Touring on Bullhorn Handlebars
03-21-17, 07:42 AM
#1
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Touring on Bullhorn Handlebars
Anyone tried this? How did you like it?
03-21-17, 08:39 AM
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A friend of mine uses them. He used to use drop bars but never used the drops, only the tops or hood position. He feels that the bullhorn gives him a riding position that is very similar to using drop bars without drops. He used them on his previous touring bike before he upgraded to his current bike, so he obviously likes them.
I would not like them, I prefer the option for more aerodynamic position by using the drops.
His bike is the one on the left in the photo.
I would not like them, I prefer the option for more aerodynamic position by using the drops.
His bike is the one on the left in the photo.
03-21-17, 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by BlarneyHammer
Anyone tried this? How did you like it?
I ride drop bars mostly in the top positions, but would never give up the dropped position, which I feel gives me better steering control on high speed descents.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin
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04-05-18, 08:28 PM
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I feel like we just discussed this recently? Anywho I prefer drop bars as it is easier to mount both brake levers and shifters on them and still have my ergo flat top. I do have a set of bullhorns on one of my single speeds and I do really like them (Zipp Vuka Alumina) but mounting stuff is a bit harder and I don't like the look of bar ends inside of the brake levers on the ends. The bike they are on is a quick little FG/SS Langster which is a lot of fun for zipping around but not one I would want for long distance, personally.
If you are looking multi position and don't want drops, try a Trekking/Butterfly bar or a Jones Loop bar or a Velo Orange Crazy Bar (probably the most similar to a bullhorn but more useful for touring)
If you are looking multi position and don't want drops, try a Trekking/Butterfly bar or a Jones Loop bar or a Velo Orange Crazy Bar (probably the most similar to a bullhorn but more useful for touring)
04-05-18, 08:52 PM
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I can't seem to find it now, but someone wrote an article on Crazyguyonabike about his set up which featured bullhorns with clip on aero bars. He used bar end shifters and had- I think- MTB levers mounted face down. I considered trying that for a Univega MTB project, but went with Crazy Bars instead.
Last edited by UDFA; 04-05-18 at 08:54 PM. Reason: Omitted important info
04-06-18, 04:56 AM
#6
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I’ve thought about trying that myself. I’ve never tried bull horns, but came to the same conclusion your friend did. I hardly ever use the drops anyway, so why bother with them? I also think bull horns would provide a much more secure hand hold compared to brake hoods, which provide very little. You have to choose between holding onto the hood with fingers behind the lever or having an insecure grip, but having your fingers on the lever. I don’t like those options when going downhill off pavement. Bull horns would give you a handlebar to hold onto with a couple fingers on the lever, more like a bmx or mtb. I’ll probably try it soon.
04-06-18, 07:03 AM
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If you've used them and like them, I see no reason why not to.
As with many of these questions, if it works for you, go for it.
As with many of these questions, if it works for you, go for it.
04-06-18, 09:51 AM
#8
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i used 'em, i like 'em. setup same as with straight bars and bar-ends,
but with the bullhorns you have a nice round bend, no uncomfortable
bar-end joints.
(zoom brahma, tektro levers, suntour friction thumbshifters)
but with the bullhorns you have a nice round bend, no uncomfortable
bar-end joints.
(zoom brahma, tektro levers, suntour friction thumbshifters)
04-06-18, 10:42 AM
#9
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I get a similar feel with Ergon Grip/bar ends integrated design, GR2 is short GR5 is the longest bar end.
I have 2 bikes with the GR3.. broad paddle grip vastly more comfortable than a round or taped grip.
...
I have 2 bikes with the GR3.. broad paddle grip vastly more comfortable than a round or taped grip.
...
04-09-18, 02:18 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by mtb_addict
i have wasted alot of money trying this and that. i wish we have bike coop so i can try different setup w/o having to buy. Still looking and wasting money for the perfect setup.
04-10-18, 06:22 AM
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Bullhorns
I had one of my bikes set up with bullhorns and enjoyed it, but I only used that bike for shorter rides and occasional commutes. The big problem for me is that there was nowhere to hide on windy days, when I typically use my drops the most. On a tour, this could be problematic if you faced a long slog into headwinds. However, many cyclists never use their drops anyway, so if that’s the case, why not use bullhorns? They certainly provide more hand positions than flat bars (without bar ends).
