hello, i'm embarking on my second conversion of an old road bike to a SS/FG. for my previous conversion i did the chop and flip to create a bullhorn effect. I would like something different for this one. this conversion will have a particular color scheme and overall look, so i'm picking out components more discreetly. my first thought was to leave the drop bars alone, but aesthetically i prefer both flat and riser for this project. i have not used either, so i'm curious to hear your thoughts about what you prefer, for whatever reasons - function, comfort, aesthetics, etc. my guess is that a straight bar rides just like the top of a drop bar, so the feel will be similar, if not a bit wider.

Anything you want to share (about this topic), I would like to read!

My personal take since you're open to thoughts...

I'd tried flat bars. I'm sure they're plenty of fun for bar hops or riding around in circles with some friends having some fun. But for anything where you're in the saddle for a decent amount of time they suck. Having one hand position for an entire ride of an hour or more is no fun.

flat bar + 0º stem = riser + 17º stem
i mean, slightly different control, but who cares?
it's a budget build - use whatever is in your spare parts box, or which you think looks cooler

Risers. The only thing flat bars do better is suck and die.

Risers with a good amount of sweep. Flat bars are ridiculously uncomfortable.

they make flat bars with sweep and variety of angles
you guys are prejudiced by looks

Not just looks. It felt weird getting leverage when climbing and sprinting. Anyway, a flat bar with sweep is not a straight bar.

Every flatbar besides those marital aid bars like the Stash have some sweep.

Well, I assumed by 'straight bar' OP meant those marital aid bars like the kind Origin 8 make and you find at track supermarket and on the globe roll.

fixed.

Road drops look better and function better, in my honest and correct opinion.

i didn't realize risers gave you more hand positions

I think you may have misread or inferred something from my post which I did not say. I only spoke of flat bars and how they suck due to having only one hand position. I think it's obvious risers have the same problem.

fosho

I rode a century last year with risers just to see if I could and it really wasn't that bad. I did find myself resting my palms on the outer edge of the grips in a sort of "mock bullhorn" position more than once though.

Fixed that.

yep, that's what i was trying to say

I haven't tried compact drops yet, but they do look good.

Still, if the choice was straight/risers or drops, the drops win every time--whether road or compact.