Spare parts build.

My mid '80s Gianni Motta converted to SS:

Thanks a lot!

What do you mean designed for TTs? And what are "regular" bullhorns?

I meant exactly what I said, designed for TT.

See the comedy riding position?

Here's what yours are a copy of:


Here are normal bullhorns:


Notice the first set has a huge drop built in?

They're not for comfortable riding at your own pace. They're for contorting yourself into a bizarre shape in order to take 1/10th of a second off your time as you piss yourself from the strain of riding so hard.

so tasty
personally i woulda went with hoods but its still looks good

What does TT mean? I've only heard it in reference to the Kill TT.

The ones you posted are slightly different, as those are like the Nitto RB021, mine are the RB019, which have a slight forward angle with the drop. The RB018 that you posted are similar to my RB002's. I actually dislike the RB019, and I think I am just going back to my RB002's.

Thanks for the info, I can see why the more aggressive style is used for sport.

EDIT: figured out TT is time trial? Interesting, because when I google time trial cycling and look at images, I haven't seen one that use bull horns that are shaped like the Nitto RB019, it seems like a totally different style.

Time trial

Thanks! The old super record hoods I had did not play well with the centaur brakes and I had a pair of cross tops so on they went.

What you're linking there are clipon aerobars that go on the middle section of drop bars on badly set up road bikes owned by triathlon amateurs.

If you'll look at an actual TT bike of a certain age you'll find it'll have handlebars of the same general design as yours, often with an extra section in the middle similar to those clipons. Modern TT bikes don't bother with handlebars that include a built in drop, as they just use a frame with a shorter head tube.

As for "slight differences", yes, duh, different companies bend them differently.

What I'm trying to get across to you is that these bars are shaped in a way as to create a large drop from saddle to hand. If you want a more upright position then they aren't suitable. Twisting them up like you have just means you've got an unsuitable fit, with unsuitable parts.

I learned it the hard way.

I really like this spare parts build - replace the basket and panniers and rack with a big saddlebag and you're set for an all-day ride. What kind of old British frameset is that under the black paint, anyway?

Each time I look at this pic, I feel pangs again for the only bike I ever sold that I really regretted selling, a full 531-tubed, Nervex Pro-lugged Raleigh Gran Sport from that brief period where they had no chrome and Huret forged ends. It was covered in multiple layers of house paint when I plucked it from a trash heap, to discover it was my size and still had its Stronglight 93 cranks with a single 42T ring. Looked better with a coat of flat-black BBQ grill spray paint, and built up with a mix of scrounged bits from assorted parts boxes, its ride rivaled my custom Mercian. I foolishly sold it on eBay to a cat in Canada more than 10 years ago and still miss it.

Thanks. The frame and fork is a late 70s/early 80s Raleigh-built something, though I've no idea what other than the original colour was baby blue. It could have been a Triumph, BSA... absolutely no idea. It's got the odd Raleigh threads though, and hi-ten steel.

When I got it, it had 27" steel wheels and mountain bike parts, dérailleur, handlebars, stem, and was brush painted dark green. Had to straighten the rear triangle with a 2x4. Unfortunately I didn't see the value in the SKS chromoplastics and threw them out when I moved house.

First thing I did was swap all my parts over from my way undersized old frame onto it, rode it as a fixed for a summer then threw it in the loft when I got a "proper" bike. Stole the brakes for other bikes, cables, wheels...

I'd say everything on her now is the absolute cream of my junk pile. Scratched up weinmann levers with the turkey wings taken off, but at least they're not steel. Wheels that aren't light, but they're cheap, and very strong. Everything works great, and at 72GI on 28mm tyres I can keep up a quick pace forever. I need to find a matching frame pump, maybe some black mudguards, and a better rack, but all in good time.

After all the miles I've put on that frame in it's many incarnations I'd say there's nothing I'd sooner rely on. It makes me laugh a little that one of the best bikes I've ever ridden is a gas piper that spent at least ten years in a ditch.

Updated Leader 729. Ya, I know this is a FGFS frame, but after riding it around as a FGFS for a while, I realized that I am much too old for that ish. Intalled road, stem, bars, and 28c Thickslicks this last weekend. Frame was used and covered head to toe in stickers when I got it. I removed (most) of them and installed the Leader decals, which are hand cut from a piece of vinyl that I got at a sign shop. I am pretty happy with it as it sits now. Not light by any stretch (~24-25lbs) but very heavy duty for city riding, which is more of what I was looking for anyway.

Never seen invisible brake levers before.

Stoker levers. Google it.

pick this up on sale. swapped out the rear fixed wheel for a Mavic CXP33 (w/ surly ultranew hub and DTswiss spokes) free wheel. waiting on a pursuit bullhorn handle bar.

this is my everyday/training bike.

Picked this one up recently and swapped out some things. Still waiting on the clips/straps in the mail.

This.

Originally intended for the back rider on a tandem, who is apparently known as a "stoker". Found this out myself while researching recently. I installed them so that I have the extra hand position, even though I stayed with a brakeless setup on this bike. I am probably on the hoods about 75% of the time at least, but like having the drops as an option too, so I went with this instead of bullhorns.

Wait, those things are like thirty five quid a pop. You spent more money on pretend brake levers than normal ones cost?

I mean they don't even have to be good normal ones. It's not like you're going to hook them up to anything.

I dont post here much but heres a lazy photo of my bike.

^Nicely done.

word, good job.

****, that 722 is perfect.

Thanks. This community has helped shape my bike and I a lot.