What handlebars do you choose?

[doog]

I use my everyday bike when I tour, a specialized myka fitted with a rack and slicks.

I'm very happy with my set up, the only thing I need to do something about is the handlebars. I get achy hands and wrists.

I hear that adding bar ends to add some variety to hand position may help?

What do you all use, do you have any recomendations?

I think some bar ends would assist you. If you look on ebay you can get a pair for a fiver so worth a go for that price and just tilt them slightly upwards towards you . I dont use them on my tourer as I have drops but use them on my Turbo trainer in the garage and they are brilliant.

 

[cyberknight]

Not personally tried them but what about butterfly bars ? gives a wide array of hand positions.

 

[derrick]

I use these on the commuter they are really comfatable,
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cinelli-lola-cowhorn-handlebar/

 

[snorri]

I like the butterfly bars on my tourer, with a sponge grip I find them very comfortable.

 

[Sara_H]

Take a look at Mary bars from on one. You could add ergo grips too.

Serious cyclists may think that isn't a cool look though.

Oh yes, I like those!

 

[Sara_H]

I like the butterfly bars on my tourer, with a sponge grip I find them very comfortable.

I like the look of butterfly bars too! Seems like there'd be alot of faffing with the brake/gear levers though.

 

[snorri]

I like the look of butterfly bars too! Seems like there'd be alot of faffing with the brake/gear levers though.

There possibly could be, have to admit I had the butterflies fitted from new by the supplier. Although I converted it to Rohoff and that simplified things with just one twist grip on the end of the bar. The twist grip would not slide along the bar, so it was just a case of choosing left end or right end. There was a bit more leeway with the brake levers.

 

[Sara_H]

I have long term wrist issues (dislocating 20-30 times a day before 11 ops over 15 years & only parital feeling in it plus bones disintergrating) so was very keen to sort the setup out on my touring bike before we set out.

I have SJS comfort bars, Ergon GP1 grips and SJS Comfort ergon bar ends combined with gel gloves the setup has been brilliant and rarely had issues over the course of th 8,700 miles. I understand the EJE comfort bars have been designed by their physiotherapist to reduce wrist issues IIRC. Not the best picture, but gives you the concept.
View attachment 19298

Thats a beautiful looking bike!

 

[mcshroom]

It's easy to install brake/gear levers on the Butterfly bars as long as you are happy with them on the section closest to you. You just slide them on from the gap in the middle

I like drops, but I have tried a few different sets of flats on my hybrid. Butterfy bars are nice but need a lot of initial fiddling to find the position that suits I found. Risers are decent for so long, but my favourite set up eventually was flats with long bar ends.

 

[jonnystv]

Before investing in a new set of bars why not try raising them a bit. A slightly more upright position will take some weight & pressure from your wrists and shift it to your backside. Worked for me. If you can, start by flipping the stem so its pointing up.

Jonny

 

[Nigeyy]

I have a recommendation: choose a bar style, use them for 500 miles, if they are comfortable, stick with them. No, seriously....

I've toured on drops, straights and butterflys -all with no problem. I've found (much like saddles actually) that so long as the bars are within the limits of your body (i.e. not anatomically inappropriate), your body will adapt to the style. I found this out a bit by accident -I've toured on 3 bikes, each having different handlebars. After getting accustomed to each style, I thought I couldn't use another bar style until.... well... I did. I really do find all of them comfortable and it's just down to what I feel comfortable with at the time.

One thing to consider is that drops may give you the most issues in terms of expense or availability if you wish to have gear changing close at hand or choice of brake levers. Also, changing bars may not just necessitate a possible change in gear shifters (and possibly derailleur) and levers, but also quite possibly a stem too.

 

[Iainj837]

I like the butterfly bars on my tourer, with a sponge grip I find them very comfortable.

+ 1
I have butterfly bars on my KaraKum fitted as standard

 

[psmiffy]

Ive used these for years - they give me all the variety of positions I need - narrow and upright with my hands on the controls for traffic and touristing - wide and stretched out for the open road and into the wind - a wide high open handed/chested position for climbing - no longer made but there are some German bars without the tri position (which I only used very rarely anyway) that I will try that will satisfy most of my requirements

 

[taximan]

Not personally tried them but what about butterfly bars ? gives a wide array of hand positions.

I fit butterflies to my tourer about a year ago and could not believe how much they helped improve my performance.

 

[Yellow7]

Another tick for Euro / butterfly bars, comfortable positions for city, cruising or climbing.