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Flipped drop bars... uhhhh?

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Old 05-26-09, 08:35 PM
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Flipped drop bars... uhhhh?

So I saw a guy riding his bike with his bars... upside down. Couldn't find a photo so I poorly did this on paint. You get the idea. What is the purpose? Or was he unaware do you think?

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Originally Posted by rjones28
Are they talking about spectators feeding the cyclists? You know, like don't feed the bears?
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Old 05-26-09, 08:36 PM
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Also I just noticed that's a cadillac... I just googled road bike. First pic. Do not want.
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Originally Posted by rjones28
Are they talking about spectators feeding the cyclists? You know, like don't feed the bears?
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Old 05-26-09, 08:37 PM
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It's common, I figure it's when ppl get a road bike to just ride around and it doesn't fit so they flip the bars up because it gives them a more upright position. It sounds funny but I see a lot of bums riding around like this.
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Old 05-26-09, 08:39 PM
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Don't suppose he'd brake easily.
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Originally Posted by rjones28
Are they talking about spectators feeding the cyclists? You know, like don't feed the bears?
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Old 05-26-09, 08:41 PM
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Sweet ride. He was lazy and just rotated back instead of turning them around as well as upside down. He doesn't deserve to be riding a Caddy. The idea is to allow a more upright riding position if that's what is puzzling you. Not everyone wants to be hunched over like a french cartoon character.
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Old 05-26-09, 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by mzeffex
Don't suppose he'd brake easily.
Actually the thumb is the most strongest appendage.
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Old 05-26-09, 08:42 PM
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they're called DUI bars... so named because the guy riding the bike doesnt really want to be riding, he lost his license, and possibly his car.
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Old 05-26-09, 08:43 PM
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technically
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Old 05-26-09, 08:45 PM
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called "bum bars" where i'm from.
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Old 05-26-09, 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by fauxto nick
It's common, I figure it's when ppl get a road bike to just ride around and it doesn't fit so they flip the bars up because it gives them a more upright position. It sounds funny but I see a lot of bums riding around like this.
Bums, as in out of work and no ownership of property?
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Old 05-26-09, 08:50 PM
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in addition to the aforementioned reasons, the bars, when flipped like that can be used as an impromptu basket/rack, by cradling a bag or something in them.
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Old 05-26-09, 08:50 PM
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A lot of us did that to our ten speeds back in the 70's. It was considered cool.

It also solved one problem. Back then, you had to ride the drops if you wanted brakes. The "suicide levers" of the time were named such because the mostly failed to stop the bike. By flipping the bars around, you could use the brake levers without having to bend over to the drops.

Basically, it's what you do if you want to turn your road bike into a cruiser.
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Old 05-26-09, 08:54 PM
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48C_KHwt53c
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Old 05-26-09, 09:06 PM
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Originally Posted by mzeffex
So I saw a guy riding his bike with his bars... upside down. Couldn't find a photo so I poorly did this on paint. You get the idea. What is the purpose? Or was he unaware do you think?
People do this for straighter backs while riding. My absolute first road bike came like this, and I was almost immediately told to flip it.
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$ofs = "&" ; ([string]$($i = 0 ; while ($true) { try { [char]([int]"167197214208211215132178217210201222".substring($i,3) - 100) ; $i =
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Old 05-26-09, 09:13 PM
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It usually correlates with a 6 pack of Bush and a few past DUI's
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Old 05-26-09, 09:19 PM
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Originally Posted by spry
Bums, as in out of work and no ownership of property?
You've never lived in LA have you, there was a bum who lived down the street from my studio who had a portable solar panel to keep his portable radio charged, I **** you not.
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Old 05-26-09, 09:24 PM
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I did this in the 70's when I had my paper route. Called them 'suicide bars'. Every kid my age did, but we were not bums ;-)
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Old 05-26-09, 09:32 PM
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I was riding by the library today (easy access water fountain) and I saw a bike locked up with the ends of the drops sawed off, the bars flipped upside down and backwards, with one brake.
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Old 05-26-09, 09:34 PM
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bars too low? can't get the stem higher? too cheap to replace parts? too lazy to do the job right?

flip'em

I see quite a few of those here.
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Old 05-26-09, 09:34 PM
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Originally Posted by HarryStoddard
I was riding by the library today (easy access water fountain) and I saw a bike locked up with the ends of the drops sawed off, the bars flipped upside down and backwards, with one brake.
Was it a fixie, if it was you shouldn't be surprised, just sounds like backwards bull horns, nothing new.
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Old 05-26-09, 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by fauxto nick
Was it a fixie, if it was you shouldn't be surprised, just sounds like backwards bull horns, nothing new.
Nope, road bike. Had some nice Shimano SPDSL pedals. And the sawed-off bars were uneven--really uneven.
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Old 05-26-09, 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by HarryStoddard
Nope, road bike. Had some nice Shimano SPDSL pedals. And the sawed-off bars were uneven--really uneven.
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Old 05-26-09, 09:45 PM
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Most of the older cyclist in my area do this for an upright riding position as they can't afford to buy parts like stems and bars, no, they're not bums. Just poor folk making due.
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Old 05-26-09, 09:51 PM
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its to mimic graeme obrees TT position
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Old 05-26-09, 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by fauxto nick
You've never lived in LA have you, there was a bum who lived down the street from my studio who had a portable solar panel to keep his portable radio charged, I **** you not.
And this is why I love CA.
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