I think the industry has recognized the fact that a large segment of the customer base wants a comfortable riding experience over anything else. That can be fairly subjective given everyone has different body shapes and sizes, so I'm super glad to see so many options out there.
I’m personally into the “cruiser” handlebars. They are particularly useful at converting any size vintage bike (especially beaters that are essentially free) to fit your size without real mechanical work
Have alt bars on all my bikes. Jones, Soma and Salsa. Like the Ritchey having more straight tube at clamp, can now use headlight and phone next to clamp
Tried everything from 25 to 45 degrees backsweep inc Mary bars, Mike bars, OG bars, Jones copies, and have settled comfortably on Albatross type bars - transformed my hand/wrist comfort with the added bonus of multiple hand positions. And imo, they look cool as...
As a tall rider I run into not having enough stack on nearly every OEM bike which is why I built up my own Surly so that the steeper could be run uncut. The redshift top shelf bar would be great on my road bike because as you mentioned, losing the dexterity as you age is a really thing.
It's not necessarily the aging that makes your body less flexible, it's the lack of stretching. I've seen 80 year olds get very low and aero on a time trial bike. I hate stretching as much as the next guy, but it really does wonders in keeping you feeling young
The more the better! It's great to see the option to tune one's bike to more specific needs. Also it looks like that redshift bar gives space to mount other accessories in the center, even with a bag...
The standard drop bars that came on my gravel bike aggravated an old injury in my shoulder. I'm running Surly Moloko bars now and I really appreciate the wider grip and room for lights, cell phone, water bottle holder and bike computer mount.
I love all the new options. I just bought a kitchen sink with the loop, and I’m excited for some extra bar space and more comfortable grips and hand position options. Thanks for sharing these
I am a big fan of Alt Bars. At age 73 I replaced my stem with a RedShift +30 degree stem and Surly Moloko Bars when I converted my Domane to a gravel bike with 700x40mm wheels/tires. Now, after thousands of miles I really appreciate how it improved my control on all surfaces. I like being able to have a good grip on the bar at all times and haven't been bounced off yet.
I got my first bike (as an adult) about 15 years ago and bought alt bars to solve exactly the problem you're describing...raising up the bars to make it more comfortable!! Alt bars all the way. Frames are pretty evolved, so I think bars kinda have to be super modular.
A lot of these bars/stems seem to try to solve an issue with bicycle frame design for the non-racing consumer. Especially on road and gravel race bikes, there is too much reach and not enough stack for a given frame. So for people with less flexibility, or longer legs and shorter torsos, it's a struggle to get a good fit.
Just went from straight MTB bars to a BBB Multibar ("butterfly"). Being able to move the hands around and getting small changes to the sitting position is great. As with specialized bikes, there are bars for specific purposes. But for longer and everyday rides, something like the "alt bars" seem better. Comfort on a bike is rather important.
I was literally just coming on here to suggest "butterfly bars" to Russ. Not so popular in the USA but now that you're in Europe you should give them a go. I use them too. They're really excellent for long rides.
just installed this bar 2.75 due to age ,back issues ,loss of flexibility. GAME CHANGER!!! much more comfort and bar bag is mounted more levelly as well.. glad i did it
totally into the swept back bars. have converted most of the stable to them as they are very comfortable on flat ground especially if your near the beach. still have some mtb's with straight straight bars, they get ridden on trails. swept back don't work so well on trails because if you stand up off the saddle the bars hit my knees.
Big fan! I have installed the Cinelli double trouble ‘alt’ bar on my commuting bike after a fall- straight bar were putting too much pressure on my wrist- the double trouble looks like a jones bar and has so many places for your hands that it has sorted the problem with my wrist. They also look really good and have plenty of places for bells lights etc..- love them i will check out the Ritchey buzzard for my gravel bike seems like a good idea to swap curly for ‘alt’. Thanks for the video!! 🤘🏼
Hope you're feeling better by the time you read this. Hopefully this trend continues to parts outside of bars. Love your channel and content, thanks Russ!
As someone who struggles with a pinched nerve that makes my hands go numb, and alt bar has made a huge difference in my ability to ride making it possible to bike commute to work.
I have a Condor 2 on my road bike, it has a carbon fork and came with just enough steerer exposed to mount the stem with 1 spacer. The Condor got the bars up where I want them but its hard to even mount a light on that thing due to the shape, let alone a bag. Definitely gonna be getting the Redshift bar for it, will solve a lot of problems.
I like the movement because it solves problems. I put the Kyote bar on my mountain bike 2 years ago, cutting 1" off each end and never looked back. Better hand position yet still good handling.
Thing I really would like to see is roughly speaking classic drop handlebar, without massive flare, but with very small reach and drop. Sub 60/sub 95mm. Very handy (no pun intended) for people with small hands like me. And with good range of sizes, like 38cm to 46cm...
@@mechanicaldavid4827 hmmm... Unless I'm fundamentally missing something, can only see Nouveau Randonneur that is not exactly what I'm talking about with 85mm reach and 128mm drop...
I have a Specialized Creo Turbo and have just fitted the Redshift Kitchen Sink bars and love them, so comfortable and offer so much more than the standard bars.
About using a bar like the Kyote to replace drop bars - I replaced the drop bars in my 1st gen Kona Rove with a Kyote. It was a cheap and cheerful upgrade with the bars, some Tiagra flatbar levers and a Gx 10 speed shifter (I run 1X) setting me back around 100€. The standard 90 mil stem was spot on fit wise. One caveat though, the bike's low speed handling got a bit weird due to the super wide bar mated with a longish stem. Basically any major handlebar turn creates a huge arc of movement at the grips. My solution for it is switching to a hardtail frame.
I have been using the Jones H-bar Loop on my commuter/town bike for 5 years. I like them, I have limited funds to try other bars but I think these type of bars give bikers a lot of choices
I’ve had Persuader and now Kyote on my touring bike the past couple seasons and really like them. The buzzard is promising to get a bit more rise if needed. 😎
Big fan of Alt bars, from when the FSA Metropolis bar launched to Jones Loop style Bars- Really enjoying a Surly Corner Bar on my heavy duty trail bike! Best part - I get to offer alt bars to customers to help their basic MTB rigs branch out to fit for all day rides!
PS just got in a shipment of Alt bars from Merry Sales*, talking about all of which led my customer to notice we had ONE last pair of Surly Truck Stops in their size - which they bought🙌. (*to Jim and Co. - my compliments on the Ahearne Uprising Bar - really nice production quality! - we picked one for a custom build and ordered two more - so nice I might have to buy one myself!)
I dig the RedShift one, seems very helpful if A.) you outgrow/outlive your earlier fit spec or B.) you purchase a used bike with a cut stearer tube and need a bit more stack.
I just bought the topshelfs. I know they look odd, but it might be just what I'm looking for. I love alt bars. I have VO crazy bars on my Krampus, and super swept back cruiser bars on my fat bike.
Came across the Crust’s Uncle Ron’s Ortho bar a couple of years ago and it ended my search for the bar that fits my needs. Like it a lot and haven’t thought of changing since.
i run bullhorns as an urban rider because i like a narrow width, but even still i have a full stack of spacers and a tall, slack stem. if nothing else, getting more upright makes me feel so much more aware of my surroundings
So many issues were created for fit and handlebars with the change from threaded to threadless forks. Quill stem adapters on old-style threaded forks pretty much eliminate those issues.
I’m personally an alt bar evangelist, that said, I’m a mountain bike guy by history. Recently converted to bicycle commuting and came into alt bars via needing more space. Surly Moloko bars were my draw in, Jones was the 2nd place option I didn’t jump on. Now, I kinda wanna go full drop bar, but haven’t committed yet. We’ll see. Now, I’m curious on your watch collection. Seen a couple of different watches on your wrist over the last while and I’m a full on watch nerd. Whatcha got and whatcha wearing? Side bar complete
I like seeing new bar options. Gives nice options to customize different bikes and find out what you like too. Don't run any right now besides a vintage scott at-4, not really comfort focused but a fun bar anyways.
Definitiely down with the alt bars. I ordered the Redshift topshelf yesterday as it goes (I hear Redshift are making a bag especially for it). If I had a flatbar bike I'd definitely buy one of the alt bars, too.
I’m a big fan, particularly for old low-stack mtb conversions, I have On One Mike’s and Raleigh North Road which both have a lot of sweep and reasonable width for running a basket or front load. However there are some old gems as well…my 1988 Hardrock has a pair of club roost ‘go-fast’ downhill bars which put your wrists in a really comfy position for a confident ride (however I’ve broken the unwritten law and have put some bar-ends on them to make cruising and climbing more comfortable!)
I love my Soma Condor 2 bars. I put them on a SSCX bike with a full carbon fork, so to get the amount of rise I like the choice was a drop bar with rise or a "happy" stem. I do like the look of the redshift bars!
Very informative Russ. I use the Surly corner bar. I too am getting older and riding slammed stems has me leaning over too far; I want the bars higher for more comfort, so I've been investing in forks with long steerer tubes that let me raise up the stem; but as you said in a previous video it's the lack of stack on the frame that's the real problem to solve.
Thanks, Russ! I was sold on the Soma Condor 2 handlebar (only 50mm rise) for 1 of 10 bikes... I might need the 70mm rise version of the Redshift Top Shelf bars for another bike! Haha... The benefits of being 6ft barefoot and all leg, with 5'9" wingspan lol.
I like the new handlebar options. I'm interested in the Swiss Army Bike, and the handlebars that give more grips, make more room for lights, HUDs, bells, and shtuff are great!
I’m a fan. I have several bikes (used and hodge-podged together) spanning a variety of functions. It’s great to find options out there to explore for and comfort. Thanks Russ!
I want to try the one you had in the thumbnail - curly bars with swept flat bar 'bullhorns' I love my curlies in the city but think that extra hand position for very upright would be great to have too
I very much enjoy my Surly Moloko bar, really enjoy the additional hand positions it offers, there are several effectively wide places that are very comfortable to rest my hands if they get sore, and it's made riding much nicer.
The top shelf bar is interesting to me, for the extra "shelf storage" for bar mounted gadgets. I am contemplating converting my flat bar touring bike with a drop bar, because I feel like I need to change hand positions a bit more, but never did because I feel like I might need more room for bar mounted bits. I'd use the lower bit for my handlebar bag, and the top bit for bell, phone, camera, lights, bike computer. No manufacturer of mounts seems to supply solutions for people who want to mount a phone and a GPS unit, which I need for doing courier work via an app and if I want to recoed my rides with a GPS unit as well. But with this there seems to be ample room to fit two out front mounts, and is risen high enough so you can even flip one of those mounts to face towards the back.
Alt bars are awesome. I am currently using a highly modified Mokito bar, but will eventually have a custom-made bar made that allows for an even more aero front position as well as the ability to mount a bag mount to the front as well as handle the dynamo light which requires an open bar end for mounting.
As mtbers age, more will seek out Kyote style bars, where sweep is introduced without affecting reach or width/leverage. I got some Whisky Sully bars, same principle, they are awesome. Neutral from shoulders on down. How wider bars should be for people without hyper-square Nordic shoulders.
I'm interested in the TopShelf bar solution for my aging body. I'm boggled by the variety of alt bars available - it must be tricky for vendors to get the price points and production volumes to stay profitable due to the myriad permutations of bars. Lots of tiny niches!
I think this is a good idea since bike fit and preference is personal and this is a relatively inexpensive approach to adjusting fit, unless you have internal cable routing
They were weird in the 90s, but it was more modular, Yesterday I actually saw a guy with the full 90s add ons, angled bar ends and a full aerobar attachment with the forearm rests.
I love these "new" alt-style bars. They solve a lot of issues for an older dude who adheres to Grant Petersen´s view of what bikes are for most people. I got the Mothbar last year and have never looked back.
Where do you install your levers? I used to run inner bar ends and found that 95% of the time my hands were on them, which gave me poor access to the brake levers. I wish bullhorn bars were more popular, because they would be my first choice, with levers on the horns, that is.
My old REI Novara hybrid has swept back bars; I had no idea they were referred to as "Granny Bars", but they are absolutely the most comfortable bars I've ever used and I've sold more expensive road bikes rather than give this bike up no matter how goofy the bars may look. But, I can see how mounting a larger front bag to them could be a problem so I appreciate having some alternatives that maintain the height and leverage of these bars. How would you classify Jones Bars?
I like experimenting with different bars as long as I'm riding in an upright position and the feel is fatiqueless and ergonomic I have one like that Richie , a flat bar with handlebar ends turned up and two there handlebars which I don't know the names of on each of my several bikes Each handlebar is a different feel and thet are all safe and it's good to mix things up .
I love my gravel bike, but I do not like drop bars. My gravel bike came stock with a drop bar, and I was very pleased that Curve offered the Remlaw, a flat bar for drop bar bikes. It's been a very excellent bar for the year or so I've had it, even though I don't ride the gravel bike as much anymore since I've built up my rigid MTB. I'm also pretty interested to try at some point the Koga Denham bar, which I actually have in my parts bin, but the extreme backsweep makes it a difficult match for any of my existing bikes.
Like the options and bike parts designed for fit/comfort vs weigh and how super aero they are is a nice for sure , some of the prices and claims are comical but still very nice to have. Really liking those Redshift bars but do wish Ritchey came out with them... $50 would be an easier experiment than $150. FYI for large bags on the Redshift bars, using a cheap accessory bar and clamps off the stem bar aiming downward and strapping the bag to their top/cross bar would be very solid. Thinking of trying them on my Mason ISO, I am tall with more leg than average so I always get more saddle to bar drop than others. *My heavy duty trail MTB looks more like an XC position, my gravel bike fits more like a road race bike, my ISO has saddle to bar drop more like a "normal" gravel bike vs upright like you expect on a borderline mountain bike / gravel bike blend. Love having options other than weird looking super riser stems and extra long steerers.
I definitely think the standard mtb bars are a little uncomfortable. Wrist position can be compromised on wide bars that have straighter to the side grips
You could just about mount a Salsa Anywhere Cradle on the Top Shelf, but would need spacers for 25.4-to 31.8mm IIRC, but not the bottom. If you have a similar spacer could you mount the stem to the top of the Top Shelf, to show how it would look in non Party Pace mode, with maybe lights and GoPro mounted to the "bottom shelf". When going on a longer adventure you could just Swap Shelfs - hose length permitting - and not have to swap bars, undo bar tape and transfer the levers etc. Could you shows us those options?
I would love to try out the redshift in 50mm rise. But because it's my first time building a gravel bike, I'm pretty sure the cables are too short for the extra 50mm. But then again I'm not a big fan of the wide handlebars and price is a little steep.
I've found alt bars open up all sorts of new worlds for bikes in really unexpected ways. I spent a lot of time switching out flat bars and drop bars for cruiser bars and BMX bars. I think it is great there are so many options out there now. Anyone who likes Frankenbikes, I'm sure, isn't complaining!
I wish I would have seen this before buying my swept back flat bar. I'm just now realizing that I could have gotten the same exact thing with a cross bar to add space for attachments. Other than looks. There's not really a reason to have it unless your not like me and don't have too many attachments. lol
I have a salsa bend 2 mtb bar. It gets the 20 deg back sweep and preserves the reach. The drop bar is a nice and novel idea, but is it better than just buying a 30 deg stem and turning it up? That’s what I would do. But a clever idea.
I remember back when I worked at a local shop the mustache bars were a big deal. That was the first time I saw a Rivendel frame. This was around the time Lance had his 3rd Tour win. Seems like some together over complicated.
I am glad to see more manufacturers addressing the everyday cyclist and not just the racer.
Or Long Distance Tour Bike deisgns or both Mountain Bike and Road as well as basic less wide Upright or even BMX design as your only options on bikes.
I think the industry has recognized the fact that a large segment of the customer base wants a comfortable riding experience over anything else. That can be fairly subjective given everyone has different body shapes and sizes, so I'm super glad to see so many options out there.
I’m personally into the “cruiser” handlebars. They are particularly useful at converting any size vintage bike (especially beaters that are essentially free) to fit your size without real mechanical work
Have alt bars on all my bikes. Jones, Soma and Salsa. Like the Ritchey having more straight tube at clamp, can now use headlight and phone next to clamp
Tried everything from 25 to 45 degrees backsweep inc Mary bars, Mike bars, OG bars, Jones copies, and have settled comfortably on Albatross type bars - transformed my hand/wrist comfort with the added bonus of multiple hand positions.
And imo, they look cool as...
As a tall rider I run into not having enough stack on nearly every OEM bike which is why I built up my own Surly so that the steeper could be run uncut. The redshift top shelf bar would be great on my road bike because as you mentioned, losing the dexterity as you age is a really thing.
It's not necessarily the aging that makes your body less flexible, it's the lack of stretching. I've seen 80 year olds get very low and aero on a time trial bike. I hate stretching as much as the next guy, but it really does wonders in keeping you feeling young
@@michaelmechex Swimming and stretching, you'll stay limber foreva'
The more the better! It's great to see the option to tune one's bike to more specific needs. Also it looks like that redshift bar gives space to mount other accessories in the center, even with a bag...
The standard drop bars that came on my gravel bike aggravated an old injury in my shoulder. I'm running Surly Moloko bars now and I really appreciate the wider grip and room for lights, cell phone, water bottle holder and bike computer mount.
I love all the new options. I just bought a kitchen sink with the loop, and I’m excited for some extra bar space and more comfortable grips and hand position options. Thanks for sharing these
I am a big fan of Alt Bars. At age 73 I replaced my stem with a RedShift +30 degree stem and Surly Moloko Bars when I converted my Domane to a gravel bike with 700x40mm wheels/tires. Now, after thousands of miles I really appreciate how it improved my control on all surfaces. I like being able to have a good grip on the bar at all times and haven't been bounced off yet.
The Moloko bars changed my life
I got my first bike (as an adult) about 15 years ago and bought alt bars to solve exactly the problem you're describing...raising up the bars to make it more comfortable!! Alt bars all the way. Frames are pretty evolved, so I think bars kinda have to be super modular.
A lot of these bars/stems seem to try to solve an issue with bicycle frame design for the non-racing consumer. Especially on road and gravel race bikes, there is too much reach and not enough stack for a given frame. So for people with less flexibility, or longer legs and shorter torsos, it's a struggle to get a good fit.
& I have short legs and need more reach.
Just went from straight MTB bars to a BBB Multibar ("butterfly"). Being able to move the hands around and getting small changes to the sitting position is great. As with specialized bikes, there are bars for specific purposes. But for longer and everyday rides, something like the "alt bars" seem better. Comfort on a bike is rather important.
I was literally just coming on here to suggest "butterfly bars" to Russ. Not so popular in the USA but now that you're in Europe you should give them a go. I use them too. They're really excellent for long rides.
I think that redshift bar is pretty cool too as it gives you more mounting real estate for gps, lights, go-pros, etc.
just installed this bar 2.75 due to age ,back issues ,loss of flexibility. GAME CHANGER!!! much more comfort and bar bag is mounted more levelly as well.. glad i did it
I love all bars. I personally run the FSA metropolis on my commuter. Great shape. Beautiful finish.
Alt*
totally into the swept back bars. have converted most of the stable to them as they are very comfortable on flat ground especially if your near the beach. still have some mtb's with straight straight bars, they get ridden on trails. swept back don't work so well on trails because if you stand up off the saddle the bars hit my knees.
Big fan! I have installed the Cinelli double trouble ‘alt’ bar on my commuting bike after a fall- straight bar were putting too much pressure on my wrist- the double trouble looks like a jones bar and has so many places for your hands that it has sorted the problem with my wrist. They also look really good and have plenty of places for bells lights etc..- love them i will check out the Ritchey buzzard for my gravel bike seems like a good idea to swap curly for ‘alt’. Thanks for the video!! 🤘🏼
I am using the Redshift bar to do a Mountain Bike to Gravel Bike conversion, another usage. Especially, with a bike with a long top tube and reach.
Hope you're feeling better by the time you read this. Hopefully this trend continues to parts outside of bars. Love your channel and content, thanks Russ!
As someone who struggles with a pinched nerve that makes my hands go numb, and alt bar has made a huge difference in my ability to ride making it possible to bike commute to work.
I have a Condor 2 on my road bike, it has a carbon fork and came with just enough steerer exposed to mount the stem with 1 spacer. The Condor got the bars up where I want them but its hard to even mount a light on that thing due to the shape, let alone a bag. Definitely gonna be getting the Redshift bar for it, will solve a lot of problems.
I like the movement because it solves problems. I put the Kyote bar on my mountain bike 2 years ago, cutting 1" off each end and never looked back. Better hand position yet still good handling.
Thing I really would like to see is roughly speaking classic drop handlebar, without massive flare, but with very small reach and drop. Sub 60/sub 95mm. Very handy (no pun intended) for people with small hands like me. And with good range of sizes, like 38cm to 46cm...
Velo Orange offers modern drops that fit those requirements.
@@mechanicaldavid4827 hmmm... Unless I'm fundamentally missing something, can only see Nouveau Randonneur that is not exactly what I'm talking about with 85mm reach and 128mm drop...
Specialized Short Reach
@@Schradermusic Cheers! Will have a looksie.
Possibly not... 125mm drop is not exactly sub 95mm 😖
I like the basic touring bar like Albatross or North Road on an old MTB. Comfortable and versatile for light trail and some road.
I'm still using a pair of "old school" 640mm 7075 aluminum Titec H👹llbent risers from 2009🤘🤘
Are they good? I ride a lot of bike paths but how about a little bit of mountain bike rambling
I have a Specialized Creo Turbo and have just fitted the Redshift Kitchen Sink bars and love them, so comfortable and offer so much more than the standard bars.
About using a bar like the Kyote to replace drop bars - I replaced the drop bars in my 1st gen Kona Rove with a Kyote. It was a cheap and cheerful upgrade with the bars, some Tiagra flatbar levers and a Gx 10 speed shifter (I run 1X) setting me back around 100€. The standard 90 mil stem was spot on fit wise. One caveat though, the bike's low speed handling got a bit weird due to the super wide bar mated with a longish stem. Basically any major handlebar turn creates a huge arc of movement at the grips. My solution for it is switching to a hardtail frame.
I have been using the Jones H-bar Loop on my commuter/town bike for 5 years. I like them, I have limited funds to try other bars but I think these type of bars give bikers a lot of choices
Thank you for the previous recommendation of the Ritchey Flared gravel bars. Functional and Comfortable. Brilliant
I have a pair of veto orange crazy bars and love them! The bull horns are really helpful on long stretches to switch up positions.
I run a Surly Moloko and it has transformed my riding. Alt bars for the win!
I’ve had Persuader and now Kyote on my touring bike the past couple seasons and really like them. The buzzard is promising to get a bit more rise if needed. 😎
Big fan of Alt bars, from when the FSA Metropolis bar launched to Jones Loop style Bars- Really enjoying a Surly Corner Bar on my heavy duty trail bike! Best part - I get to offer alt bars to customers to help their basic MTB rigs branch out to fit for all day rides!
PS just got in a shipment of Alt bars from Merry Sales*, talking about all of which led my customer to notice we had ONE last pair of Surly Truck Stops in their size - which they bought🙌.
(*to Jim and Co. - my compliments on the Ahearne Uprising Bar - really nice production quality! - we picked one for a custom build and ordered two more - so nice I might have to buy one myself!)
I dig the RedShift one, seems very helpful if A.) you outgrow/outlive your earlier fit spec or B.) you purchase a used bike with a cut stearer tube and need a bit more stack.
Most bikes have too low front enf for me, so I greatly appreciate those options!
I just bought the topshelfs. I know they look odd, but it might be just what I'm looking for. I love alt bars. I have VO crazy bars on my Krampus, and super swept back cruiser bars on my fat bike.
I think they look neat
@@juliapoelstra3624 I got them because I love my Soma condors but preferred the look of flat top.
Came across the Crust’s Uncle Ron’s Ortho bar a couple of years ago and it ended my search for the bar that fits my needs. Like it a lot and haven’t thought of changing since.
Im using a VO-crazy bar on my long range tourer….great to have a few more hand-positions if you spent 8-10 hours in the saddle
I have standard drops, but I've been dying to try an Alt bar. My brother loves the Jones H-Bar
i run bullhorns as an urban rider because i like a narrow width, but even still i have a full stack of spacers and a tall, slack stem. if nothing else, getting more upright makes me feel so much more aware of my surroundings
It's great to see different bars for different uses.
I might like some of these alt mtb bars. I like options and always am happy to see more of them.
So many issues were created for fit and handlebars with the change from threaded to threadless forks. Quill stem adapters on old-style threaded forks pretty much eliminate those issues.
Surly corner bar is an interesting one if you need a good back sweep and additional hand positions
They can be useful. I have a few that I swap around depending on various factors.
Take care Russ.
I’m personally an alt bar evangelist, that said, I’m a mountain bike guy by history. Recently converted to bicycle commuting and came into alt bars via needing more space. Surly Moloko bars were my draw in, Jones was the 2nd place option I didn’t jump on. Now, I kinda wanna go full drop bar, but haven’t committed yet. We’ll see. Now, I’m curious on your watch collection. Seen a couple of different watches on your wrist over the last while and I’m a full on watch nerd. Whatcha got and whatcha wearing? Side bar complete
love my SYCIP x NITTO JJJ bar. i did have to change my 90mm stem for a 110mm one thos to make up for the lost reach.
I like seeing new bar options. Gives nice options to customize different bikes and find out what you like too. Don't run any right now besides a vintage scott at-4, not really comfort focused but a fun bar anyways.
Definitiely down with the alt bars. I ordered the Redshift topshelf yesterday as it goes (I hear Redshift are making a bag especially for it). If I had a flatbar bike I'd definitely buy one of the alt bars, too.
I’m a big fan, particularly for old low-stack mtb conversions, I have On One Mike’s and Raleigh North Road which both have a lot of sweep and reasonable width for running a basket or front load. However there are some old gems as well…my 1988 Hardrock has a pair of club roost ‘go-fast’ downhill bars which put your wrists in a really comfy position for a confident ride (however I’ve broken the unwritten law and have put some bar-ends on them to make cruising and climbing more comfortable!)
I love my Soma Condor 2 bars. I put them on a SSCX bike with a full carbon fork, so to get the amount of rise I like the choice was a drop bar with rise or a "happy" stem. I do like the look of the redshift bars!
Very informative Russ. I use the Surly corner bar. I too am getting older and riding slammed stems has me leaning over too far; I want the bars higher for more comfort, so I've been investing in forks with long steerer tubes that let me raise up the stem; but as you said in a previous video it's the lack of stack on the frame that's the real problem to solve.
Thanks, Russ! I was sold on the Soma Condor 2 handlebar (only 50mm rise) for 1 of 10 bikes... I might need the 70mm rise version of the Redshift Top Shelf bars for another bike! Haha... The benefits of being 6ft barefoot and all leg, with 5'9" wingspan lol.
I like the new handlebar options. I'm interested in the Swiss Army Bike, and the handlebars that give more grips, make more room for lights, HUDs, bells, and shtuff are great!
I’m a fan. I have several bikes (used and hodge-podged together) spanning a variety of functions. It’s great to find options out there to explore for and comfort. Thanks Russ!
I want to try the one you had in the thumbnail - curly bars with swept flat bar 'bullhorns' I love my curlies in the city but think that extra hand position for very upright would be great to have too
Hope you feel better soon, Russ!
I very much enjoy my Surly Moloko bar, really enjoy the additional hand positions it offers, there are several effectively wide places that are very comfortable to rest my hands if they get sore, and it's made riding much nicer.
I have the Surly corner bars on my hard tail. Comfy for cruising
The top shelf bar is interesting to me, for the extra "shelf storage" for bar mounted gadgets. I am contemplating converting my flat bar touring bike with a drop bar, because I feel like I need to change hand positions a bit more, but never did because I feel like I might need more room for bar mounted bits. I'd use the lower bit for my handlebar bag, and the top bit for bell, phone, camera, lights, bike computer. No manufacturer of mounts seems to supply solutions for people who want to mount a phone and a GPS unit, which I need for doing courier work via an app and if I want to recoed my rides with a GPS unit as well. But with this there seems to be ample room to fit two out front mounts, and is risen high enough so you can even flip one of those mounts to face towards the back.
I've been tempted to get some alt mtb bars with some more rise and backsweep. My wrists get a bit sore but I like the wide bars on technical trails.
Alt bars are awesome. I am currently using a highly modified Mokito bar, but will eventually have a custom-made bar made that allows for an even more aero front position as well as the ability to mount a bag mount to the front as well as handle the dynamo light which requires an open bar end for mounting.
As mtbers age, more will seek out Kyote style bars, where sweep is introduced without affecting reach or width/leverage. I got some Whisky Sully bars, same principle, they are awesome. Neutral from shoulders on down. How wider bars should be for people without hyper-square Nordic shoulders.
Fan!
Get well soon!
That redshift drop bar would be useful to mount clip on aero bars easily. Less need for huge amount of spacers to get the comfortable rise I like.
I'm interested in the TopShelf bar solution for my aging body. I'm boggled by the variety of alt bars available - it must be tricky for vendors to get the price points and production volumes to stay profitable due to the myriad permutations of bars. Lots of tiny niches!
I think this is a good idea since bike fit and preference is personal and this is a relatively inexpensive approach to adjusting fit, unless you have internal cable routing
They were weird in the 90s, but it was more modular, Yesterday I actually saw a guy with the full 90s add ons, angled bar ends and a full aerobar attachment with the forearm rests.
I bought a used 90s bike with butterfly bars. I kind of like them.
I love these "new" alt-style bars. They solve a lot of issues for an older dude who adheres to Grant Petersen´s view of what bikes are for most people. I got the Mothbar last year and have never looked back.
I love alt bars. The more the merrier. I currently run the Koga Denham bars on a 1992 Rockhopper and absolutely love them.
Where do you install your levers? I used to run inner bar ends and found that 95% of the time my hands were on them, which gave me poor access to the brake levers. I wish bullhorn bars were more popular, because they would be my first choice, with levers on the horns, that is.
I have a pair of these for sale. One of the worst bars I’ve ever tried next to Jones
I have been an alt bar enjoyer for the past decade or so now, my wrist like the sweep more and I have never been super into drops so ideal for me.
hard to get ergo and comfort!! handle bars in front of you great place to improve!
It would be interesting to see examples of these alt-bars fitted to bikes
My old REI Novara hybrid has swept back bars; I had no idea they were referred to as "Granny Bars", but they are absolutely the most comfortable bars I've ever used and I've sold more expensive road bikes rather than give this bike up no matter how goofy the bars may look. But, I can see how mounting a larger front bag to them could be a problem so I appreciate having some alternatives that maintain the height and leverage of these bars. How would you classify Jones Bars?
Get well soon dude
I like experimenting with different bars as long as I'm riding in an upright position and the feel is fatiqueless and ergonomic
I have one like that Richie , a flat bar with handlebar ends turned up and two there handlebars which I don't know the names of on each of my several bikes Each handlebar is a different feel and thet are all safe and it's good to mix things up .
Old school here: used nitto mustache on my XO for decades. A great mix of functionality.
The redshift topshelf would be even better if there was space for a bag on the lower part. Then you could mount lights, gps etc on the top part.
Variety is the spice of life (and helps individualize the ride)🎉
I love my gravel bike, but I do not like drop bars. My gravel bike came stock with a drop bar, and I was very pleased that Curve offered the Remlaw, a flat bar for drop bar bikes. It's been a very excellent bar for the year or so I've had it, even though I don't ride the gravel bike as much anymore since I've built up my rigid MTB. I'm also pretty interested to try at some point the Koga Denham bar, which I actually have in my parts bin, but the extreme backsweep makes it a difficult match for any of my existing bikes.
Like the options and bike parts designed for fit/comfort vs weigh and how super aero they are is a nice for sure , some of the prices and claims are comical but still very nice to have. Really liking those Redshift bars but do wish Ritchey came out with them... $50 would be an easier experiment than $150. FYI for large bags on the Redshift bars, using a cheap accessory bar and clamps off the stem bar aiming downward and strapping the bag to their top/cross bar would be very solid. Thinking of trying them on my Mason ISO, I am tall with more leg than average so I always get more saddle to bar drop than others. *My heavy duty trail MTB looks more like an XC position, my gravel bike fits more like a road race bike, my ISO has saddle to bar drop more like a "normal" gravel bike vs upright like you expect on a borderline mountain bike / gravel bike blend. Love having options other than weird looking super riser stems and extra long steerers.
Love my Jones bar.
I definitely think the standard mtb bars are a little uncomfortable. Wrist position can be compromised on wide bars that have straighter to the side grips
You could just about mount a Salsa Anywhere Cradle on the Top Shelf, but would need spacers for 25.4-to 31.8mm IIRC, but not the bottom. If you have a similar spacer could you mount the stem to the top of the Top Shelf, to show how it would look in non Party Pace mode, with maybe lights and GoPro mounted to the "bottom shelf". When going on a longer adventure you could just Swap Shelfs - hose length permitting - and not have to swap bars, undo bar tape and transfer the levers etc. Could you shows us those options?
Soma Sparrow on my Trek Multitrack 750, love it
I would love to try out the redshift in 50mm rise. But because it's my first time building a gravel bike, I'm pretty sure the cables are too short for the extra 50mm. But then again I'm not a big fan of the wide handlebars and price is a little steep.
I've found alt bars open up all sorts of new worlds for bikes in really unexpected ways. I spent a lot of time switching out flat bars and drop bars for cruiser bars and BMX bars. I think it is great there are so many options out there now. Anyone who likes Frankenbikes, I'm sure, isn't complaining!
I wish I would have seen this before buying my swept back flat bar. I'm just now realizing that I could have gotten the same exact thing with a cross bar to add space for attachments. Other than looks. There's not really a reason to have it unless your not like me and don't have too many attachments. lol
Recon the redshift bars could make sense on retro 26" mtb frames.
My thoughts exactly!
I have a salsa bend 2 mtb bar. It gets the 20 deg back sweep and preserves the reach.
The drop bar is a nice and novel idea, but is it better than just buying a 30 deg stem and turning it up? That’s what I would do. But a clever idea.
Its a different way to do the same thing. Personally I think it is less goofy looking than a LD looking stem.
The other trend is the extra wide bars. I find that I’m most comfortable with bar widths less than 60 cm, even for my rigid mtb.
I remember back when I worked at a local shop the mustache bars were a big deal. That was the first time I saw a Rivendel frame. This was around the time Lance had his 3rd Tour win. Seems like some together over complicated.
Aww, I thought you were going to do really wild, like Velo-Orange's Granola-Moose Bar.
I'm old.
Comfort bikes à la Bike Farmer's output works for me, with wide, high bars for my aging wrists.
I used to use rise bars with bar ends before it wasn't cool
I love all the weird and wild bars. Almost makes it hard to choose there are so many variations.
It think its great that there is innovation going into comfort and ergonomics.
Surly trucker bar is a great one as well
Get well soon!
I was hoping you’d mention Steve Potts Siskiyou bar. It’s an interesting one,