Trek 520 handlebar advice
 

I am in need of some brainstorming for alternate handlebars for my Trek 520. I am riding a 21" bike and with an adjustable stem extender I have been able to produce a fairly comfortable reach to the tops and hoods. The problem lies with the brakes. My hands are too small to comfortably reach the brakes. Only the tips of my fingers can reach and this is becoming more and more uncomfortable as I have arthritis in my hands.
I would like to keep my bar end shifters (I've become quite fond of them) and switch to handlebars that would give me more comfortable braking and perhaps even a more upright riding position. I find that the older I get, the more comfortable a slightly more upright riding posture is. I don't ride in the drops often, but appreciate them when the wind kicks up.
What are my options?
Thanks!

i had similar issues with my trek 520 ... so i modified it to flat bars with barends, and it is so comfortable now ... i originally had brahma bars and shimano rapidfire plus brakes/shifters, but i have recently upgraded this to straight flat bars with barends, v-brake levers, pauls thumbies and some comfy anatomical cushy grips ... awesome set up for me now ...

pictures of my trek 520 here or email me and i can send you some decent pics of the set up ... the webpage on this bike needs updating, but it is similar to this too

I have similar problem with my Trek 20 which I just purchased this spring. I am 60 and find that I rarely ride on the drops. I have been back to the LBS to have the set up adjusted but the young folks there don't seem to understand touring or older folks. I tell them that I want to be more upright and they send me on my way and tell me to give the adjustments sometime. I am about to look for a professional or another LBS that will listen to me. I also have a mountain bike and but I find that after awhile my wrists get numb so I am reluctant to switch to straight bars on my Trek. I am open to suggestions as well.

Thanks

Give some thought to getting some aero levers with a short throw for small hands. Check out Rivendell Bikes on the internet and get one of their catalogues. Riv. Bikes has a lot of options for you - even the mounts to turn your bar ends into thumbies.

Cane Creek Levers:
http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/brakes/15123.html

Handlebars:
http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/handlebars_stems_tape/

Check their catalogue for the bar end converters to thumb shifters.

GUYS, STOP!!!

Ok, here's a solution. It's easy and nearly free.

I too have a 520, and I have really little hands. I could barely reach the levers.

A friend did this for me, he is good at mechanical stuff.

Shim the brake levers as follows. Cut a small piece of plastic into a wedge shape. We used the 'head' of a large zip-tie, cut off the tie part, and shaved it with an exacto knife until it was the right size/shape. We then used epoxy to glue it to the inside of the brake. On my first 520, we glued it to the moving part of the lever, but when I got my 2nd 520, I just pulled the shims off the remains of the first ones and glued them to the top of the lever. This is hard to explain, I'm attaching a picture.

That's it! Just let out a little cable. The levers sit closer to the bars, and you have to adjust the brakes pads pretty close in, but there is still plenty of pull.

Cheers! And thanks Dave D for doing this for me.

Anna

How about installing cyclo-cross style interupter brake levers on the bars?

Like these:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...lisearch=true#

Yes, Yes, Yes! This has been my experience exactly. You have helped me to define my problem a little better. It' s not just the brake lever reach that is bothering me. I am currently riding between 80 and 150 miles a week preparing for a Natchez Trace tour and my more mature body is requesting a more upright riding posture and less of a reach for the bars.
I am thinking that perhaps a set of trekking handlebars might solve my problem. I checked out Sheldon Brown's page on handlebars (www.sheldonbrown.com/deakins/handlebars.html) and it looks like the trekking bars are an option. Whatcha think?

Hmmm. Cool bars but pricey. Even cooler catalogue. My options are expanding. Thanks.

i've adjusted well to the brakes on my 520, but you can ask your LBS to install 2nd brake levers that hang below the top bars -- you can clutch them with your hands to brake. my LBS suggested them to me and they're only about $14 plus installation.

I'm guessing part of the problem is the brake cable is adjusted too tight and the brakes too hard to pull for you. Try letting out some cable-- this might do the trick.

Those smaller Crane Creek levers are very nice-- I have smaller hands and I love them.

Trekking bars are cheap if you wish to try this route-- although changing the stem might be a better method for you (you are happy with the bar-end shifters?)

I'd start with these things and keep making changes until you're happy.

Why not simply raise the handlebars?

You could get this stem for a threaded headset, or
one of these stems or risers for a threadless headset.

In a nutshell, both are ways to get your handlebars level or even higher than your saddle, which means they also need to get closer to you at the same time. You may even size your new stem so that the drops become a very useful or even a preferred position. And the beauty is that you keep your existing handlebars and therefore you don't need to change brake levers, shifters, etc.

You want up-right comfort? This conversion cost me $65. North Road bars, decent MTB levers (Avid SD-7), and an adjustable stem. The Brooks B-67 cost another $85 incl S&H. Lots of arthritis, bad back and carpal tunnel issues. I've ridden several centuries and routinely go 50 - 80 miles on any given day. I rack up between 120 and 180 miles/week. The bars are currently even with the saddle instead of above, as in the second pic. Also, this is not a slow bike although it looks a little fuddy-duddy. It really covers ground.
The bar-ends go right in and work fine. This may work for you. Good luck.

before:http://i6.tinypic.com/1z1wy9s.jpg
after:http://i6.tinypic.com/1z1wz1d.jpg

Thanks! I took your post and pictures to my kinda LBS (1 hour away) and he fixed me right up. He was so intrigued with the idea that he didn't charge me. Works great for making those brake levers easier to reach and sure beats putting my fingers in a stretcher rack!
I would still like to be more upright, but I have no more room on my stem extender. I think I'll just tilt the handlebars towards me a bit more and if that doesn't do it I will go with one of the other solutions. My limited budget is an issue. It's between putting more bucks into my bike or paying my daughter's and son's college tuition bills next month. LOL!
Thanks again all, for the great ideas.

Have you tried new gloves?
I had some serious numbness issues even after lots oif tweaking. I just picked up some Specialized BG Gel gloves. I can now feel my fingers. This was after tring a number of other gloves. You'd be amazed at the difference.
This is for the numb people, not the OP.

Cool missmom, happy to have been helpful!