bars for a hybrid

[mimitabby]

i thought you were getting a new bike!

okay. If your hands hurt that much sounds like the bike isn't fitting you right.
It's not the handlebars that are the problem. they are too far, or too low, or angled wrong..

[pooks]

I want a new bike -- I can't afford a new bike!

They aren't killing me or anything. But then I've never ridden farther than 11 miles, either.

Sigh. I've raised the seat so that my legs are more comfortable and get more power. Let's see what that does to my hands.

As for the problem not being my bars -- okay, maybe not.

So, what are the reasons people use different kinds of bars?

[Bicyclette]

Like Mimitabby said - they could be angled wrong..

I put bar ends on my hybrid to give me more grip options - I love them - I use them more than the top of the handlebar now - and the problems I was having with my thumbs has resolved itself. I also changed out the grips on the bar to a set for smaller hands - they have also helped

[pooks]

Oh, thanks!

There are a lot of different kinds of bar ends, aren't there?

Why am I surprised? Hmmph!

[SadieKate]

Width and degree bend in the bars can have a lot to do with wrist and hand pain. This thread below was specific to mountainbiking but much the same stuff applies.

Not all alloy bars are made the same. A lighter weight bar may absorb more road buzz than another.

Your forearms, wrists and hands should, in relationship to one another, be as straight as possible in all planes. If you hold the bar closer inboard or outboard does it make a difference? If your brakes levers are tipped too far upward and you ride with your fingers out over the levers, you'll cock your wrists upward.

Also, are you using a death grip on the bars?

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ght=flat+width

[SadieKate]

Pooks, does that bike have internal shifting or grip shift? I'm not sure what bar ends will work with GripShift.

[KnottedYet]

Moustache bars are pretty cool, but sometimes you have to switch your brake levers and shifters to something compatible with the bar.

[7rider]

Pooks, does that bike have internal shifting or grip shift? I'm not sure what bar ends will work with GripShift.

My mountain bike has Gripshift, and it has bar ends (the short, stubby ones).
My DH's flat bar road bike also has GripShift, and it also has bar ends.
(edit: Oops...I read that as "not sure *that* bar ends will work.." rather than "WHAT bar ends work" Sorry! I can check for brand tonight - but I would think your LBS can help in that regard).

So, regardless, I think bar ends would be a good, cheap option to add some hand positions to the bike, and don't require replacing the whole bar (if the bar itself is adequate, of course, and it sounds like perhaps, Pooks, you can see if the angle of the bar and reach is okay for you).