Ride length on Jitensha/Map type bars? Updated my Redwood.

[David B]

Out of nothing but curiosity, I put a Jitensha bar setup that was going to go on my Yves Gomez on my Redwood instead. Super comfortable, more so than I remember my previous drop bar setups being. It's currently a single speed, but I'll likely connect a cable to the dt shifter that's on there.

Question then:

Other Jitensha/Map type bar setups on road frames?

How long do you feel comfortable on them? Full day rides?

Here's my current 650b'd setup: https://www.instagram.com/p/B710F-BFJwP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

David

River Grove, IL

[Eric Daume]

I don’t know, but that’s a sharp looking bike!

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[Bill Lindsay]

I have Jitensha bars on my Rosco Bubbe Road.  I used it as a commute bike, which I often do 14 miles each way.  I've put over 1000 miles on the bike, most of it in that Jitensha bar configuration.  The bike is still configured that way but now it lives "upstairs" in Gold Country, where I use it for errands in town. 

I'm way too accustomed to drop bars to seriously consider doing a brevet or other long day with Jitensha bars.  Maybe on a bet or similar challenge.  I imagine it could work.

Bill Lindsay

Arnold, CA

[S]

Great looking bike. Clean and classic. I like that green.

I have similar bars on my single speed Trek. I like them, but I doubt they would be comfortable on an all day ride. I suppose a bar like the Albatross, which has more sweep and allows for multiple hand positions, would be better.

On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 3:52:35 PM UTC-8, David B wrote:

[Tim O. (Portland, OR)]

I've done centuries and multi-day tours with the black sheep bars I had that were a similar shape (30° sweep). They were 800mm wide though so I had three solid hand positions.

-Tim

[Craig Montgomery]

I have my Vic Edwards built '68 Condor set up as a fixed commuter with Jitensha touring bars. I can do comfortably 10-20 miles but I do miss the hand positions afforded by brake hoods and ramps. Did a loaded tour once with these bars. It was doable but there are times when you want to stretch or when grimacing into a headwind that bending into the drops eases strains in other parts. I find climbing steep dirt sections in the drops is handy also. Putzing around town, they're great, especially on a fixed gear, burning rubber when the lights turn green. 

Craig in Tucson 

[Ron Mc]

I added hand positions to my Ahearne Map bar using a Nitto 2-70 double lamp bracket and a pair of mountain bar ends

Did it first just for winter mag trainer time to give me different torso positions.  But when I tried it on the road, loved it and wrapped it permanent.  

This is an all-day bike with more time spent in the middle of the bar than on the ends.  

Also changed the bike from a parachute into a pretty good headwind slicer.  

[Rick Thompson]

After decades of riding various drop bars I've realized that Jitensha type bars with ergo grips just work better for me. The wrist angle with around 35 degree sweep is all day comfortable, and the shaped grips put less ulnar pressure than holding a round tube. I first tried them on my old steel road bike converted to commuter: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ricks_boats/44643454201/in/dateposted-public/

That was so nice, I put almost the same on a custom Fitz rando for multi-day rides: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ricks_boats/47872330271/in/dateposted-public/

Drop bars are touted as having many available hand positions. My theory is you need to keep changing, because none of them are comfortable ;-)

Rick (flat bars forever) Thompson

On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 3:52:35 PM UTC-8, David B wrote:

[masmojo]

I rode them for a bit on my CrossCheck prior to selling it to a bike shop employee who never changed them & subsequently sold the bike on to a third person whom I am sure hasn't changed them, when something just "works" to the point that changing it doesn't even occur to you; isn't that what we are all striving for!?

That said doubt I would want to do more than 30 or 40 miles on them.

[tc]

David,

I would say "No" to all-day riding with the Jitensha bar.  It's not wide enough, nor does it have a grip area large enough to afford multiple hand positions, at least comfortable ones.

My recommendations for non-drop bars for hours of riding and multiple hand positions would be, in order:

1.  Albatross.  See this excellent video:  https://youtu.be/pGokAt6XAi0 (I set up my Sam with extra long cork grips and moved the brake levers up as he suggests ... really nice!)

2.  Wavie

3.  Ahearne+Map

If you're into more of a funky looking, but supremely comfortable and functional bar, then the Jones butted loop H-bar, which you can get in silver if that matters:  https://www.jonesbikes.com/jones-h-bar-butted-loop-aluminum/

Tom

[Kieran J]

I've done some longer (100k-ish) rides on the Soma Clarence bars, which have a similar but not identical shape to these. No issues came up for me at all running thick foam grips and MTB trigger shifters. For mixed terrain in particular, those are my preferred shape.

KJ

On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 3:52:35 PM UTC-8, David B wrote:

[David B]

After thinking on this a bit, I think I'm going to have two handlebar setups ready to go. I'm going to swap in Mafac Raids (will help with fender clearance too) and put on slotted cable stops. With this setup, I'll have two handlebar setups with brake cables installed and straddle hangers on the ends of the brake cables. I'll just need to remove straddle hangers from straddle cable on the Raids and loosen the quill bolt and everything should be able to come out in one piece. Shifting is minimal so going to stick with downtube shifters. I'm adding aluminum fenders too so might have to go full rinko and figure out the split rear fender operation.

Thanks for the input!

David