Types of handlebars?

Anonymous

I am doing a long (650K in 48hr (Malin head to Mizen head) ride in October, and am putting an old bike back together - it currently has a set of MTB bars, complete with barends, from when my brother rode it to Valencia a year or so ago (took the train over the Pyrenees though!).

He insists this is the most comfortable way to ride, although I am convinced there must be sense in putting the old, curved bars back on.

The only bugger is that he lost the brakes (the old style ones...see: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-CLASSIC-DUAL-ACTION-GT-STYLE-RACING-BRAKE-LEVER-/260811836537?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item3cb998cc79 so I will have to either buy the above (not sure if they will fit though - I presume 22.2 - 23.8 will need to be the diameter of my bars).

My other thought is to combine the old bars and get some of the new style levers with shifters on them, but this to me will be a lot of drilling and work, as my gears are on the diagonal (old school), and potentially high cost.

He says the curved ones are more uncomfortable on your back due to the change in posture. I dont know what the trade off is between comfort or aerodynamics!

Any advice, tips and what would be best (and why the backache may occur and how to stop it) would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Anonymous

Hi Stanley,

Thanks for that - would the MTB with barends not also give extra postures. My brother left this setup on from when he went to valencia and swears by it, also mentioning that it potentially has 4 different grips

The 4 grips potential grips being - normal; on the uprights of the barends; on the tips of the barends where the bend inwards again; and finally (my brother says this is best) to have your hands open spread across the handlebars and barends.

What do tri bars offer for long distance cycling?

Krys

Used to have a hybrid with bar ends. Swore blind that road bars wouldn't make any difference. I was SO wrong. There's far more variation on road bars, and the ability to be down on the drops completely puts your back in a totally different position - and as has been said - the ability for vary position on long rides is essential for comfort. Not to mention that it's way more fun going downhill on the drops *grin*.

Anonymous

Stanley - thats what I thought. Definitely going for the swap - especially based on Krys' comments as well.

Just need to get some brake levers and grips sorted for the handlebars! (the old ones are just bare metal bars now)

Anonymous

Yeah - thats what I meant - tape! Sorry.

Someone mentioned these are good entry level brakes - Tektro RL520

But I also want something which will make the 'hood' grip comfortable, particularly with the M2M coming up.

Anonymous

Its not a need, just something I am considering.
At the moment, they are mounted on the diagonal, so I can see myself spending a considerable amount of time staring at the ground when I should probably be looking at the road ahead.

I've seen other types of gear levers, but I think I might wait until I can get to my local shop and bombard them with questions!

Really appreciate the help. I'm sure i'll work out where the right posts/threads go - I think im quite looking forward to getting fit again!

rolf_f

coriordan wrote:

Its not a need, just something I am considering.
At the moment, they are mounted on the diagonal, so I can see myself spending a considerable amount of time staring at the ground when I should probably be looking at the road ahead.

You mean the down tube! There is nothing wrong with downtube shifters. You don't need to look at them either! There are advantages in modern combined brake/shifters but it isn't really worth the bother of changing.