Question about changing handlebar types and effect on brakes
 

So I have the straight handlebars for my fixed gear, like the small ones for going through traffic or whatever, and I like them, but I kind of want to get a pair of bullhorns.I have both rear and front brakes too. If I got the bullhorns would I need to get new like longer brake cables or something? I like my short handlebars, but I want to try bullhorns since I don't really ride between cars or anything and bullhorns seem neat.
Also, secondary question, are bullhorns still good for road riding? I know they're good for climbing and stuff, but would you suggest it for biking in light to medium traffic?

Thank you so much for your help.

i take it that they are top cross levers. if so.....

as long as your handlebar diameter is the same, your levers should fit.
you shouldn't need new cables, since you're not changing the height of anything.
as far as riding with bullhorns in traffic, just gotta be careful about not hooking anything. i get paranoid about getting too close to girls and their purses, or getting tugged underneath a semi that may be trying to navigate streets.

but other than that, swap away.

agreed. sounds like you need to remove your grips and levers and slip the levers on the new bullhorns

Thanks for the reply, I assume they are those kinds of levers. I was just wondering because the brake levers are like right near the stem, and with bullhorns I think they are farther out towards the end of the bars so I thought maybe it would cause a problem. But thats good to hear, thanks again. I'm pretty new to fixed gears, I've only had mine for like 3 months and I thought it would be cool to switch up the handlebars.

take a picture of your levers. with what you have, you have no choice but to put them by the stem like they are now. you'd need a different kind of brake lever to put them at teh ends of the bullhorns

I ride bullhorns in downtown Chicago all the time. Never clipped a thing with them in the city. I did catch a tree branch on a trail in the woods once (yes, I do offroad stuff on my Lager. If you don't like it **** off) so I suppose it's possible. Cross levers next to the stem work fine, but I rarely use my brakes so we may have differences there.

I'll see if I can upload a picture sometime, but anyway you don't think that the cross levers near the stem will be a hinderance? How do most people ride with them? I know in Mash and stuff they don't ride with brakes 99% of the time, but I am not that good/confident in my ability to not die. Would drop bars be a better option? I like bullhorns more, but I may change my mind.

go to your local bike shop and try out how a road bike with drops feels. then try some bullhorns. both are much better than a flatbar

The Soma Track drops are pretty cool. http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CDIQ8wIwAA
Would that be a good choice too?

I am 99.99999% sure your current brake setup would work for bullhorns. Get narrow ones if you are worried about clipping stuff. Mine are 40cm and feel pretty narrow/nice.

That's a good idea, I tried my friends bike with drops for like 30 seconds and I was just like "oh god how do I bike?" but if what you say is true, I'm sure I could get used to either type in like a day or two and they would feel much better.

Thanks, I think I want to get Origin 8 bullhorns I think they are like 42 cm... I want to say.

bullhorns might be more useful than drops without hoods

Are you sure they don't have them in 40cm? I actually got some cheapy ones on eBay, probably same as Origin-8 quality, but I like them! When still figuring out what handlebars you like best, it doesn't make sense to drop a ton of money, so definitely check out eBay or a local bike shop's used bin. I used to have 42cm ones but they felt wide to me. It's weird cause 2cm seems like it'd be a negligible difference but I definitely feel it. Some people like 38cm but if it's too narrow you might not have as much control.

Thanks a lot for all of you guys' help, I think I'm gonna get this http://www.amazon.com/Origin-8-Bullh.../dp/B002IXX05E and some black bar tape. Also, semi-related, should I get one or two things of bar tape? thanks again And I'll just have my levers near the stem.

Make sure your stem takes that size of clamp diameter.

Get one thing of bartape.

One pack of tape is usually sufficient for a set of road drops. Since bulls are smaller, they should be fine. I had about a foot left over on each roll when I did my bars.