trekking bars in dense urban assault , aka butterfly bar
 

how are trekking bars in its unnatural habitat, aka like in dense urban streets, MUPs, and sidewalks of like NYC?

do you feel they are too wide, to squeezing between cars in stuck traffic?
too unwieldy, when cutting and slashing bollards and walkers on congested MUPs?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4b30cac2e.jpeg

i am looking for a 90% commuter, 10% light-touring.
found thus bike with trekking bar on sale.
the straight bar version is not on sale.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a96a6e0d7.jpeg

Looks great! Most trekking bars don’t look very wide. They are meant to be real world usable, should be no problem in traffic.I’ve been using just these swept back and are great for cutting through downtown! Also been good on trails!
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cc75392dc.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...042a0aa82.jpeg

If anything, the trekking bars I've used were too narrow for urban assault. Ok for riding along a MUP, but bouncing curbs and zipping in and out of cars sees the hands too close together when on the controls.

I used them for a couple years riding in the city before my bike was stolen (ironically in the ’burbs) and did perfectly fine.

How wide are the bars that you normally use?

I have some uncommon Modolo Butterfly bars that I specially ordered that are 50cm wide at the widest point. I believe that the more regular and commonly available Butterfly bars are usually 58cm wide at the widest point.

i am using a 55-cm bar (see photo). it is not enough control on rough bumpy gravel roads.

but I would hate to go wider than 58...it gets very narrow in many places on the MUP and sidewalks...especially they are doing alot construction.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a8c70ebae.jpeg

now i think about it some more, its a no brainer to get the trekking bar.

it would be super easy to convert to straight bar if i dont like it...unlike drop bars.

Just what I wanted to say.

Effectively trekking bars are about 40cm or less wide when you are using the controls. Yeah, there is a lot of bar further out, but you can't brake or shift gears from there, which you need to do a lot riding in urban areas. Yes, you can get used to that narrowness and having to change hand positions to brake or change gears, but is it ideal? no. They suck on gravel or rough roads compared to other options I don't even particularly like them for touring anymore either, I use Jones bars now. If I had know about them when I got the Jones Bars, I would have got Koga Denhams. Maybe Velo Orange Crazy Bars might be cheap option for you?

I have 2 Trekking bars made by ITM, their widest point is : 54 & 58 cm wide..



So? buy that one & change the handlebars, messenger types cut them quite short..






...

There are some advantages to Butterfly bars in urban settings as well since the rounded off ends are far less likely to catch on something/someone than straight bars are. The control width isn't that narrow. On my unusually narrow Butterfly bars at 50cm total width I measured the straight "control" width at 44cm.

But you might need longer cables and housing.

These are adjustable width (but I note the OP is not a top shelf buyer)
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handleba...590mm/?geoc=US

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/p...dium/35194.jpg