Do you stand and pull with upright bars?

[zem...@gmail.com]

I've been interested in switching to albatross bars but one of my concerns is that it'll be difficult to stand, pedal hard, and pull on the bars. I do a lot of city riding, so being able to do this from a stop or rolling stop is a key part of my riding. 

I've watched Dan Stroud's (aka hobocross) video on how he sets up his albas to have more of a "hoods" position, which seems like a natural solution to this problem, but in his video he doesn't seem to stand and pull a whole lot. 

Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGokAt6XAi0&t=152s

Anyone have thoughts/experience with this?

Zack

Toronto/DC

[Garth]

Zack, your ability to ride is inherent in you.  The how comes as it's called upon. 

When I first tried setting up Albatross bars with mtb levers I knew right away that they were not what I envisioned as no matter where I placed the levers were in the way. Deflating for a moment ...... then like a light bulb being lit ...... "bar end brake levers" arose within. I replied ..... Bar end brake levers..... as in reverse time trial levers ? "YES ! "  

I already knew I was going to use Suntour Thumb shifters and the best place for me was just inside of curve of the bar. I got some Tektro RX 4.1 brake levers and covered the bars with padded synthetic cork bar wrap. Now I was free to use the bar from the top of the curve to the end, and like the video you posted, my hands are most frequently in the middle to upper of the straight portion. On hills/standing I move towards the top at the curve if needed, but the middle to upper straight is usually what feels best. Braking is a breeze from the middle with just 2 small fingers. I rarely if ever ride at the very end of the bar, where a mtb grip would have one be. I stand while riding very frequently. I can ride up a hill standing the whole way if I wish, it feels entirely natural. Again, this comes down to each riders own sensibilities. I've always liked standing while riding. Other people always sit and never stand. Everyone has their own inherent sweet spots. 

When I hear people disliking a bar it usually has to do with how their entire "cockpit" is set up and whether or not it really works for them. For example, if I bought a complete bike from Riv setup the way they do I'd surely dislike it. So if I gave it a negative review, what I'd really be commenting on not the bike itself, but a sense of being out of tune with that particular way of the bike. I wouldn't feel that way unless I inherently knew "how to play" the tune inherent within. 

Such is the awesomeness of Life, no two tunes are ever alike, each unique in itself !  

[Tom Palmer]

Hi Zack,

I stand to climb even with a full load on my touring bike. Alabas are at my bare minimum width for this, but body types vary. I transitioned to a wider bar and enjoy it more than the albas on this bike. The bars are generic chrome steel from a bike I bought long a go, but they just work. I had the bike loaded up for a test run this week and climbed well for me standing. When climbing or acellerating as you describe, I pull on the bars and rock the bike. 

Go for it.

Tom Palmer

Twin Lake, MI

On Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 2:49:48 AM UTC-4 zem...@gmail.com wrote:

[Erik Wright]

Hey Zack,

I ride with Albatross bars on my Hillborne. I also do a lot of city riding in Philly where just about every intersection has a stop sign. I stand & pull all the time from just about every hand position on the bar. In my opinion, it's fine. The one thing I'd say is to make sure you either use a 25.4 stem or get a shim for a 26.0 stem- the bars WILL scooch around with aggressive pulling.

Erik, Philly

[A. Douglas M.]

Zack,

I ride albatross bars with Avid MTB levers and thumbies. No problem standing to climb or sprint. 

I really like albatross bars. I might try Billie bars someday but I’m cheap and albatross work so well I might not. 

Mine are shimmed in a 26.0 tallux. No squeaks or issues. 

Best,

Aaron in El Paso

[Bones]

Agreed. Works well with Albatross, Billie, and Choco bars. In my experience, the lower and further away the bars are, the more effective it is. Bosco bars work as well but they have a lot more rise, so unless you keep them kinda low and angle them a good amount, it won't work as well.

Bones

[David Person]

When I stand up to hill climb or 'sprint', I like to place my hands over the area where the brake levers are mounted.  Fingers are usually in from of the lever body.  So for me, it's important that there be a minimum of 'stuff' attached to the bars in the area from the grips to the bend.  The feel is similar to climbing with hands on the brake hoods of drop bars.