Trekking bars: dumbest bars ever
12-17-17, 11:44 AM
#1
Jet Jockey
Thread Starter
Trekking bars: dumbest bars ever
Just a random vent for Sunday morning.
I tried some years ago. There is really no way to set up the brake levers and shifters other than on the "close" section.
The close section is too close to be useful, and is way behind the end of your stem. Steering feels twitchy, while you also get to be scrunched up.
The far section is too far away.
The sides are too wide for that stance of grip.
Just the worst idea ever. I know that Sheldon (PBUH) liked them, but there's a reason they remain a tiny niche of a tiny subset.
I tried some years ago. There is really no way to set up the brake levers and shifters other than on the "close" section.
The close section is too close to be useful, and is way behind the end of your stem. Steering feels twitchy, while you also get to be scrunched up.
The far section is too far away.
The sides are too wide for that stance of grip.
Just the worst idea ever. I know that Sheldon (PBUH) liked them, but there's a reason they remain a tiny niche of a tiny subset.
12-17-17, 11:56 AM
#2
Banned
your earth, though flat must be centered on you alone...
others manage to find them satisfactory, that tiny place includes Europe.. & my House..
..
others manage to find them satisfactory, that tiny place includes Europe.. & my House..
..
Last edited by fietsbob; 12-17-17 at 12:00 PM.
12-17-17, 12:03 PM
#3
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Interesting. I love 'em on my all arounder hybrid. Just like anything else though, different strokes..... My favorite saddle is an ISM Adamo Typhoon, those aren't for everyone either.
Last edited by Murray Missile; 12-17-17 at 12:32 PM.
12-17-17, 12:10 PM
#4
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Puhlease.
I happen to be the most important person in the universe, and the entire universe revolves around me alone. It is just that the universe is a bit slow on the uptake to realize my importance.
12-17-17, 12:10 PM
#5
Sunshine
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I used some trekking/butterfly bars on an old Schwinn CrissCross that i used for neighborhood riding a few summers ago. Really great bike and the handlebars were one of the reasons why.
Loved the hand placements.
Loved the hand placements.
12-17-17, 01:13 PM
#6
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And here I thought it was my wife all this time. D'oh!
-Kedosto
Edited to add: Use whatever the hell you like and not what some forum thread jockey tells you. I've tried 'em. They're not for me, but then there are many things in the world I don't care for. And my opinion is worth exactly what you paid.
Last edited by Kedosto; 12-17-17 at 01:17 PM. Reason: Edited for substance
12-17-17, 01:50 PM
#7
Junior Member
When my LBS installed my Trekking bars he changed the stem so that the close section was in the same position as the flat bars they replaced. My shifters and brake levers hadn't changed position, duh.
12-17-17, 02:48 PM
#8
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Did you tell him you wanted them moved? I set mine up so the controls stayed about the same but the rest of the bar gives me different positions on long rides. Next time I'm adding an adjustable stem too. With a hex key set and few minutes the position options are only limited by your cable length unless you can tolerate some extra cable, then it's wide open.
12-17-17, 02:52 PM
#9
Banned
Re Posting mine ... FWIW, It came , used, with 1 type of trekking bar, then I got this one..
Had to go with a stem raiser.. to have it a bit higher, nearly as high as the saddle....
.....
..
Had to go with a stem raiser.. to have it a bit higher, nearly as high as the saddle....
.....
..
Last edited by fietsbob; 02-12-19 at 06:14 PM.
12-17-17, 06:51 PM
#10
Junior Member
Did you tell him you wanted them moved? I set mine up so the controls stayed about the same but the rest of the bar gives me different positions on long rides. Next time I'm adding an adjustable stem too. With a hex key set and few minutes the position options are only limited by your cable length unless you can tolerate some extra cable, then it's wide open.
12-17-17, 06:54 PM
#11
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Remarkable the number of people who have ridden around the world, hating their tracking bars at every pedal stroke.
12-17-17, 07:02 PM
#12
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__________________
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
12-18-17, 09:02 AM
#13
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You're right, they suck. Probably why this bike has the most miles on it of any bike I own. They definitely ruined the Iceland trip, far worse than having to pedal downhill because the wind was so stiff...
12-18-17, 10:09 AM
#14
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And who says the controls have to be on the "close" side? See the attached image; not my bike, but same idea.
Steve
12-18-17, 10:10 AM
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Edit: I'm just kidding about the miserable part. Looks fantastic.
12-18-17, 10:18 AM
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12-18-17, 10:24 AM
#17
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And when I say awful, I actually mean quite amazing trekking bars, and you absolutely should give them a go!
Love that color!
12-18-17, 10:37 AM
#18
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12-18-17, 07:22 PM
#19
Jet Jockey
Thread Starter
This was just my personal take, remembering my experience with them while drinking coffee on a dull Sunday morning.
Some took it really personally though.
Anyway, my opinion plus $3 will get you a cup of coffee.
I maintain that they suck.
Some took it really personally though.
Anyway, my opinion plus $3 will get you a cup of coffee.
I maintain that they suck.
12-18-17, 09:58 PM
#21
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12-18-17, 10:21 PM
#22
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I tried them a few years ago, but they just wouldn't work for me no matter how I set them up. What I have now, and it seems to work for me, is a w-I-d-e drop bar of 46cm (the former one was only 42cm). The new one seems to put my arms/hands in a better position in relation to my shoulders, which got rid of the shoulder soreness I'd have after a long ride. YMMV
12-19-17, 11:31 AM
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How do you like the no tape? When I set mine up I just wrapped a layer of cloth hockey tape on for a bit of grip while I was fiddling with the controls, and ended up riding a few hundred miles that way. Quite comfortable, only added the cork tape to remove the gap between the end of the rubber handlebars I stuck on and the drop to the bars.
12-19-17, 11:41 AM
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Just a random vent for Sunday morning.
I tried some years ago. There is really no way to set up the brake levers and shifters other than on the "close" section.
The close section is too close to be useful, and is way behind the end of your stem. Steering feels twitchy, while you also get to be scrunched up.
The far section is too far away.
The sides are too wide for that stance of grip.
Just the worst idea ever. I know that Sheldon (PBUH) liked them, but there's a reason they remain a tiny niche of a tiny subset.
I tried some years ago. There is really no way to set up the brake levers and shifters other than on the "close" section.
The close section is too close to be useful, and is way behind the end of your stem. Steering feels twitchy, while you also get to be scrunched up.
The far section is too far away.
The sides are too wide for that stance of grip.
Just the worst idea ever. I know that Sheldon (PBUH) liked them, but there's a reason they remain a tiny niche of a tiny subset.
Sounds like your problem was more an inability or unwillingness to try fitting things right than anything else.
Sure they're not for everyone, but the bike I had em on had the brakes and shifters on the "far" section, and I put a longer stem on to adjust the reach. They're too bulky for what I normally do but if you like hanging a lot of junk on your handlebars they work very well for that.