|   Weeeeeeeeeird handlebar! | TheRedMantra
Oct 16, 2003 7:49 PM | | I wonder how the hell you get shifters levers and grips on this thing??? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3632176667&category=42317 |
| <i>Very</i> easy to mount levers and grips | shiggy©®
Oct 16, 2003 8:22 PM | | 
These are on a singlespeed but you mount the shifter between the brake lever and the cross bar or, as Jeff prefers, use the new XTR shifter/brake levers.
I have ridden them. IMO better than straight bars, not as good as dropbars. |
| <i>Very</i> easy to mount levers and grips | redmantratiredashell1am
Oct 16, 2003 8:48 PM | | weird... |
| Hey Shiggy | TomFL
Oct 17, 2003 5:18 AM | | You get any more tubing on that bike and you'll lose your official WW status!
-T |
| Did I ever have WW status? | shiggy©®
Oct 17, 2003 8:14 AM | | My frame and my wheels are light. I refuse to weigh my complete bike but I know that it can vary as much as 7 pound depending on the tires and front wheel I am using.
The Jones Hbars (tried them, went back to drops) weigh less than my WTB dropbars by about 100g. |
| Wow! I've looking for that handlebar option for years. | Chester
Oct 17, 2003 1:24 PM | | Thanks for the pic. I thought I was the only soul out there who found alternative handlebars better for many riding conditions.
I couldn't figure out why handlebar makers were not making anything but mostly straight bars...with 0 to 13-15 degrees sweep...usually with the bend only about a inch or so from the stem.
I've always known that the bar should go out fairly straight and then give you a natural hand position out on the grips. The bar you show has that position, as well as a further out position for a aerodynamic grip when on smooth straight sections. Very intersting.
What I have been using, thinking I am the only person on the planet, is handlebars orginally offered on some of Bridgestone's XO bikes.
They are aluminum "ARC" bars offered in 1993 and 1994 on some Bridgestone XO hybrid bikes. I have them on two mountain bikes as well as the orginal XO bike. I even found an extra supply in a closeout bin at a LBS, that under a old owner sold Bridgestone.
So I picked up an extra 3 unused sets for only $20. ($6.66 each) Now I have perhaps the only six sets around....except for a few on 10 year old Bridgestone XO's. Everyone thinks they're weird.
Mine go straight out from the stem beginning to "very slowly" curve backwards about 2 inches from the stem, curving more quickly as they get to the grip area.....then ending up with about the same grip angle as the Jones Hbar. The difference is that while my hand position is at the same angle, the location is about 1 to 1.25 inches closer to the rider. I would actually like to experiment with something a litte further away from my body like the Jones Hbar.
The other feature that looks really interesting is the part of the bar out front. It looks to me like you can use that for a bit of "aero bar" type grip....cutting way back on wind resistance.
1. Is that true, and how comfortable is it?
2. How much do those bars weigh?
3. How much did they cost? (on ebay they went for $100...wow!)
I find even my "ARC" bars superior to straight (0-14 degrees) bars and I cannot figure out why more people are not using something like them except that they are NOT to be found anywhere. Your normal selection in LBS and online goes from straight bars to extreme cruiser bars. I am completely convinced that perhaps as many as 50% off all riders would experience better riding with bars like my ARC bars or those Jones bars. BUT,no one is even aware of them and all the bike manufacturors only offer "agressive" looking bars so everyone can look cool. Its all about marketing versus function.
BTW, my ARC bars and probably those Jones bars are much better for climbing, especially out of the saddle....Loads of leverage with a natural hand grip.
Just curious, you said you thought they were better for riding but that you use WTB drops.......How come? what kind of riding do you do that makes the 1. WTB drops better and 2. makes the Jones better than straight bars.
Oh yes, mounting brakes and shifters on my ARC bars is just as simple as on straight bars.
Anyway sorry for all the questions, but I've been looking for bars like those Jones bars for a few years. Thanks for the pic. I found the Jones site and got to see all the unusual stuff he offers, but not prices.
I'd been interested in any other thoughts and ideas you have on those Jones bars.....even including their strength and longevity....and if Jones himself makes them. |
| The Jones Hbars... | shiggy©®
Oct 17, 2003 1:52 PM | | ... are made of Ti tubing and are/can be made to your specs. Weight is around 250g for the shape that sold on Ebay.
Jeff will build them with curved extensions, different angles, sweep on the cross bar, different angles for the end pieces. "List" price is around $200.
I liked them very much for climbing and on the flats. On descents and aggressive cornering I sink my body deep into the hooks (bottom curve) of my dropbars. A very solid, stable grip. The flat shape of the Hbars does not allow me to do that and I have to use a much firmer grip on the bar and it is harder to use the brakes effectively.
As far as "alternative handlebars" such as these, mustache bars, cruiser bars, drop bars and other bars that place the hand grip closer to parallel to the bike rather than perpendicular like straight bars, they have been the "normal" bar for most of the history of the bicycle. |
| You've got Nitto Moustache bars... | Chicken Shagger
Oct 19, 2003 11:10 AM | | Kinda like a dirt drop that has been flattened out a bit.
I run 'em on my fixie commuter.
Travis Brown got fifth at a NORBA National Sort Track XC event with a pair this year - on a freakin' singlespeed.
I think they're pretty cool too. |
| Mine aren't Nitto moustache bars....they're ARC bars | Chester
Oct 21, 2003 5:51 PM | | Not sure if you're talking about the bars I described in my post..but I do know what Nitto Moustache bars are and that is not what I have.
The moustache bars were put on a couple Bridgestone XO models but the Hsing Lung aluminum ARC bars were put on some others.
BTW, Nitto moustache handlebars can still be purchased at Rivendell. They also have some other interesting bars.....but most of the type I was interested in sweep too much and are more like cruiser bars.
Some pics of a moustache bar
http://www.stanford.edu/~dru/moustache.html
and
http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/handlebars_stems_tape/16027.html
I wouldn't mind trying some moustache bars but their site says you can't use regular mountain bike brakes and shifters on them.
Having seen those WTB dirt drops......I wish I could get some of them but apparently they are no longer being made. Rivendell has some dirt drops but they don't appear to be as flat as those WTB dirt drops.
Mountain bikers have been brainwashed into one style of bars. |
| Shiggy...is that that completely weirded out Matt Chester? | Patchito
Oct 18, 2003 2:59 PM | | I've heard about that thing, I think Timan was talking about it. You have a reputation even way down here in So Cal. Don't just show us a pick of those goofy bars, let's see the whole package...plus specs. |
| nope..... | VT Mike
Oct 18, 2003 6:02 PM | | this is the shiggy bike |
| It's a Jeff Jones bike... | terminaut
Oct 18, 2003 7:10 PM | | |
| I pulled the bar pic from the Jones site. My pic inside [o] | shiggy©®
Oct 18, 2003 9:16 PM | | This is my Chester as I raced it in the Downieville Downhill last month.
This is about as heavy as it gets with Gazzaloddi Jr 2.6 tires on both ends, a Deore/F219 front wheel and Mallet C pedals.
And the action shot
It was a bit strange looking when I had the Jones Hbars on it.
As you can see I am always changing the "specs". What do you want to know? |
| 'Interesting' bike -- and the 'action shot' is really excellent! | DavidG
Oct 19, 2003 12:49 AM | | How about posting specs of your bike in its 'standard' configuration?
DavidG |
| Current "XC" specs and pic | shiggy©®
Oct 19, 2003 10:42 AM | | 
* Matt Chester Ti SS frame - my size - ~3.6 lbs
* '01 X Fly 100 fork
* Chris King headset
* Titec Big Al stem 120x 25°
* WTB drop bars
* Dia Compe 287V brake levers
* Cork bar tape
* Floating eyeball bell
* Minora(sp) light bar w/larger dia. tube
* Specialized Pro wireless computer
* THE XC lexan front fender
* Syncros 425mm post
* IRD Shark Fin clamp
* Fizik Niesne Twin Tech saddle, custom colors
* Crank Bros mini pump
* Baby chimpmunk mascot
* Backscratcher rear fender w/mud flap
* Cateye bottle cages
* Water bottle tool kit
* Profile Racing crank set, 190mm, 110 spider, Ti spindle.
* Profile Racing chainring, 36t. Alloy bolts with steel nuts
* Eggbeater pedals (version1)
* SRAM PC-7X chain
* White Ind freewheel, 21t
* Redline chain adjusters
* Shimano Tandem QR skewer (rear)
* Salsa Ti QR skewer (frt)
* Velocity VXC rims, 32°
* Strapping tape rim strips
* Sapim CX-Ray spokes, alloy nipples
* American Classic front hub
* Paul WORD disc rear hub with Disc Unit, axle modified to work with QR and chain adjusters
* Avid disc brakes, V1
* Galfer 185mm rotors
* Full length cable housings, Teflon coated cables, self-adhesive Velcro guides
* Schwalbe Little Albert Light 2.1 tires (pictured, I change tires constantly)
* Tubes - whatever I grabbed
shiggy's Mt. Bike Tire Site |
| Quite a unique setup you have there | DavidG
Oct 19, 2003 11:53 AM | | Very interesting and with many parts and manufacturers that I have never seen or even heard of before.
I must say however that the dayglo-green-and-sky-blue-over-brushed-Ti color combo is definitely NOT my cuppa tea. ;-)
Even though our mutual bikes could not be more different, we actually have two components in common: Sapim spokes and the Crank Bros mini pump. I don't know what that means, but it's gotta mean something, right?
DavidG |
| What companies/parts are new to you? [nm] | shiggy©®
Oct 19, 2003 12:07 PM | | |
| These: | DavidG
Oct 19, 2003 4:01 PM | | Matt Chester frame; WTB drop bars; Dia Compe 287V brake levers; Profile Racing crank set;
Galfer 185mm rotors.
But it's more the unique concept of bike as a whole that is very different from the (comparatively) run-of-the-mill bikes one sees on this forum.
DavidG |
| Details: | shiggy©®
Oct 19, 2003 6:07 PM | | * Matt Chester is a one-man shop, custom builder in Colorado. Ti only, singlespeed only, and now 700c ('cross and 29" mtb) only.
* The WTB bars were designed in the mid '80s. No longer in production and supplier stock ran out about a year ago. I have several in reserve. I have ridden drops off road since '85.
* 287V levers. Long pull drop bar levers for use with V brakes. Known more in the tandem and 'cross circles.
* Profile Racing. 25+ year old BMX company and the crank set is basically unchanged for 20 years. Very stiff. 48 spline spindle. The 190mm length is a production size. Easy way to add a pound to your bike even with the Ti spindle (~300g lighter than the steel).
* Galfer owns the patent on wavy rotors. Very big in motorcycles and snowmobiles. Just started doing mtb rotors, pads and hydro lines. They have plans to make shimano-compatible center loc rotors. |
| Interesting -- thanks! You live and learn.... nm | DavidG
Oct 20, 2003 5:48 AM | | |
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