Hi thanks all for continuing your advice.
For the others -
1. I have looked at just adding bar ends to the h type handle bar - it is an option - but i can;t find any qr detachables - so that puts me in the same position - might as well fit a shapely handlebar anyway.
2. I had looked at fixing a straight bar with bull horns backwards but why do so when vintage handlebars are cheaply available as the real thing ? However some bullhorns have built in ability to change angles but annoyingly their grip length is generally pretty small and don't make good swept back grips. If anyone can point me somewhere which contradicts this - please do so.
3. How easy is it to get handlebars made and who does this service ? I would want foldable/hinged/revolving swept-back grips in that case.
4. The bike is on order - but the difference between the H & S stem is faily minimal - I still would have to cover a extended stem issue with both. I've gone for the H because it's less hassly to adapt down to an s or m than an s is to adapt to an M or H.
For 12boy:
0. I've decided on
flat non-rising handlebars which come in at a length close to the H type length of 530mm as these keep folding neat and compact and just require a turn downwards when folding.
Any handle bars with a slight raise built in , when it comes to folding they will stick out by the rise depth as well as any greater length when folded. So i rejected all the Velo / retro handlebars with a rise over 40mm and a length over about 545mm. That eliminated alot of good handlebars from the likes of Soma Nitto and Velo in particular.
1. I note yr feedback - that riding a wider handlebar with a slight raise felt more stable than the shorter length handlebar. Also that attaching it directly to the stem as is and not subjecting it to a further rise was workable for you too. I will play with that idea. Thankyou.
2. What did you mean by "The stem clamp with these bars is centered fore and aft and I didn't have the downward leverage of the Milanos." re 'centred fore and aft' and also 'downward leverage' means ? -
I note the clamp area diameter for the brommie is 25.4" and this is the case for most vintage handlebars from above suppliers. One or two of the vintage models are 25.4" from grip to grip but most others come similar to brommie handlebars with 22.2mm bars and grips - i want to avoid using shims if possible.
3. I eliminated north road (there are a number of makes) and milano because of the width and also the rise of the bars. I had a preference for the soma oxford in this catagory but they come in close:
https://www.velovitality.co.uk/products/alloy-north-road-style-handlebars
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebars/nitto-b302aa-north-handlebars-254mm-clamp-silver-490mm/
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebars/soma-oxford-handlebars-254mm-clamp-silver-540mm/
thanks again everyone - keep it coming !
sp