bar problem

[SadieKate]

Brifters and MTB levers each work on a different type of bar. It's all about where the shifters sit on the bar and the ergonomics - you couldn't even push the levers with the design of some bars.

A good place to look at bars for the purpose is Soma's website because they carry both Nitto bars (such as the Albatross and Moustache) and Soma-branded bars made by Nitto.

The Albatross will not work with brifters, but the moustache will.

http://store.somafab.com/handlebars.html
http://store.somafab.com/nialbarcr.html
http://store.somafab.com/nimobar.html

As you are reading up on all these bars, note that many of the North Road style/3-speed bars that mention mtb levers do not have space for full mtb shifters and brake levers; they have space for mtb-style brake levers and either bar ends or bar ends mounted in Paul's Thumbies.

Also note that some of these bars have a much bigger rise than others (the Soma-branded bars are lower than the comparable Nitto bars). Some of these bars also have a big sweep back toward the saddle and are available in different widths.

Are you near Portland? I was told that City Bikes Co-op has an excellent selection of such bars. I would guess that they also have stems with a larger rise and could probably give you some good advice.

All this could mean new bars, new shifters and and a new stem but you could possibly set up his bike similar to this nice Bleriot (which has bar end shifters mounted on Paul's Thumbies on an Albatross bar). The owner of this bike calls it his "Sit up and Beg" bike.


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