Swapping handlebars---tougher than it looks?

[KathiCville]

Good questions, DebW--just the kind of insight I'm looking for. I'm not where the bicycle is at the moment, but I'll check it out later today, especially the question about access to remove things.

The current handlebar is a flat bar, if I understand the term correctly, meaning just a straight, flat handlebar with no curve to it, up, down, forward or back. It's been driving me crazy because the flat bar doesn't allow me to move around much and so my hands are going flat-out numb after 10 miles.

Here's the replacement bar (link below). Nothing fancy, but my friend thought this would be an inexpensive and serviceable replacement. The middle 7" of the new handlebar is flat, just like the old one. Then the bar gently curves up a little for about 4" on each end, and then takes a 90 degree turn away from the rider.

Edit: Hmmm, at least I think the ears are supposed to face away, right, LOL? (I'm howling with laughter here, such is my ignorance.) My MTB handlebar has ears that face out away from me, not in. I'm assuming that that's what my friend had in mind for my road bike. I have shoulder problems, so we agreed--as did the LBS where I bought the bike---to steer me clear of classic drop bars, at least for now.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...All%20Products

I'll post more when I can look more closely at the bike.

Thanks for your help!