mrv 

howdy
I'm betting there's about 1000 posts about switching from flat-mtb handle bars to something more-better for touring. If some one can point me to a concise one I'd appreciate it.

I think I'd like to switch from flat bars (risers, actually), to Nitto Albastache bars.

Any opinions on the Albastache vs. Randonneur bars? (Besides the cost....) I had Randonneur bars on a too small touring Cannondale, but I sold the whole rig a while ago. Now my touring bike is a free-bie RockHopper from the 80s. I'd like to make it multi-day comfortable. Planning to raise the bars a bit more and get a reach that's further back.

Any issues with road brake levers and cantilever brakes?

All the fine advice from the boards is appreciated.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q...ay14%2B133.JPG

bikemig 

Trekking bars are great with multiple hand positions and easy as pie to install since your levers and shifters will work just fine. This is mine:

Barrettscv 

Have you considered trekking bars: Nashbar Trekking Mountain Bike Handlebar

seat_boy

Trekking bars may have a million hand positions, but gawd are they ugly.

I don't have any feedback on the Albastache bars--I'm actually waiting for them to get in stock so I can try a pair myself. I think they will be a good compromise between drops (which I've never really liked), and my knockoff Albatross bar (a Soma Oxford), where I find the main grip position too upright--I always end up with my hand on the forward hooks, which is the main position on the Albastache.

mrv 

yeah.... that's one reason I don't like the trekking bars. I was also thinking of going to bar end shifters - the Deore LX I'm using are old 8spd brake/shifter pods. The ratchet/index is missing / broke at the lowest gear, so I've really on got 7spd shifters. These aren't made any more, so I'd have to upgrade - not a bad thing, I could switch to v-brakes - just more money on this bike!

bikemig - that's a great looking stumpjumper. I've kicked around the idea getting ride of the RockHopper and finding a StumpJumper. I think they're a bit lighter.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll post a photo when I pull the trigger and switch the bars out.

pamaguahiker 

I went with some Jones H-bars this year and I love them! That's the best review. I can't possibly even consider switching back. They are roomy and comfortable on my back as well as hands.

loubapache

Another Stumpjumper with Trekking bars.

bradtx

Road brake levers are compatible with cantilever brakes.

Brad

mrv 

H-BAR
interesting - any photos of your set up? these don't look like they would accommodate bar ends. i'm still perusing the website though.

pamaguahiker 

Yea. There is not room for bar ends. Just multiple shifting places for the hands. I have only a couple of photos that give full view of the h-bar.


But i have used the front for bags, headlights, map guides, and even vid cam. Multiple purposes and the bag has been used for good weighted loads. I use a triangle frame bag as well as seat bag when i tour. I actually have several frame bags from medium to large. As you can see by the pic...those bars are very stable. I think the bars combined with the frameset allow the stability. Even with the front bag. I could ride all day with no hands. Very nice set up. For reference, the bicycle is a 1993 Bianchi Project 700c frameset, just finished the full build this year.

Pic with the frame bag in it.

mrv 

Mr. Rusty Bitts @pamaguahiker - thanks so much. those look pretty interesting.
i will ready up on those, see if my LBS deals in Jones stuff.
i'm going to give a set of Randonneur bars a try through the winter and spring. i've got a friend who has a set, hates them, and i've got many sets of standard bars to swap with him.
i'm kind of intrigued by the H-bars.

pamaguahiker 

@mrv I was skeptical at first...then started to ride with them and I am completely sold. They aren't cheap by any means but they work and they work well. I would have spent maybe an hour on that mtb before....now. I can go out for 3-4 hours at a time and just spin at whatever pace i want. No problems, no back pain, i sit up straighter and i also can say my average speeds and my speed in general are not affected by the seating position.

On my VO Campeur..which I consider my heavy duty touring bike. I have a set of VO gran cru randos that i am very pleased with as well, i use bar cons with that bike. I can tell you that i wouldn't hesitate to put a set of jones h-bars on that either. strange as it may seem. And i think the fact they sweep back more than usual is a selling point for me too.

Give those randos a try....

qclabrat

also had trekking bars setup similar to mikemig's stumpy, but hated the look, with the "butterfly wings" pointing upwards. I recently switched it around the other way to have it point downwards and like it much better, I also have the stem and bars aligned in parallel which makes it quite a bit cleaner looking. The fit is a little more aggressive of a position, but still plenty comfortable

fietsbob

Using Trekking bars on 2 bikes Ergon combo grip-bar-ends on a 3rd ..

Unlike the stumpie in no. 7 post , the bar bends down a little as it comes out of the stem.

that angle is a more comfortable grip in a forward reach (mustache bars, properly, also curve downward, for a similar reason)

forward reach is like the drops, in that a hold out there & a little elbow bending gets me the same body position into headwinds .

I wrapped mine twice with padded Tape. foam sleeves would do too..

Picture from 6 years ago WB Bicycle Gallery: Robert Clark's Koga Miyata WTR

it is also possible to use Road brake levers on them , in the front, to be even more Mustache bar like .. Handlebars for Touring and Commuting

qclabrat

looks good Bob, my angles are similar but less upright. Where did you get the t-bar accessory stem? I saw one online a few years ago, but have not seen one recently. Was looking to mount my GPS and light higher up for my Pocket Llama.

fietsbob

T bar was part of the Koga-ITM Trekking-bar package deal..

one option a SJS Thorn accessory bar
Thorn Accessory Bar T Shaped 55 mm Extension - £16.33
Thorn Accessory Bar MK2 T Shaped 105 mm Extension - £19.99
etc. Thorn Bicycle Equipment Shop at SJS Cycles

fitted on above the stem you have for the handlebars .. requiring a bit higher steerer tube extension obviously ..

I put a second stem beneath the bars in that picture .

qclabrat

thorn, that's what I saw a few years back, glad to see it is still available
thanks Bob, I'll be ordering one shortly

alan s 

I just got the Jones H-Loop bars a couple weeks ago. A shop near me in Maryland carries Jones products, so it was great to be able to try out before buying. So many hand positions and the 45 degree sweep is natural and very comfortable. I'll probably cut them down to fit the Ergon grips. Really like the aero positions available.

bikemig 

The H bars look cool (as does your surly). Isn't the aero position a bit narrow (as the bar narrows the farther you reach) and doesn't this compromise handling a bit? It reminds me a bit of the aero position on a moustache bar which I didn't like.

One thing I like about trekking bars is that the aero position is nice and wide so that handling is very good.

alan s 

There are really two aero positions. Just in front of the shifters on the joint and hands butted up against the light mounts. The way forward position does narrow the arms a bit, but it's not at all uncomfortable unless it's rough. The other aero position is "all day" comfortable. I've never tried trekking bars as a comparison. Handling is excellent in all hand positions, but I will get back on the grips for the best control. I move my hands all around the bars, so having lots of options suits my riding style.

qclabrat

the Jones looks like a good option for an adventure bike I am building up. has anyone seen an H bar with some rise? my only gripe with the trekking bars are they tend be a bit mushy on the bar-end where I mount the brakes. If i mount at the top, it's less comfortable and needs me to stretch out

pamaguahiker 

yes, mine are at a rise. See the pics here...

colonel corn

I'd recommend the On One Mary handlebars. They occupy a middleground in terms of sweep degree that very few other bars do and I find this is the sweetspot. Additionally, they curve forward before sweeping back to (partially) mitigate the fore/aft effect of swept bars - that is, they don't give such an upright position. I toured comfortably for 6 weeks with just the one hand position.

onbike 1939

I've used these bars on a couple of my bikes and liked them a lot. They can be used with thumb-shifters and I modified mine by cutting a little off the open ends (they are away from you when fitted). This allowed me to fit a Mirrycle mirror in a position not exposed to knocks.
Humpert AHS Basic Sport Handlebars - £35.73

Rob_E

I've done trekking bars and I've done albatross bars. Both are okay. I don't find that I like grabbing the a-bars at the bend too much. I was counting on that as a 2nd hand position, and I use it, but the curve is too much for me. I've been thinking I may want something that comes out straight from the stem, and then angles back sharply. The curve and sweep of the a-bars is more attractive, but isn't very comfortable to me. However the primary hand position is very comfortable.

The trekking bars definitely have more usable hand positions, which I like, but not one of those hand positions are as comfortable as the primary position on the albatross bars. Right now my back-up bike is wearing the trekking bars. They do the job, and I've taken some longer trips with them. Right now they are have won out over other bars in parts boxes mainly because they allow me to lean further forward than any of my swept back bars.

As far as brake/shifter compatibility, just pay attention to the diameter of the bars and brakes. I don't remember any issues, but I never had drops to transition from. I do know that because I use a grip shifter, I have very limited mounting options on the trekking bars. I also cannot slide brake levers around the bends. If I wanted to position my levers anywhere other than near the open section of the bar, I would need levers with the multi-part handlebar clamp.