A pleasing new handlebar set-up
 

So a little while back, the clamp of the stem holding my bullhorns, which I liked because it was wicked short to compensate for my bike's being a little to big in the top tube, crapped out, and I had to put on the only other stem I had (I don't buy things if I can help it) (except beer), which was longer. The result of this was that I had to reach too far to rest my hands comfortably on the horns. So one day, in a fit of low-level inspiration, I loosened the clamp and rotated the bullhorns back 180 degrees so they pointed toward me. Bingo - pure riding comfort. I can sit a little more upright and rest my hands on the curvy part, sort of like having a promenade bar, or I can put my hands on the flats, or I can rest them right inside the bend, which is nice for skidding. I strongly recommend this set-up to anyone who wants moustache or promenade bars but, like me, is too cheap to buy 'em.

Anyone use the curvier forms of promenad bars, maybe they're called cruiser bars (?) backwards and upside down, maybe with the ends cut?

(I'm thinking kind of like funky-shaped, down-bending track bars.)

Not to jack your thread, but im also using a pleasing new handlebar setup. I have a flat titec mtb bar thats cut to about shoulder width. Attached to that are a set of cinelli spinaci bars that i got on ebay. I ride that flats when im in traffic or just riding along and the clip-ons when im on a long straight. It works.

I've done the reverse bullhorn thing, I like it very comfortable. My friends laughed at me though. I kinda felt like the church lady riding.

Yeah - I like that set-up too. I tried it on the current bike after my clamp failure, but unfortunately, the cruiser bars I have are to narrow in clamp diameter for the stem I have. Some day, perhaps.

To contribute to the hijacking... I hacked down a pair of Fuji flat bars to a paltry 10.25" wide this weekend. Just wide enough to get a full Oury (4.5" wide) on one side and a chopped Oury + cross lever on the other. Stupid fun... I can't believe I waited this long to try it.

Which reminds me... does anyone know of a bar end that inserts into the end of the handlebar, bar-end shifter style? It'd need to have an expanding bolt to hold it in place.

how about some photos?

In due time.

Been there, done that. Makes me feel like I'm riding a 70's cruiser.

Yeah, but my set-up isn't so upright (on account of the top tube being too long for me). It ends up being just right - I can get a nice little crouch and good leverage.

So you didn't actually take them out and turn them around? You flipped them over in the stem? Have you looked at the the other way too.

Right - I just loosened the clamp and rotated them backward till they pointed down and toward me. I thought about actually taking them out and putting them in backwards, but I don't think that would be necessary/comfortable. See, with bullhorns facing forward, I like that upward slope at the end so I can wedge my hands against it and they won't fly forward. But with the horns facing back, I can wedge my hands against the inside of the curve where the horn part leads into the flat part of the bars. And with the horns pointing slightly downward and toward me, I can rest my palms against the outside part of the curve of the horns (the part that would be on the underside in a regular, forward-facing set-up) and it's quite comfy. I should really just take a damn picture.

Something like this, maybe?:

http://www.fortune3.com/~comp75155/37963590.jpg

Do a search in Google for "BAR END PLUGS". I love the bars, btw.