Albatross vs Noodle???

[murphyjrfk]

Here's the dilemma...or whatever ya wanna call it. i think i'm a full
time albatrosser. i have both i like both but i really only love the
albatross. But i'm having a hardtime making the full time switch. my
current bike is set up w albatross and is so perfect it's never ever
changing--and i'm currently building up my new to me atlantis. i've
had the noodles sitting there waiting but in my gut i know i need an
albatross. (and i'm a two bike guy tops! so building another is out
of the question). my riding style lends to both i suppose because i'm
a whatever rider. i commute i putz and i like hills (but i live in
ohio so let's just say the overpasses can be fun) i don't track speed
mileage etc i just go when i feel like it. a lot of times i end up
gone all day and i never ever feel limited or slow by the albatross. 2
miles 100 miles makes no difference. if anything i think i'm faster
cause i'm happier more comfortable more confident...etc. sorry to be
long winded but any one else make the switch and say damned to the
drops i just want my albatross? i know it's hardly a big deal but i
hate switching back n forth between bars and what not. but yeah. i'm
an albatrosser.

[Jeremy Till]

Sounds like you've already answered your own question.  If you've found something that works, stick with it, aesthetics or cultural definitions of what constitutes a "serious" bike be damned. 

[William]

+1 on not being worried about being monogamous with your handlebars.  

I'm the same way with Noodles.  Nitto Noodles are the only paleo-approved Noodles, as well.  

[PATRICK MOORE]

If you enjoy 100 mile rides with the Albatross, I would say that you
are all set; what's to worry about? The only reason I can see for
considering drop bars in your position is that, just possibly, you
might find them even more comfortable. Me, I've tried literally almost
every other kind of bar beside drops and can't be comfortable on them
for more than 15 minutes or so. I'd particularly like to use Moustache
bars -- they look so good -- but, even though I've installed them
literally at least half a dozen times on various bikes over the years,
I inevitably end up swapping them out for drops.

Note that drops can be positioned low or high or in the middle; there
is no one "right" way -- tho' if you are going to have them 4" above
the saddle you might just lose some of their benefits -- dunno; mine
top out at about 2" above the saddle and usually less.

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

[Tony Lockhart]

Just go with the Alba bars--mo point in going with the Noodle bar
because you've already found something you're comfortable with all the
time.

I was in a similar situation to you, but opposite in which bars I
liked. I was trying really hard to like mustache and Alba bars but I
just couldn't make it happen. My preferences lie with a drop bar--no
doubt about it. And whenever the mania resurfaces where I wonder if
it'd be worth it to change things up (use Alba bars or something
similar), I remember that I'll probably only be satisfied for a couple
of months and then will inevitably want to change over a Noodle bar.

Go with the Alba....perfect bar for your new Atlantis.

-tony

[Smitty-A-Go-Go]

I'm in a bit of a handlebar crisis myself.  I have Albas on my Surly Big Dummy and love them.  I also like to ride my wife's way-to-small-for-me Betty Foy with albas. I wanted to be a "moustache" guy so built my AHH with m-bars. But after 6 months I was still ho-hum about them, so a week or 2 ago I switched to the wide noodles. I'm liking the wide noodles enough, but can imagine swapping bars again in the next couple months. 

The dilemma becomes... what direction to go??? narrower drops (which is pretty much any other drop bar out there... might try a Maes Parallel bar from Compass), the tried and proven albas, or perhaps the New Bar (just because).

I'm not sure how any of this really helps the initial poster other than to point out he's not alone in the handlebar dilemma. 

Best of luck. 

--Smitty

 

On Monday, March 5, 2012 7:22:30 PM UTC-8, murphyjrfk wrote:

[René Sterental]

My experience has been the same as yours, but with the Bullmoose bars. Couldn't stay comfortable on the others and believe me, I tried many different handlebars. Ended up with Bullmoose on all my four Rivendells. Now need to seel a bunch of bars and stems, including a beautiful minimally used Albatross cockpit with 120mm stem and shellacked cork grips with bar-ends.

Go with the Albatross as it works for you so well.

René

[Ryan Ray]

I'd be interested in trading my noodles, tektro levers, technomic for some albas/stem/v-brake-levers...

- Ryan

[kps]

if anyone is interested in a lightly used 56mm albatross bar, i've got
one to sell. says Nitto B352 560 (56cm) on the bar. It is the
chromoly version. the 54cm bar is as wide as i'm comfortable riding,
so if this is one you can use, please shoot me an email. how's $40
plus shipping sound? thanks much. i also have a lightly used (leather
looks new, but there are a few marks on the rails) B67 Brooks in
honey, if anyone's interested. it came on the same bike the albatross
bar was on, and i'm not heavy enough to move the springs. great
saddle, though! please reply via email if you're interested in the
albatross bar or the saddle (or both)! -k

[Jay in Tel Aviv]

What is the popular wisdom on steel vs Al Alba's?
Is it just a weight vs. cost thing or is there some difference in
feel?

Jay

[Matthew J]

I've had both bars but on different bikes.  I prefer the look of the CrMo bars but they feel a bit more flexy than the Alu. 

[kps]

thanks to all who wrote about the albatross bars and the B67 saddle.  they're sold now, pending payment.  all the best, kps

[PATRICK MOORE]

Speaking of bars, that leads to cockpits: here is that on my gofast Riv:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BLeCJudRDgU/T1eMyB7rZlI/AAAAAAAAZhI/E2TdvkeUHWc/s1600/large.jpeg

All powered by a Soubitez bottle generator (not shown).

Patrick "just needs an anemometer" Moore in spring-windy ABQ, NM.

On Wed, Mar 7, 2012 at 11:07 AM, kps <ksh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> thanks to all who wrote about the albatross bars and the B67 saddle.
> they're sold now, pending payment.  all the best, kps
>

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[Esteban]

Why not have two h'bar set ups?  I have this on the Protovelo - just string up brake cables, and if you have cantis, use the old school cable hangers. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25671211@N02/5974331257/in/photostream

Unless you have da bars (which ever they are) way high, Albatross bars put you in a different position - your hips are at a different angle.  If it works for you and your type of riding, don't sweat it.  

On Monday, March 5, 2012 7:22:30 PM UTC-8, murphyjrfk wrote: