Comments on: All About Bicycle Touring Handlebars with Multiple Hand Positions

By: Alee | CyclingAbout.com

Alee | CyclingAbout.com — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 07:42:00 +0000

Hi Jeff. It sounds like your flat handlebars were not too hot, not too cold – but just right! That said, by increasing the height of your handlebars, you’ll reduce the overall reach and may be able to get to the end of the butterfly bars. You could then tilt the handlebars back so that the closer section is lower (and therefore further) and the further section is higher (and therefore closer). Refer to the picture above to see what I mean. Check out the Satori Heads Up ( http://www.satoribike.com/index.php ) to have a play with a taller front end. Alee

By: Jeff Laurence

Jeff Laurence — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 18:09:00 +0000

My butterfly bars are a good 3 inches below my seat and have eliminated my flat bar position which seemed just about right. I can’t get the height I want and the reach is a little too far or too close. It’s not horrible but not ideal. Any thoughts on getting more height on the trekking bars or do I need to go back to my flat bars with bar ends?

By: Jeff Laurence

Jeff Laurence — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 18:03:00 +0000

In reply to Alex Denham. Moving your hands is something you get used to very quickly. Bar end shifters certainly minimize the movement though.

By: Alex Denham

Alex Denham — Sun, 05 May 2013 15:14:00 +0000

In reply to Kieran Madden.

I have not used the GB or Co-Motion shifters. Rohloff hubs sometimes have ‘sticky’ gears which require a good grip to change gear – as neat as those shifters are, I feel that metal shifters will not work well as twist shifters, ESPECIALLY in the wet but also with gloves. The stock Rohloff shifter is as good as it gets – smooth changing, weatherproof and grippy.

Personally, I don’t know if a shifter on the top of the drop bar is a better place than at the end of the drop, or under the stem like we have it. I spend most of my time in the hoods, so I’d have to move my hands to that location anyway. I don’t have any issue with moving my hand to change gear, I’m definitely used to it now!

I’d hazard a guess and say that no cross-top lever will work with the above mentioned shifters. If you are still keen on having the shifter located on the top of the bar, I’d suggest just running one cross-top lever. You’ll probably only use these levers to wipe off a bit of speed, keeping the hood position for your heavier braking.

By: Kieran Madden

Kieran Madden — Sun, 05 May 2013 12:36:00 +0000

Following on from my questions on the belt drive, I’d like to ask about using drop bars with Rohloff. I have been pondering this for a while, but the idea of having to move my hands from the hoods/drops every time I want to change gear sounds annoying so I’ve been considering the Alfine 11. Maybe it’s not that bad but I would anyway like to have interrupter levers on the tops for negotiating traffic etc which would partially solve this problem. During initial discussions with one of the manufacturers that have made my shortlist, though, they didn’t think that interrupter levers are long enough to clear the Giles Berthoud/Co-Motion drop bar shifters and, sure enough, all of the few interrupter levers I can find do look rather stubby.

I see you too like using cross levers with drops, but I also see you have gone for a separate shifter rather than a twist shifter on your drop bars. Have you any experience with the GB/CM shifter and cross levers? Do you think it’s a workable option? Do you know of any interrupter levers that would be long enough to meet my requirements?