thediabetik

I'm about to buy a new single speed, and my choices have come down to the Fuji Declaration and the Fuji Feather. What will finalize my decision is whether or not the handlebars on the Fuji Feather are as much of a pain in the ass as they look. As you can see in the image I have attached, the Feather's handlebars are track-style drop handlebars, but their brakes are in the same place they would go on conventional handlebars. Is there some sort of benefit to this configuration that a noob like me wouldn't be aware of? Or, as I suspect, are they simply an unnecessary hassle?

Here is a picture with a good view of the handlebars:

GhostSS

Some track drops can't accommodate aero brake levers or don't make sense given the angle of the hooks. That brake lever set up is fairly common, the only drawback is you can only use the brakes from one hand position instead of 2.

I've had experience with both:

Pista drops:



Current Road drops:


IMO aero brakes are more comfortable to use since you don't have to change hand positions from drops to tops to slow down. Ideally if you are fixed gear you can use your legs to help in case you have an "oh s***" moment.

Stracknasty

take one for a test spin. i personally think pista/track drops are useless for everyday or street riding and find them super uncomfortable. but i see lots of people on them everyday! you can always swap them out for some cheap road drops.

europa

If you like the Feather, get the bike shop to swap the track bars for road bars and aero brake levers at the time of sale, preferably before he builds the bike up. A good shop will usually give you discounts on the parts at this time ... but not after you've had it a week.

seau grateau

Yes, and they suck. Aside from being impractical for road use because they don't offer a "hood" position, the drops are uncomfortably small and tightly curved.

edit- That said, you can get new handlebars with lunch money, and an undesirable bar is no reason to count out a bike that otherwise suits your needs (assuming the Feather does).

jhess74

I have a Feather, and those stock drops were the first thing to go - horribly uncomfortable.

sailor_jerry

I personally don't like the bars very much but it is a great bike fro the price.

iTripped

Well as someone who is actually fond of his track drop bars, the feather has a set that is more accessible to newer riders, by virtue of having a shallower drop.

The thing I like about drops is the position they put me in is better when sprinting or climbing - I feel I can get more power because I am in a better spot to pull up on the bars. When I don't need that I can relax on the tops. If you get those bars you may consider wrapping them all the way up instead of staying with the grips (which are only for the drops). As others have said though, you can get different bars for cheap (like, twenty bucks?) So feel free to play around with different ones.