Moustache handlebars: How are yours set up?

[Sardine]

Some questions for those of you who have bikes with moustache handlebars please: How do you have them set up i.e what sort of brakes/gear shifter combination do you use and where do you mount them on the bar? I've seen the picture on sheldonbrown.com where the set-up appears to be with STI shifters but was wondering what other combinations are possible. Do any of you use bar ends? What options are there for mounting brakes? I have an idea for a project next year using my newly gained maintenance skills...

Thanks for your help.

[Velocivixen]

Hi Sardine. I do not have moustache handlebars, but I do have bar end shifters on my Surly Cross Check with regular drop handlebars. I was apprehensive initially with the bar end shifters, because I would have to let go momentarily to move my hand down to shift. It's really no big deal though. The shifter for my front chain rings are friction only and for the rear you can set for friction or indexed shifting. The bar end shifters won't work if you have 10 gears in back though. They're meant for 9 speeds, and possibly for 8, but definitely not 10.
Tell us more about your bike. Gears in back? Chainrings up front?

[oxysback]

Here's a picture of the Mixte I fixed up with moustache handlebars. I no longer have the bike, but I loved the look and feel of the handlebars.

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[KnottedYet]

My Surly Cross Check has moustache bars with the same set-up as oxysback.

I love bar-end shifters (I am not fond of brifters) and find moustache bars to be the perfect bar for me.

[Miranda]

Here's a picture of the Mixte I fixed up with moustache handlebars. I no longer have the bike, but I loved the look and feel of the handlebars.

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That's really beautiful and with the Brooks saddle.

[ultraviolet]

I had a bike with moustache bars for awhile that were set up like oxysback's. Actually, I may still have the bike over at a friend's house.

Currently, my city/camping bike is set up with some Soma Sparrows with bar end shifters. Here's a (not great) picture of those:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6155/6151441583_b7eb74106e.jpg

[Sky King]

We put road type style brake levers on moustache bars (with hoods) makes for a great position with descending. We are also bar end shifter fans so that is what we encourage people with moustache bars to try. Just took a set off of one of my friends LHT's as her hands and arms were getting sore, however she has some special issues that also came into play. We put albatross bars on for her so I plan to take her moustache bars and put them on my "to be determined" adventure bike. I can't believe I didn't take a photo of her bike before we took them off...

[Sardine]

Thanks for your responses and photos which have been very helpful. What nice bikes – how could you part with them? That's my problem, I find it difficult to part with any of my bikes, hence the recycling project. I really like the bar end shifters set up and am going to go down that route if I can get it all to work out.

ultraviolet, I really like the Soma Sparrows handlebar. How wide is it? I wonder if I can get them here. One of the options I'm looking at is a an ultra shallow drop Nitto bar but I've yet to find a moustache bar that doesn't seem too wide.

Sky King, for the descending position you mentioned, do you mount the brakes at the same place as oxysback or ultraviolet?

Velocivixen, yes, I think I should get used to the bar end shifters with a bit of practice even though I've never tried them. I know they are very popular with touring cyclists. Good point about the number of gears – I have ten at the back. However, this bike has a 5-6 year old Campagnolo groupset (mix of Chorus at the back and Centaur at the front/shifters) and it appears that the Campagnolo Record bar end shifters are 10 speed. The blurb says that they fit on drops as well as tri bars and are compatible with all Campy 10 speed systems. Nevertheless, I'm going to double check with my bike shop before I get them as they aren't cheap.

Thanks again for your help ladies.

[wackyjacky1]

I have DiaCompe brake levers and Shimano bar ends. I've been very pleased with this set-up.

The cats have added a nicely textured "non-slip" surface to my bar ends (out of concern for my safety, no doubt).

[Sardine]

I have DiaCompe brake levers and Shimano bar ends. I've been very pleased with this set-up.

The cats have added a nicely textured "non-slip" surface to my bar ends (out of concern for my safety, no doubt).

Nice. Is that a mountain bike? And I love the cats' contribution. Made me laugh.:D

ETA: And how did they get up there to do it?

[wackyjacky1]

It's a Trek 7.2 FX WSD. Utilitarian, but also fun as can be. :)

In my old apartment, I used park my bike by leaning it near this big potted plant that I had. The kitties would jump onto the plant and gnaw away on the bar ends. I guess they found them satisfyingly chewy, although I can't fathom why the darn cats ever thought to give them a nibble in the first place. :rolleyes:

ETA: Ew, my bar tape has gotten really gross!

[ultraviolet]

ultraviolet, I really like the Soma Sparrows handlebar. How wide is it? I wonder if I can get them here. One of the options I'm looking at is a an ultra shallow drop Nitto bar but I've yet to find a moustache bar that doesn't seem too wide.


They come in three widths--490, 520, 560. Mine are the middle size. Here's a link to the product desription: http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/the-sparrow-bar-490520560

I like the way they angle out at the ends, rather than come straight back like moustache bars. They're just that little bit more happy-making for my sometimes fussy wrists. (I also liked my moustache bars, I just like my Sparrows a tiny bit more.)

[Sardine]

Thanks ultraviolet.

[Sky King]

Sky King, for the descending position you mentioned, do you mount the brakes at the same place as oxysback or ultraviolet?


here are two different shots, note the placements are slightly different and the handlebar looks more level in the one photo.http://forums.teamestrogen.com/picture.php?albumid=74&pictureid=257
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/picture.php?albumid=74&pictureid=256

[Sardine]

Thanks for the pictures Sky King. Those are really lovely bikes. Having given it a bit of thought I can see why this position works. This is the setup that I'm going to go for.

Thank you all again for sharing.

ETA: Great blog by the way, SK. Just visited it again.

[Trek420]

There's a picture of our mixte at the end of this thread:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=44619

[Sardine]

Thanks Trek. Love the look. The moustache bars really give a bike character as well as being functional I think. I like the idea of a fixed gear bike too but 1) don't have the skills, esp for riding in traffic and 2) I've got hills and age has caught up with my 40 something knees.

The main components on my bike still work beautifully except that the gear shifter is worn now and a problem developed with the indexing recently. I quite like the current semi friction shifting effect but it's not meant to work that way and it's a matter of time before it packs up. Campy shifters can be rebuilt I understand but I can't do it and I'm not sure it's worth the cost. Also, this way I get a new (ish) bike!