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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

722.0. "Handlebars-Swap the drop?" by CLOVAX::BERNARD () Mon Jun 13 1988 13:29

    
    	My wife has a mid-to-high priced Miyata bike with a shortish
    	race frame.  She's found that in the kind of riding we do
    	these days-leisurely spins with our children- that she is
    	seldom riding the drops.
    
    	It occured to me that it might be useful to replace her
    	handlebars with the shorty high bars found on mountain bikes.
    	While I realize this type of riding may not be the most
    	efficient- who cares?  At least she'll be more comfortable
    	and have more control while riding upright.
    
    	Or anyway, such are my thoughts.  Has anyone heard of doing
    	such a bar swap, and what kind of results I might expect if
    	I were to do so?
    
    	As always, thanks for your comments.
    
    	-Dave
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722.1MENTOR::REGI fixed the boat; So, who want to ski ?Mon Jun 13 1988 15:4011
    re .0	Well, for one thing it might be nice to ask HER thoughts
    on this too:-^)
    
    	I find that my ATB bars offer only ONE hand position, whereas
    maes bend offer about four just on the tops, hence I will probably
    never change them on a road bike.  Re "more control",  I doubt it.
    We don't "steer" with handlebars, so more leverage doesn't add more
    control, even (or especially) not in an emergency.

    	Reg
    
722.2MOSAIC::WASSERJohn A. WasserTue Jun 14 1988 15:137
	Replacing drop bars with touring bars:

	Remember that you will have to replace the brake levers and
	probably the brake cables when you change bars.  I have done
	such a conversion and it is fairly easy to do... it just
	gets expensive..
722.3Inexpensive Brake LeversAIMHI::JSMITHBikes Spoke_n HereWed Jun 15 1988 13:3711
    re. -1 < Brake conversion .....gets expensive >
    
    	If your in the market for a complet set-up of Mountain Bars,
    with Suntour Thumb Shifters and Mountain Brake Levers, or any
    individual component I have an inexpensive set for sale that are
    like new.  They came off of a bike with low miles but with an
    unrepairable frame.  If your interested send mail.  You can check
    out the individual items and prices in my Mountain Bike For Sale
    base note.
     					Jerry
   
722.4A free solution (assuming you already own sunglassesCIMNET::MJOHNSONCarbohydrates are recreational drugs.Wed Jun 15 1988 14:058
    You could always go for the Palm Beach look -- just rotate the 
    bars 180 degrees so their ends point forward, then install the
    brake levers facing the other way.  Now get some loud beach trunks,
    a walkman, and some sunglasses, and you're cruisin'.  :~)
    
    Like wow, man...
    
    MATT
722.5On a more serious note...CIMNET::MJOHNSONCarbohydrates are recreational drugs.Wed Jun 15 1988 14:3225
    Be certain that you're attacking the problem, not just the symptom of
    the problem.  Many people (and especially women) feel uncomfortable on
    road bikes because they've bought one that's too big -- they have to
    reach too far forward to grip the bars.  Usually, they conclude that
    the drop bars are the problem; unfortunately, changing the bars to
    upright-style won't help.  On a properly sized and oriented bike, drop
    bars should actually be MORE comfortable than upright bars.  As Reg
    mentioned earlier, this is because of the variety of hand positions
    available (without even going down to the drops): 1) near the center,
    parallel to one another 2) at the bend of the bar, wrists facing
    in 3) at the bend of the bar, wrists facing out 4) on top of the
    brake levers.  If you go down to the drops, there are two other
    positions: 1) on the inside curl of the bar, near the brake levers
    2) near the ends of the bars.
    
    On upright bars, you have nowhere else to put your hands, and your back
    has to withstand more road shock (it's distributed over your four
    limbs on a drop-bar bike).  Still, there's one case in which
    I'd recommend them: if somebody's just plain intimidated by the
    look of these things, and the fear limits his or her riding, then
    by all means, change them.  All the lobbying in the world can't 
    change such an aversion.

    
    MATT