co: where the unimaginative pay top dollar for bottom design

why not just add some triathlon aeros to your drops?
like these.
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...1545500_400213

He wants the bullhorn position not the aero position.

Haha, never said I was buying from there, just what google gave me.

But I guess aero drops would work, if you can use them for climbing as well as aero type riding.
But I feel like putting a set of aeros on my otherwise stock kilo would make me look like a tool. I'm not that hardcore of a rider.

+1

What about attaching bar ends to a set of drop bars? It would be odd but it might make for a bullhorn-drop hybrid type situation. It's pretty much the same concept as using dummy hoods.

Here's a set for $10. http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Produc...2_175261_-1___

For some reason I never thought of that concept. It seems genius, like it would be the perfect solution.
Anyone have any ideas whether there would be flaws with the use of bar ends?

Many bar ends have a smaller diameter than a normal road bars.

Vixtor is definitely right about that. The only problem I can foresee is the clamp diameter.

Getting the bar ends around the bends of the drop bar could be tricky but seems feasible. This would work as long as you can find bar ends with a large enough clamp size.

I was coming to this thread to post the bar end solution.
Get the "Strongholds" from Nashbar, they're pretty terrific.


Vixtor: That may be true about the clamp diameter, but they're also $10. So probably worth it to just try and see.

Well, the ones you listed have a 22mm diameter. I have no idea the diam of the stock kilo bars. What seems about average for drops?

there's no standard so an average is meaningless.

seriously, even if they fit i wouldn't do that. i'd get some used brake levers that have comfortable hoods and i'd take out all their guts.

I guess I'll just check everything out and see. I mean, you can get stubby profile-esque bar ends that wouldn't be so intense looking. It's mostly just for the occasional times that I miss having that extra hand postion. Other than that I'm pretty happy with the drops.

+1

Used road shifters are the best, check your local bike co-ops if you know a couple.

I think it would be pretty cool to have bar ends on the drops - wrapped nicely with some cushy tape. You'd really have something to grab and climb with.

Using gutted hoods is the surest option though. It's tried and true.

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I mean, hoods will obviously work, but I feel like really trying to give this a shot.
If not, it just proves that I should take the advice of the guys with 3000+ posts. But trial and error am I right?

I feel like all the conventional wisdom I've seen has suggested that the hoods are where most people prefer to be riding for a serious incline.

Find a set of old chrome road drops, they most likely have an outside diameter of 22.2mm, which is the same as common bar ends.

I've had a set of steel road drops before, they were heeeeeavy but extremely stiff. Again, bike co-op usually have old steel road drops and they usually have a box of bar ends for 5 bones a side or so.