Done talking myself into like the moustache.

[Scotty]

I have given myself about a year to like my moustache handlebars. I really want to like them, they look so freaking good on my bike, but I dont. Now I am just not sure what direction I want to go, but I know that I want to be more upright, and I dont want to replace the whole cockpit. I want bars that will take my roadbike brake levers and bar end shifters. Even with the dirt drop stem I feel I am leaning forward too far in the position where the brakes are. I could use some suggestions for bars that give me a closer flat section near the brakes that wont force me to buy everything new. Just the bar. Am I dreaming?

[Esteban]

Noodles. 

I like mustache bars for off-road applications, even with the saddle, grips 1-2in below, for cross-country riding.  Like the way the x0-1 was set up in the 1993 catalog renderings. 

[Ablejack]

Depends what kind of levers you have. You could get porter bars with inverted levers or guidonnet which are beautiful with Belleville bars.

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/brakes/levers/br-0024.html

[Lee Chae]

Hi Scotty. The search for the right bars for the right bike can definitely be categorized under the journey of self-discovery. There are a lot of neat handlebars out there, and a good number of them will sing like sirens as you sail from one website to the next. But, I think what it all boils down to is that 90% (or more--probably more) of the time we ride a given bike, we are riding in a certain position. Find out what that position is and try to recreate that on the bike you are working on, given the differences in geometry, saddle position, handlebars, etc.

For instance, if you are feeling that the moustaches are too long a reach, and you are in an upright-y position given the dirt drops, you may need to move your saddle back a bit, to recreate the right distance between hands and center of gravity that other, comfortable setups gave you.

In other words, I have had a bit of whiskey and beer tonight and am now meting out advice, so take that into account....

Good luck,
Lee

On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 10:41 PM, Scotty <bong...@verizon.net> wrote:

I have given myself about a year to like my moustache handlebars. I really want to like them, they look so freaking good on my bike, but I dont. Now I am just not sure what direction I want to go, but I know that I want to be more upright, and I dont want to replace the whole cockpit. I want bars that will take my roadbike brake levers and bar end shifters. Even with the dirt drop stem I feel I am leaning forward too far in the position where the brakes are. I could use some suggestions for bars that give me a closer flat section near the brakes that wont force me to buy everything new. Just the bar. Am I dreaming?

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[Joe Bernard]

Yep, the saddle position makes a BIG difference with Moustache Bars. In my opinion, they only work if you can get a good distance behind the BB, then bring the bars to you.

 

Joe "only a little wine" Bernard

Vallejo, CA.

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[PATRICK MOORE]

Don't move the saddle to adjust bar comfort! At least, that method has
many liabilities. Rather, get the saddle where it is supposed to be,
given your preferred pedaling style, build and so forth; then get the
right stem to put the bar where you want it.

--
Patrick Moore
Albuquerque, NM
For professional resumes, contact
Patrick Moore, ACRW
http://resumespecialties.com/index.html

[Steve Palincsar]

On Sun, 2012-04-08 at 02:15 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote:
> Don't move the saddle to adjust bar comfort! At least, that method has
> many liabilities. Rather, get the saddle where it is supposed to be,
> given your preferred pedaling style, build and so forth; then get the
> right stem to put the bar where you want it.

Agreed. However, if the saddle /isn't/ where it should be for you, it
could cause hand discomfort. I like Peter White's article on bike fit:
http://peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

[Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery]

The orthodox solution is a Nitto Noodle. An unorthodox solution is the Salsa Woodchipper. I'd rather suggest the Salsa Cowbell, but that one is 31.8 and will not fit a quill stem.

[velomann]

What about something dirt drop-like, like the On-One Midge? Comfy,
wide, great with bar-ends, easy to set higher than moustache, with
brake levers closer.

[Bill M.]

SOMA Hwy 1, 26.0 mm clamp, silver finish, choose your width.  Done.

Bill

Stockton, CA

On Saturday, April 7, 2012 10:41:57 PM UTC-7, Scotty wrote:

[SISDDWG]

I've had a moustache bar for about 13 years but never used it much.
Only recently, since by body has changed with age (72), have I come to
appreciate the moustache bar. Don't get rid of your moustache bar.
Some day.... BTW, I use it with Nitto Dirt Drop stem and that at least
looks better than a too high technomic, IMO.

On Apr 7, 10:41 pm, Scotty <bongos...@verizon.net> wrote:

[Philip Williamson]

I like the Woodchipper more than the Noodle, but I like Moustache bars, too. My M-bars are on a 63.5 cm bike with a 58cm top tube, and my prefered position is out on the hoods.

Taking a moment to appreciate how silly those bar names are,
 Philip

Philip Williamson
www.biketinker.com

[Johan Larsson]

First - I guess you'll have to use other brake levers if you want to switch bars to something even vaguely similar to the Moustache. After that there are only a few bars that can take bar end shifters - the Albatross most notably, and Soma Oxford are the only ones I know of. If you have the skills and tools or know a good machine shop, there is always the possibility to drill out the ends of some standard handlebars. I've done it myself by hand, but don't recommend it.

But why not try an even shorter stem, 30 mm reach or so, first?

[PATRICK MOORE]

Good point. As I like to repeat ad nauseam, hand/arm/shoulder/neck
comfort depends largely on saddle position.

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[EricP]

I liked the Woodchipper at first.  Then started to hate them.  Pretty sure it was one of the reasons for the return of wrist pain for me last year.

 

My favorite this year for semi-flat bars are the Soma Clarence.  Nice sweep back.  Goes well with Ergon grips, too.

 

Only tried moustache bars once over a winter when the Hillborne was inside.  Didn't like it then.  But may want to try again in the future with the bike on the road.

 

Eric Platt

St. Paul, MN

[Smitty]

I tried M's on my Hilsen for 6 months and decided I liked them but didn't love them. I switched to the 48cm noodles (my first drop bar ever) and I love them. I'll hang onto the M's for now... you know just in case a tall frame with a short tt falls into my lap. 

good luck finding the right bar. 

--Smitty

On Saturday, April 7, 2012 10:41:57 PM UTC-7, Scotty wrote:

[Matthew Hoult]

I've been skipping over this thread the last couple of days, thinking it was about facial hair.  Silly me.

[RJM]

Yeah, if you don't like them you probably never will.  I have a Jamis Aurora with them and really like them for that bike, but my Sam Hillborne sports narrow noodle bars which I also love.

 

I would suggest Noodles on a dirt drop stem, they will give you the flat section that you want and will still give you the height. 

On Sunday, April 8, 2012 12:41:57 AM UTC-5, Scotty wrote:

[Johan Larsson]

On Sunday, April 8, 2012 7:41:57 AM UTC+2, Scotty wrote:

I have given myself about a year to like my moustache handlebars. I really want to like them, they look so freaking good on my bike, but I dont. Now I am just not sure what direction I want to go, but I know that I want to be more upright, and I dont want to replace the whole cockpit. I want bars that will take my roadbike brake levers and bar end shifters. Even with the dirt drop stem I feel I am leaning forward too far in the position where the brakes are. I could use some suggestions for bars that give me a closer flat section near the brakes that wont force me to buy everything new. Just the bar. Am I dreaming?

(Hmm,  there seem to have been some problem with my previous post - it doesn't show up, and I can see one post that have been deleted...? Was there some problems with it?)

Anyway, if you want to have something somewhat similar to the Moustache bar, you must prepare to switch brake levers. I don't know of any other similar bar in 23.8 mm, and also you need a pretty specific curvature for road levers to work. The only two 22.2 mm bars I know of that can take bar-end shifters are the Nitto Albatross and the Soma Oxford. Other than that you can modify and drill out the ends of other handlebars to make them fit the shifters. I've done it with the Nitto 603, but it's not easy. If you aren't absolutely certain you can do it, don't do it yourself.

But - why not just try a really short stem first? There are shorter stems that are as high as the short dirt drop stem. I've seen a few old ones that probably have a 20-30 mm extension, though I don't really know if they are easy to find. Ask around and see what the LBS have.

/Johan

[Peter F]

I'm with you on feeling too far forward. I started with the moustaches
on my Atlantis. Hated them at first and traded them for some drop
bars. Never quite got the drops set right either though with my seat
and ultimately ended up going back to a moustache (I had of course
sold the originals so I had to buy them again) and now find I'm pretty
happy with them for around town commuting. Beyond about 10 miles
though, I find moustache bars limited in positions and my hands start
to feel numb.

I'm very excited to try the new Bosco bars from Riv however, whenever
they arrive. We'll see! Don't know if they'd fit your requirements,
though since you'd probably need new brake levers and shifters
perhaps.

Good luck.

Peter
NYC

[bikecg]

Take a look at the On One Midge bar. Then consider an shorter stem.
You have a choice of 25.6 or 31.8 clamp size. Been using them for a
couple years and I love -em. I have normal aero levers and barcons.

Carl
Cleveland

On Apr 8, 1:41 am, Scotty <bongos...@verizon.net> wrote:

[Leslie]

I came across a little-used moustache for naught, and grabbed it.   But, holding it, started thinking I wasn't sure about it.

I've got Noodles on my Ram which I really like(wide 48's, I'm not a little guy), and was thinking of the moustache for the Bomba, but, started second-guessing it.  I was also liking the idea of dirt-drops, like the old WTB bars, or Woodchippers, etc.  But, I couldn't find the WTB's that I wanted, but...

Thought occurred to me, get the dirt-drop stem, put the moustache bars on it.  If I don't like it, switch to dirt-drops once I find some.  Woodchippers, or maybe the Midge, if I still can't find a pair of WTB-2's. The Luxy or the new Nitto RM-014 might be okay, if they weren't 31.8; hard to find a quill, but, thought about a threaded/threadless adapter, then an upright 31.8 stem.. not for the looks, definitely, but, if it accomplished what I wanted....  

Turns out, though, I'm liking the moustache.  A lot more than I expected, actually.   Still don't have a LOT of mileage on 'em yet, but, they're not bad for me.  

Need more saddle time w/ them, but, I like 'em....

[Bill]

My first encounter with moustache bars was on my new XO-3 in 1994.  I tried to like them but it just didn't happen.  They were swapped out for drop bars and later for Albatross bars, and both changes were improvements.  The XO left for college and later returned home where it spent some time in solitary confinement in my shed.  I eventually pardoned it and returned it to duty with its old 'stache bars.  After some tinkering with saddle height and fore/aft position and stem height I finally bonded with the whisker bars.  

When I built my new 60cm Sam a year and a half ago I went with moustache bars and a Nitto Dirt Drop stem - the bars were way up there, even with the stem in its lowest possible position.  It was good, but not great.  After six months of that I switched to 48cm Noodles and a regular 10cm stem.  Again, it was good but not great.  Recently on a whim I decided to try something different so I went back to the moustache bars but this time with a 7cm Nitto Technomic stem.  This time it was better than good - it is great.  

Once you get moustaches positioned in the right spot they can be wonderful.  However, when they're not just right they can leave you wondering what the heck anyone sees in them.

Bill

On Sunday, April 8, 2012 1:41:57 AM UTC-4, Scotty wrote:

[Scotty]

Today I recieved 48cm Noodles that I traded my moustache bars for. I havent had a chance to go for a good ride with them yet but I did ride around the neighborhood a bit and I am thinking these are going to be my solution. I like the shape and width of them and they feel just right. It seems that I will need to get longer brake cables before I can tape them up. Thanks to Bill from this forum for offering them up for trade and getting them to me so quickly. I appreciate all of the advice from everyone here.

 

[Jay LePree]

Scotty:

I tried Porteur Handlebars with the Diacompe Guidonnet Brake Levers
for the first time, today, on my Rambouillet. I rode for 1.5 hours.
The bars allow me to sit up in traffic by using the swept back portion
and allow me to lean forward to get out of the wind and use will
climbing. The Guidonnet Brake levers allow access from the swept back
portion and the forward portion of the bars. I am really pleased with
the set up. I have tried mustache bars in the past and prefer this
setup.

Jay

On Apr 8, 1:41 am, Scotty <bongos...@verizon.net> wrote:

[Noah Deuce]

I mightily resisted the Moustaches for many years.  I ran Noodles and Randonneurs, a set of bull horns on my single speed.  Nothing felt right.  I tried the Moustaches on a whim, and now they're the only ones I use.  I commute on them, do centuries, group pacelines, everything you can think of.  If/when I get a fatbike, a set from On One will probably end up on it.

[Damian]

Scotty,

I'm sorry I didn't get back on this one earlier - was away for Easter. I guess the suggestion is moot now but may be useful for others. Try turning your moustache bars upside down. That's how I have mine. I tilt them so that the couple of inches that this raises them means I don't have to stretch so much.

Damian