Bosco Bullmoose opinions

[Tim]

I have a 58cm Hunqapillar with standard Bullmoose bars but I guess I'm not so crazy about them. My main bike is my Hilsen. The Hunq I ride a few miles to local trails and on the trails, which vary from dirt fire road type to single track. As with any mountain bike I've ever ridden the Bullmoose result in hand numbness pretty much right away, after only a few minutes. It kind of makes it no fun to ride the bike, as much as I hate to admit it. I'm wondering if the Bosco Bullmoose might help the numbness, but if it will come at the expense of the handling. I love the bike, but kind of mostly to look at because I don't enjoy riding it all that much. It feels like heresy to even say that but it's the truth. By the way, the frame is the right size, it fits well, has a pretty standard Riv build, and I switched from Schwalbe Duremes to Smart Sams.

[Goshen Peter]

You have a pic of the current setup?

On Oct 18, 2014 9:35 AM, "'Tim' via RBW Owners Bunch" <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I have a 58cm Hunqapillar with standard Bullmoose bars but I guess I'm not so crazy about them. My main bike is my Hilsen. The Hunq I ride a few miles to local trails and on the trails, which vary from dirt fire road type to single track. As with any mountain bike I've ever ridden the Bullmoose result in hand numbness pretty much right away, after only a few minutes. It kind of makes it no fun to ride the bike, as much as I hate to admit it. I'm wondering if the Bosco Bullmoose might help the numbness, but if it will come at the expense of the handling. I love the bike, but kind of mostly to look at because I don't enjoy riding it all that much. It feels like heresy to even say that but it's the truth. By the way, the frame is the right size, it fits well, has a pretty standard Riv build, and I switched from Schwalbe Duremes to Smart Sams.

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[Brian Campbell]

I use these with my bull moose bars:

http://www.modernbike.com/product-2126181813?gclid=Cj0KEQjwn4iiBRDFh76wlfCVuYABEiQAwWJ1Ija0HAwA9DTth7a6uZx84JbEzCaFHR11bWp00GflVZ0aAmZZ8P8HAQ

I found the standard cork grips did not support my wrists and caused pain. I also have the bars up, about level with the saddle. Here is a pic (Not a Hunq)

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/bylar13/1986%20Schwinn%20High%20Sierra/EB903D75-9714-4142-B285-B64B21531513_zpsilznpswf.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/bylar13/1986%20Schwinn%20High%20Sierra/D8EE0A0E-9818-42EA-BFBD-2D0629A80668_zpsilhdlmpt.jpg

[Deacon Patrick]

Hey Tim! Dialing in the handlebars can make a HUGE difference in the bike and is well worth experimenting with. My suggestions are:

-- Play with what you can with you current set up. Bar height, etc. Hand numbness is typically due to bars being low and/or an angle of hand position that doesn't agree with you. Sounds like you've adjusted what you can here, presuming you've played with bar height, as that is the only variable with the bullmoose bars.

-- Identify as much as possible what seems to be the cause, then evaluate other bars for their potential to alleviate those issues without causing more. For example, the Bullmoose bars are excellent for putting you in the downhill position AND having your hands on the brakes. Bosco and Albatross bars are great, but I found my downhill hand position put me forward from the brakes, so were a compromise. The Albastache bars were the solution for me. But they require a brake lever shift as they are a different diameter than the bullmoose or albatross bars.

-- Experiment with bars in order of what you think will solve your challenges and be most ridable.

I hope this helps. Again, the bars really make a difference. Albastache may well be worth trying. I love them for all my riding, including technical single track descents, climbs, etc.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Marc Irwin]

I use the bullmoose bosco bars and have no problem with numbness. In the past I've had problems with anything resembling a straight bar. Even riding on the flats on a drop bar will cause numbness. I don't have the problem with Bosco or Albatross bars.

Marc

[jtallman]

Tim, I also have a 58cm Hunqapillar and have tried many handlebars. I started out with flipped albatross, then regular albatross, bullmoose, noodles, and now currently, bosco bars. 

Current setup here: https://flic.kr/p/pqSJqk

I liked the noodles, but the top tube length was just too long even with a 5 cm stem. The bosco bars give me a better fit and offer at least as many hand positions as the noodles. I had Brooks leather on the noodles and just moved it over to the bosco bars. The bar end extensions give me a couple of more grip positions and the cross levers let me ride stretched out without being too far away from the brakes.

Jon Tallman

[Mojo]

I haven't used a bullmoose type bar since the 1980s. I personally don't see the advantage of having the stem and bar welded together. I at times change bars on my offroad bikes and different bars require different length stems. I suppose if the bullmoose stem-bar system happens to work for you, well great. I prefer more adjustability.

Joe "and I love to adjust/assemble my threadless front ends with just one 5mm allen" Ramey

[Dan McNamara]

The Ergon grips are definitely worth a try. I have them on the Bombadil with Boscos and on On-One Mary bars with the RockHopper/Xtracycle. They helped with hand numbness on both bikes. 

I have not tried them on the bullmoose bars but on planning to soon. Want to try the Bomba with bars that are less upright. 

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[cyclotourist]

Another vote for trying the Ergons. If that doesn't help, also consider Moustache/Albastache bars. They are much better for trail and singletrack descents than upright bars (IMHO).

--

Cheers,
David

Member, Supreme Council of Cyberspace

"it isn't a contest. Just enjoy the ride." - Seth Vidal

[Joe Bernard]

I had the same problem with non-Bosco Bullmoose bars. My hands will tolerate straight or straight-back bars, but not the inbetween angle like Bullmoose and the old Bridgestone Arc. For dirt riding you might want to try regular-old straight mtb bars.

Joe Bernard

Vallejo, CA.

On Saturday, October 18, 2014 6:35:28 AM UTC-7, Tim wrote:

[Montclair BobbyB]

Tim: I have a several sets of the Riv Bullmoose, and after trying out the Bosco Bullmoose bars (really cool) I just couldn't get used to them and went back to the Bullmoose... which are my all-time fave.

Brian: AWESOME SETUP on that High Sierra!!!

BB

[Montclair BobbyB]

[Tim]

Hey Peter, I don't have a picture of the current setup. The bars are saddle height. The noodle bars on my Hilsen are saddle height as well and I only have very minor issues with them, and they are alleviated by the many hand positions I can go to. The Bullmoose are, I think, the 150mm type and are currently at maximum extension. I kind of fall right in the middle of 54cm and 58cm frames on the Hunqa (With an 89.5 PBH I comfortably ride a 63 Hilsen, but would be fine on a 61 too, I think) so I'm pretty sure the frame is a good size for me. I have a set of Moustache bars at home that I could swap. I have the road brake levers to fit and a stem, either a Technomic or Dirt Drop. Maybe that is the way to go. If so I will have a set of Bullmoose on the FS soon. I just need to get the Hunq to a place where I like to ride it...

[DS]

I second Patrick on the Albastache, definitely consider those. I like them a lot on my Hunqapillar for trails, singletrack, and road. I've never had hand numbness with any handlebar so take that into consideration. I did try some bosco bullmoose bars on a commuter setup for a while, they put you very upright, plus they were super wide, I think they're cool bars but not for everyone and take more getting used to than anything else. I remember someone at Entmoot who said he loves them on trails but he gets himself into trouble by riding on the flats near the stem (I think) and bombs down hills with less control than a traditional riser or bullmoose bar). I forget who it was but maybe they can chime in here.

On Saturday, October 18, 2014 6:35:28 AM UTC-7, Tim wrote: