what can I expect when changing from drop to upright bars?

[Mojo]

I have a Quickbeam, circa 2005, in need of some freshening change. It currently has 44cm-wide Noodle handlebars. The bike is fine, it is simple-fun, but it gets passed over a lot for other bikes in the stable. All of my road bikes have Noodle bars (and all offroad bikes have Jones H bars). I thought perhaps some upright bars on the Quickbeam would make it more unique, more "towny," more often chosen for the daily ride.

To that end I think I would choose the Albatross bar, that features some extra rise, some flare, and is not too wide. The Quickbeam's current Noodle bars are set with the top of the bars about one inch above saddle height, and I think I would like the Albatross bars another inch or so higher.

So, what would I expect in this change to my Quickbeam's handling? I know a higher bar and less weight on the front end lightens the steering. What else should I expect? Also, I currently using a 12cm stem. Would that work for the Albatross?  

For reference, I am 68 years old and typically ride a ~60 inch gear on the Quickbeam, but it has gear inches from 46 to 71 inches with two chainrings and a flip-flop hub with a dingle on one side and bail-out larger cog on the other.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Joe in western Colorado

[jeffrey kane]

Hey Joe,

First thing you can expect is to tinker - first time upright bar set ups are a journey (in the best way).

Stem length, bar height and reach are likely to be the three areas you'll fiddle with most at first -  then grip position and maybe in the end, width if you're really sensitive and OCD in that way that so many of us here are. I'm a little concerned that you're already comfortable running a 12cm stem - keep in mind that upright bars do sweep back, some ridiculously so.

Alba's are nice for their slight bit of a forward perch in the bends - the Billie bar (my personal favorite) offers that as well.. 

I"ve never encountered an adverse handling experience once I've dialed in an upright bar position - in fact, I have multiple bikes set up for both  - with upright & drop bar combos ready for (relatively) quick switching. Note that the bar and stem always stay together when switching.

Second thing to expect is unmitigated joy (for real).

Good luck, man!

[Ryan]

What about an albastache? You could still use your existing brake levers and it is more upright

[Minh]

I ride my QB with albatross bars (exclusively for about 10 years now), for a few years I also rode a hillborne with drops with similiar reach measurements.  for example I ran 100-120MM stems on my QB but 80MM on my SH with drops.   like Jeffrey says your current stem may become an issue, the common rule of thumb is to add 2CM on stem because an albatross will come back 2CM, but  140MM might be too much stem, personally i've never had a bike with so much stem.

i might go as far as to say your bike is a little too small for you, but before that, what size is your QB?  what is the effective TT?  I would start adding those numbers up and see how they would translate to albatross.  I don't think you have to add stem, if you just swap to an albatross you may find the 'natural' position to be in the hooks or bend instead of back at the grip--kinda like how the billie bar translates when you swap out an albatross.  

as far as riding goes, that's very personal so hard to say in words, I will say the wide bars do feel good when accelerating on the QB, and I don't have issues with control, I do a decent amount of gravel riding and at times feel a little under biked but it still feels great on the trail.   top of my stem is about level with saddle, so the grips on the bars do sit a little bit higher than saddle.  

as someone that has been riding them for 10+ years i'm a fan, and when I had to reduce my bike stable to 1 bike, this is what I kept, partly due to how the QB rides overall but i'm sure part of that is the albatross--the only bar i've considered swapping it for is the Billie, which is just an albatross with more grip area!

[DavidP]

I have bikes with Noodles, Albatross, and Albastache bars was also going to suggest that Joe consider an Albastache - mainly because I want a ~30mm longer stem when moving from drops to an Albatross and Joe is already using a 120mm stem. Here's and overlay of the three to illustrate (from WhatBars.com):



With an Albastache you'll be able to get more upright without feeling crowded, and as Ryan pointed out be able to keep the same brake levers (you may not even need to re-cable). You may even be able to find a 26.0 Albastache from someone in the group to be able to use the same stem (or you could shim a 25.4 bar).

Is the stem height currently max'd out? If not you'd still be able to get the bars up a bit higher. Though I'd try them with the stem at the current height first; with the shorter reach  you'll be more upright even without raising the bars.

In order to make my Albastache bike feel a bit more like my Albatross bikes I set it up with the brake levers positioned a bit further out and back then most:




This gives good access to brakes from the farthest back position and the more forward "on the hoods" position, which are the two positions I use most on my Albatross bar bikes. The even further forward "in the hooks" position does require a hand shift to get to the brakes but it's a small one.

-Dave

[Eric Daume]

I just want to say, I think it’s awesome that Minh choose the QB as his one bike!

Eric

Wannabe minimalist, but six bikes now. Do I really need two folding bikes?

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/60be1884-f1b5-4cbd-859a-11258497f275n%40googlegroups.com.

[Steven Seelig]

On my Ram, I currently have albatross bars and find myself enjoying it mostly unless I'm on a longer distance ride. I do fine for the days when I had the Albastache where I could really stretch out if necessary, however I ditched those because I just couldn't abide with the brake lever position being in the traditional front space.  I live in the city and therefore most of my riding is going to be amongst a lot of action whereby I need clear access to my brakes. It would be different if I live more in the country or suburbs whereby most of my actions were in the stretched out position.

I am seriously looking at the new Paul components Reverse Lever on the Albastache, although Dave's set up might just work for me and would permit me to continue to use bar and shifters.

So many choices?

Steve Seelig, DC

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.

[Mathias Steiner]

Steve,

>> I am seriously looking at the new Paul components Reverse Lever on the Albastache

I didn't want to spend Paul money for a test, but Dia Compe makes a set of levers that I got for a song from SOMA during one of their sales. I just threw this together last night and will adjust things before wrapping the bar.

I've got a moustache (not Albastache) and I stopped using it for the reason you cite: When my hands are at the ends of the bar, for better control, I'd like to be able to brake.

Of course, I also like to be able to brake from the forward position, where I'll be most of the time, so I used a pair of interrupter levers that work with this bar diameter. I don't have a good way to mount the shifters, so bar-end it is, and I'll rig the rear brake from a second interrupter lever. After a quick five miles this morning, I think I'll like it. The Nitto dirtdrop I got from a fellow off this list is a great complement to the mustache.

cheers -m

[Mathias Steiner]

This might benefit from an actual picture, sorry I forgot to attach it.

[Mojo]

Thank you for your thoughts and experience. 

A bit more about me and the QB. I am 6ft with an 89cm PBH, and enjoy Russ Roca's 'Party Pace.'

When I called Riv Hq to order the QB, the thoughtful person asked if I intended to ride it offroad. I said yes which hasn't been the case. So I took their suggestion of a 60cm frame. Since 2005 the handlebars have risen, and the tires and pedals have gotten bigger. I agree with Minh that the frame is on the small side but it feels good to ride. I would say the reach on the QB is on the long side of comfortable for me with its 58cm top tube and 12cm stem. I am hoping to come up and back some with a change to a riser bar.

 My favorite road bike these days is a 62cm Legolas. The QB and Legolas achieve the same riding position including bar-height and reach.

Thanks Minh for your applicable experience.

Jeffery, I like the idea of keeping my current drop-bar setup for swapping back, at least for some long trial period.

Thanks DavidP for the WatBars.com graphic. I had forgotten about that site.  I have years of experience with a Mustache bar that I used incorrectly too low.  I think I want more rise, brake levers at the side hand position. 

I don't think I need the more-swept back Billie bar position.

Joe

[Minh]

Joe, 

I'm a little surprised as we are about the same size (though I have not measured my PBH in a long time so don't know mine), and my QB  is also a 60CM and if you were to ask me before all this what size stem for drops I would have gone back to 80-90MM.  Just based on your measurements I would have guessed 60CM and 62 CM Legolas (which has a 59.5 TT) would be too large for drops but maybe you are a little more stretched out.  

which comes all the way back to I dont know if albatross is best option since it will bring the bars back further and it sounds like you are already at a good spot, so albastache sound like the right next step.   but what I don't think the albastache give you is as much rise.  

to respond to Eric, the QB as the "one bike to rule them all" was a necessity as I moved into an apt in Brooklyn and it lives next to the radiator, there is no room for a second bike.   I took it on a bike camp trip over the summer-2 days, 60mi first day, 40 mi second day with about 3000ft of climbing, which is not that much but on a 44x17 singlespeed is a bit of work.  pretty much everyone asks me why, but the QB is the only bike I have ever ridden that has that un-nameable 'magic'.   and yes, I did both those days with albatross bars with out too much drama other than being not in shape!  

[DavidP]

Joe - knowing your height, PBH, and QB frame size, and the fact that you feel the reach the current set up to be "on the long side of comfortable" makes me feel more optimistic about Albatross bars working on a 120mm stem. I'm actually surprised that you aren't truly stretched with those Noodles on a 120mm. 

I think Minh and I are expressing the same sentiment, but I'm assuming you are stretched rather than in a good spot - or at the very least looking to be much more upright as opposed to a little more upright on the QB. If that isn't the case then Albastache bars are a safer bet, or at least a 130mm stem for the Albatross.

I'm 5'11" with an 87cm PBH and find Albatross bars on a 110mm stem on a 58cm top-tube bike to work well. I generally end up with my base of my hand resting on the grips, hands draped over the brake lever bodies. Moving back to the grips when I want to be more upright or have more control, or forward onto the bends when I want to stretch a bit.

The Albatross do have a ~2" rise; though it ends up being lower at the ends when you angle them down a bit for comfort, up near the stem there is rise. Given the huge change in reach from the Noodles, you may find you want the ends to be at or slightly below saddle height - you'll still be much more upright. In my experience, up to a point, rise and reach can essentially be traded back and forth for a similar position. In any case once the bars are on the bike tuning the height the easy with the quill stem.

Prior to the Albastache I had also tried a Mustache bar a few times and never got on with them. The Albastache combined with the modified brake lever position are working well for me as a "sportier" Albatross variant.

-Dave

[Minh]

Oh David is right i misread that your current QB with drops feels a little stretched out, yes, then albatross would bring them back a little bit.  unlike David i keep my bars level instead of tilted down, excuse the over-saturated picture, but here's what mine look like.