ever1ast15

Hello all. I have a Trek 520 touring bike with standard drop bars. I have some herniated discs in my neck and am finding it tough to ride drop bars for an extended period of time. Actually, anything longer than 5 or 6 miles, it starts to bother me. I am looking for a more upright ride and am wondering if anyone changed their handlebars to either Jones H Loop bars or butterfly bars and found it more comfortable and upright. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

J

ricrunner

I have an old injury of what you have, and do find my drops to being hard on my back, so have ordered a Butterfly bar, , you can also get trekking bars which are similar, they are very comfortable to use, and do keep you more upright.

boomhauer

I've got a Jones Bar on a Surly Troll. I need to sit upright, also.
They are a good compromise for the times you want to sit completely vertical but still need those times when you have to stand on the pedals.
When sitting completely upright I still need to reach out and hold the grips with my fingertips so at times on a long day I wish they came back just a little bit further.
Bonus with the Jones Bar is they hold a lot of stuff in a cargo net in the center loop.

You might try this site...
https://whatbars.com/

ever1ast15

Thanks for the info and the link...great resource.

phughes

Have you considered a different stem to bring them back a little more?

GamblerGORD53

Welcome to the drops suck club. LOL Unfortunately it won't be cheap converting.
I love my 70d sweptback bars from the 1970s. They are 48 to 52 cm wide, I like 50 cm the best.
I've been raising it lately. ZERO neck/ back/ knee pains on my last tour.
You likely need one with 60 mm + rise too.
Jones and butterfly bars are wider, bulkier and clumsier IMO.

52telecaster

I've gone completely off the reservation with porteur bars. I like em!

MAK

Have you considered a $25.00 stem riser? If it helps you, you've saved the cost of a new bar. If not, you're only out $25.00.

LesterOfPuppets

Soma Dream bars have been my favorites so far.

djb

no matter what you change to, your steerer is still going to be low, and maybe your existing bars are too low and too far away. A shorter and higher angled stem could help a lot, but in any case, just putting on a trekking bar won't help if its still too low.
Only you know your specific physical limitations, so you'll have a better take on what amount of changes are required for you, not internet strangers.
a good bike shop will be able to show you stem options, then go from there.
of course after that there are loads of bar options, although be aware of costs to change brake and shifter levers.

boomhauer

One of these raised my handlebars to rectify the low bar situation.
https://www.amazon.com/Handlebar-Ext...t-video&sr=8-3

djb

they do work, bought one for a friend with very similar complaints. If cables are long enough, could easily be a 5 min change to see if it helps.
plus then of course stem options to help with reducing reach also, which very well could help too.

waddo

The cheapest good solution is what we did for my wife's bike, though for a different reason: moustachioed bars. The advantage is you do not need to change any other components, especially the brakes, and it does get expensive. Also they are quite stylish, I think. If you watch any of the more recent videos on my YouTube channel (waddo) you can see what they look like.

ever1ast15

I have not taken that into consideration. I will now though.

knopare

I swapped to a Nitto Albatross bar and I got very upright and comfortable on the bike, a Surly lht. It was not that expensive I think but I had to change my saddle after a while. Sitting upright required a wider saddle because I got more weight on the saddle with the new setup.