My hands love Dutch handlebars
#1
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My hands love Dutch handlebars
My return to biking was about six years ago on a hybrid with straight handlebars. Very solid bike, but my hands hurt after riding a short distance. Tried various fixes, but none worked very well, so I decided to sell that one and...
I bought a road bike, but those drop bars did not improve my hand pain. I did raise the stack height with spacers and that helped a bit. Also padded the drop bars, and that helped.
After converting the road bike to single speed, I did not need the brifters, so I bought some wide-sweep handlebars and added hand brakes. Hmmm, that helped a lot, but my wrists were still at a funky angle.
So I measured the resting angle of my wrists - seemed to be 20 degrees backsweep. And (voila) found some Dutch handlebars that have the same backsweep angle. I have these adjusted so that my wrists are not bent in the long axis direction..and my hand pain is gone. While I realize a road bike with Dutch handlebars would not be accepted by my roadie friends, my hands do not care about that. They feel much better and so do I.
I bought a road bike, but those drop bars did not improve my hand pain. I did raise the stack height with spacers and that helped a bit. Also padded the drop bars, and that helped.
After converting the road bike to single speed, I did not need the brifters, so I bought some wide-sweep handlebars and added hand brakes. Hmmm, that helped a lot, but my wrists were still at a funky angle.
So I measured the resting angle of my wrists - seemed to be 20 degrees backsweep. And (voila) found some Dutch handlebars that have the same backsweep angle. I have these adjusted so that my wrists are not bent in the long axis direction..and my hand pain is gone. While I realize a road bike with Dutch handlebars would not be accepted by my roadie friends, my hands do not care about that. They feel much better and so do I.
#2
WALSTIB
Good deal. Every rider for their own style. You'd think the bike brands would at least try to sell a bike in US that other countries have used for years but guess can't find right marketing name to push.
#3
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Link?
I think this could help my wife. She tried Jones bars but the angle was too extreme.
I think this could help my wife. She tried Jones bars but the angle was too extreme.
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My return to biking was about six years ago on a hybrid with straight handlebars. Very solid bike, but my hands hurt after riding a short distance. Tried various fixes, but none worked very well, so I decided to sell that one and...
I bought a road bike, but those drop bars did not improve my hand pain. I did raise the stack height with spacers and that helped a bit. Also padded the drop bars, and that helped.
After converting the road bike to single speed, I did not need the brifters, so I bought some wide-sweep handlebars and added hand brakes. Hmmm, that helped a lot, but my wrists were still at a funky angle.
So I measured the resting angle of my wrists - seemed to be 20 degrees backsweep. And (voila) found some Dutch handlebars that have the same backsweep angle. I have these adjusted so that my wrists are not bent in the long axis direction..and my hand pain is gone. While I realize a road bike with Dutch handlebars would not be accepted by my roadie friends, my hands do not care about that. They feel much better and so do I.
I bought a road bike, but those drop bars did not improve my hand pain. I did raise the stack height with spacers and that helped a bit. Also padded the drop bars, and that helped.
After converting the road bike to single speed, I did not need the brifters, so I bought some wide-sweep handlebars and added hand brakes. Hmmm, that helped a lot, but my wrists were still at a funky angle.
So I measured the resting angle of my wrists - seemed to be 20 degrees backsweep. And (voila) found some Dutch handlebars that have the same backsweep angle. I have these adjusted so that my wrists are not bent in the long axis direction..and my hand pain is gone. While I realize a road bike with Dutch handlebars would not be accepted by my roadie friends, my hands do not care about that. They feel much better and so do I.
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#6
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I have angled handle bars on all my bikes. Straight handlebars are awful for non offroad use. At least me for commuting and mainly city driving. One of the reasons I hate mountain bikes as commuter bikes.
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IMO a 20d bend is still a MTB bar. Nothing in common with Dutch bars that are 40 to 80d.
Mine are 70d AFAIK and I won't be using anything else. For 20 years I had straight and 10d bars and SUFFERED horribly.
Mine are 70d AFAIK and I won't be using anything else. For 20 years I had straight and 10d bars and SUFFERED horribly.
#8
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Yeah, those Amazon links show riser bars with a little sweep, more akin to 1980s-'90s mountain bike handlebars than classic European swept bars.
There's a reason why swept bars have been popular for decades -- they work well for many cyclists. There are variations, from the wide flared bars like the Nitto Albatross, to North Roads to porteur handlebars.
My early 1990s Univega went through a few phases, from the original straight (well, slightly arced) MTB bars to riser bars (also basically mountain bike bars) to the current incarnation with albatross bars. That's a keeper. It offers almost as many hand positions as my drop bar road bikes -- comfortable and versatile.
There's a reason why swept bars have been popular for decades -- they work well for many cyclists. There are variations, from the wide flared bars like the Nitto Albatross, to North Roads to porteur handlebars.
My early 1990s Univega went through a few phases, from the original straight (well, slightly arced) MTB bars to riser bars (also basically mountain bike bars) to the current incarnation with albatross bars. That's a keeper. It offers almost as many hand positions as my drop bar road bikes -- comfortable and versatile.
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I have used handlebars that are comfortable for me for daily commuting and city riding for over 65 years, been comfortable for day trips of over 100 miles too. Never needed to change to different hand positions to be comfortable while riding, these handlebars were comfortable from the get-go. One zillion (or so) non enthusiasts world wide seemed to have made a similar decision.
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If you install those handlebars upside down (flipped left to right, NOT simply rotated on the stem so you'll have to remove it from the stem and swap the brake hoods left and right), it will look like a drop bar and put you in a more aero position while preserving the sweep (which is good for your hands).
Plus, it looks so bad-a-s-s!
Plus, it looks so bad-a-s-s!
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I swapped to wrap back bars on my ebike. Some Origin 8 Transit Ergo bars I got of CL for $20. That required a riser stem to keep my knees from hitting the bars in turns.
Now I have an upright bike with a seating position not unlike my 70's Suburban. While the swept back angle is more natural for the wrists, I feel it is the upright position that takes all the pressure off your hands and wrists.
Now I have an upright bike with a seating position not unlike my 70's Suburban. While the swept back angle is more natural for the wrists, I feel it is the upright position that takes all the pressure off your hands and wrists.
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zeeway You gotta find what works for you and go with it Last year at 57, I converted my straight bar bike to drops after a dozen years of hand issues. My other two bikes are already drop bar bikes. I did consider bars like what you described, but I went with what has been working for me on the other two bikes...and it works...for now.
I'll check back in 20 years when I'm 78.
Enjoy your ride and thanks for sharing...that's what makes BF so great!
I'll check back in 20 years when I'm 78.
Enjoy your ride and thanks for sharing...that's what makes BF so great!
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Anyone who wouldn't accept your choice of gear is to be ignored. There's a real nouveau snob culture out there lately.
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If you install those handlebars upside down (flipped left to right, NOT simply rotated on the stem so you'll have to remove it from the stem and swap the brake hoods left and right), it will look like a drop bar and put you in a more aero position while preserving the sweep (which is good for your hands).
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Whack on a set of Ergon GC1 (or equivalent ergo swept bar grips) and next level the comfort!
That little bit of wrist support is awesome, especially on swept bars like the Jones.
That little bit of wrist support is awesome, especially on swept bars like the Jones.
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Same situation here. I can't ride drops -- my neck don't bend that way no more -- and straight bars pound the hell out of my wrists. Swept bars, ahhhh.... nice. I can ride all day.
Just for reference, here are some bars that I've tried. Some of these happened to be deeply discounted at the old Niagara Cycle:
FSA Metropolis
Origin8 Citi Classic
Velo Orange Tourist
Old Schwinn steel bar
Don't overlook those old steel bars. They won't add all that much weight, and are a practical solution to a real problem if your wrists happen to prefer swept bars. Some folks think that steel bars are actually a bit more comfortable, similar to steel frames.
Just for reference, here are some bars that I've tried. Some of these happened to be deeply discounted at the old Niagara Cycle:
FSA Metropolis
Origin8 Citi Classic
Velo Orange Tourist
Old Schwinn steel bar
Don't overlook those old steel bars. They won't add all that much weight, and are a practical solution to a real problem if your wrists happen to prefer swept bars. Some folks think that steel bars are actually a bit more comfortable, similar to steel frames.
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Having experimented recently with drop bars, trekking bars (of a sort) and upright bars (Albatross shape), one observation I have is a caution for those who still ride at speed regarding braking with the swept bars.
When you brake on the swept back bars, your hands are not pushed into the bar, as is the case with drop bars and (relatively) straight bars. Instead, you have to rely on hand strength to keep your hands in braking position. Not at issue at lower speeds.
OTOH, when you are going fast downhill with curves and bumps and all the other things that actually happen in riding, there is a safety factor to a braking position that resists your momentum as the bike slows. Moustache bars can offer similar hand positions while leaving the braking in a well-supported position for faster riding.
Otto
When you brake on the swept back bars, your hands are not pushed into the bar, as is the case with drop bars and (relatively) straight bars. Instead, you have to rely on hand strength to keep your hands in braking position. Not at issue at lower speeds.
OTOH, when you are going fast downhill with curves and bumps and all the other things that actually happen in riding, there is a safety factor to a braking position that resists your momentum as the bike slows. Moustache bars can offer similar hand positions while leaving the braking in a well-supported position for faster riding.
Otto
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Having experimented recently with drop bars, trekking bars (of a sort) and upright bars (Albatross shape), one observation I have is a caution for those who still ride at speed regarding braking with the swept bars.
When you brake on the swept back bars, your hands are not pushed into the bar, as is the case with drop bars and (relatively) straight bars. Instead, you have to rely on hand strength to keep your hands in braking position. Not at issue at lower speeds.
OTOH, when you are going fast downhill with curves and bumps and all the other things that actually happen in riding, there is a safety factor to a braking position that resists your momentum as the bike slows. Moustache bars can offer similar hand positions while leaving the braking in a well-supported position for faster riding.
When you brake on the swept back bars, your hands are not pushed into the bar, as is the case with drop bars and (relatively) straight bars. Instead, you have to rely on hand strength to keep your hands in braking position. Not at issue at lower speeds.
OTOH, when you are going fast downhill with curves and bumps and all the other things that actually happen in riding, there is a safety factor to a braking position that resists your momentum as the bike slows. Moustache bars can offer similar hand positions while leaving the braking in a well-supported position for faster riding.
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We may have an apple to oranges situation with definitions, but the other advantage when I switched to the Dutch bars and hand brake levers (instead of brifters) was I was able to brake more effectively. Maybe it was related to a combination of causes specific to me, but I always found braking on a drop bar with brifters to be a bit awkward.
My only point is that when you are braking from high speed, upright bars require you to use hand strength to maintain your position as you decelerate since your palm is moving along the bar, not being pushed into it. For low speed biking it really isn’t a concern. That’s why they work so well for city riding.
Otto
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I just put some Ritchey Kyotes on my Monster Cross bike. With 27.5º of sweep, they're much more comfortable than more radically swept bars, like Jones. I think we all have our sweet spot, and it's nice that there are so many variations to choose from these days.
If you haven't checked out Whatbars.com, it enables you to look at different bars overlaid on one another for shape comparison.
If you haven't checked out Whatbars.com, it enables you to look at different bars overlaid on one another for shape comparison.
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