Types of handlebars?

Anonymous

Hi - Sorry for the repost of this here, but I thought I might get a better response than in the Audax thread, seeing as it probably has quite an elementary answer:

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 - otherwise, why would road bikes have them?

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) or, 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!

I was also told that the ability to change grips was helpful - although with barends you have potentially 4 grips anyway - 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.

I was considering putting a set of tribars on - but not really sure what this would add - are they good for long distances?

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

Monty Dog

Generally people find drop bars more comfortable for extended rides as you have three hand positions - drops, hood and tops. You can fit combination brake/gear levers like STIs but these to be matched to the rest of your transmission. Re frame mounts, these are readily available too. A lot depends on your budget at this can get pricey.

Anonymous

Thanks for that - but it does seem that people aren't leaping out of the woodwork to say that the drops bars are the best (even for long distances, surely drops must be best!? - I dont see the TdF riders with MTB bars!)

I dont have the 'hoods' option, as my brakes aren't situated like that- mine are the old school ones (as per the ebay link, where I imagine I would have the get the replacements).

Can I upgrade just the brakes to give me the 'hoods' option without doing gears?

At the time budget is quite tight, but I do want to get used to the right handles before I start training/commuting/riding etc...

Monty Dog

Why would you expect people on a road bike forum to say that MTB bars are better? MTB bars are designed to give control at low speed, rather than comfort for long durations - if flat bars were better for road use, people would ride them.

Yes, a modern brake lever will work fine with your old brakes and will give you an extra handhold - the basic Tektro RL520s are good IME as they have a good supportive shape whereas the Shimano ones are pretty skinny. FWIW the old 'suicide' extended levers are a waste of time.

MichaelW

The reach of your riding position from saddle to bars has little to do with the style of bar. Older tourists setup their drop-bars high and close, young city couriers fit short flatbars, low and long.
Dropbars have lots of naturally comfortable positions which minimise the strain in the wrist. The modern shallow drop styles, eg from 3TTT are very good.
Trekking/butterfly bars offer lost of good positions and better compatibility with MTB components.
If you are stuck with a flat bar, I think that clip-on aerobars are probably better than bar-ends for comfort. You can setup aerobars for a higher, comfort position.

Anonymous

Monty, not at all. I had made my posts in the road forums, and was expecting a barrage of comments to make the change back to curved bars.. The (road) bike currently has MTB setup, and I wanted to make sure that it was worthwhile to swap them back.

If I can relocate the old brakes, I will go for that, then look to adjust the position of the actual handlebars themselves to make it more comfortable. If not, I think I will go for the 'new' style brakes which will give me the 'hood' grip, with a look to upgrade the gear levers to the same position as well (funds permitting).

Its a 1980s (ish) Dawes Stratos (Lilac/Silver). Cant wait to take it on the roads on a proper ride! Just picked up some new inner tubes (and took an almighty tumble on our gravel track - ow!).

Looks like I can pick up a pair of te Tektro RL520 for about 20 quid, so will keep an eye open!
Thanks for the advice - just out of curiousity, how much extra would it be to stick gear/brake style shifters?

Many thanks

Monty Dog

Cheapest combined levers are going to be well in excess of £100, but a lot depends on matching them with the rest of your transmission i.e. if you've got 7 or 8 speed then you'll likely need to track some down on ebay.