(*)osco bar hand positions

[Kevin]

Any riders of the Bosco and its myriad offshoots able to comment on how many/what kind of hand positions are available?

Any general comments are welcome, but I am particularly interested in the circled portion of the bar in the attached photo. Is it usable or is there just too much rise going on at that section of the bar? Maybe the Losco differs a bit from the others in this area?

Thanks,

[greenteadrinkers]

Can't speak to a Tosco or Losco, but regarding a Bosco, the upper bend in the rise area is my go-to for climbing, I don't find much use for the rest of the rise, for me, the angle is a bit stressful on the wrist joint. Aside from hand positions, I'll say that If you prefer less stem sticking up from the headtube, the 4" rise will that down considerably. 

[Joe Bernard]

I've owned all three versions of *osco and didn't find a way to grip that steep downhill part. I suppose it's feasible on the shallower Losco if they're mounted really low and you're reaching down to the bar but I doubt any of us here run our bars that way. 

The useable positions I found: 1. Several spots along the rearward section if a long grip or bar wrap is used, 2. The top of that downhill section kinda mimics riding the hoods on drops, 3. The flatbar section on either side of the stem. 

[Garth]

I have a Tosco and only the outer straights are usable, and it's not very much room at that. I much prefer the steel Albatross with bar end brake levers so it's entirely unfettered all the way up to and around the top curve. RBW showing the Bosco with tape over the entire bar, hah hah ..... looks nice but has no practical use.

[Hopalong Cassidy]

[Hopalong Cassidy]

I have been using Tosco bars for a couple months, and I find the circled area to be useful for climbing, shifting, and feeling speedy. I do use a treadless stem adapter with a medium long stem, so the bars are fairly low and close, which might alter the accessibility of the circled area relative to a higher bar position or longer stem setup. 

[Joe Bernard]

For clarity, are you grabbing at the top of the downward curve, or wrapping your hand around the downhill section below it? I believe the OP is asking about the latter. 

[Jon Dukeman]

Kevin

I have two bikes with 58 Boscos.

Gripping the bar in your circled area is uncomfortable because my bell and shifter interfere with my right forearm. 

For me the only place to grip is the flat area near the stem. And I never grip that area .I have long stems and Its too much of a stretch for me.

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[Brian Turner]

I can’t tell if it’s a Tosco or Bosco, but here’s a pic of Jay Ritchey using the area to grip on a climb. The bike is a proto-Gus, I believe:

On Sep 6, 2022, at 3:55 PM, Jon Dukeman <row.n.2...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Johnny Alien]

I agree with Joe I find that area to have too much of a slant to grip. The photo above is gripping the top part of the bend and I DO find that area useable and go there often. Loscos have less rise but they don't angle out the same way so it's not a great grip spot on them either.

[Johnny Alien]

I think its Toscos in the photo

[Ed Carolipio]

I have both the Bosco and the Tosco. As others have said, that circled position is a bit too forward. I do use it but only when shifting since my shifters are on the straight part of the bar closer to the stem. Jay Ritchey's grip on the photo posted by brokebike matches more how I grip the bar on a climb and works best when tilting the bar down from horizontal as recommended by Riv. That's usually as forward as I get, and I choose a grip from there through all the way to the bar end, even grabbing around the brake lever. Picture is of left side of the Tosco-moose on my GBW.

--Ed C.

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 9:00:56 AM UTC-7 Kevin wrote:

[John Johnson]

I have ridden the Bosco and have 60cm Toscos on my Clem. I didn't love the Boscos, too much rise and too narrow. However, I LOVE the Boscos. Favorite bars for comfort and long rides (well, maybe a tie with Jones bars, but it's a whole different aesthetic). 

I use the circle part you mentioned mostly on long climbs. It's just a matter of making sure there is space for your hands (i.e. that the shifters, bells, etc. are placed farther forward or somewhere else).

cheers,

john

[Marty Gierke, Stewartstown PA]

I use a pair of stoker nubs on my Boscos and find it to be a very comfortable and versatile solution. 

Marty

[amill...@gmail.com]

I find Toscos to be a single hand position bar. I like them regardless.

I’ve considered the stocker nubs as an option but haven’t executed them yet. I do have the front flats wrapped but don’t find them useful.

Best,

Aaron in El Paso

[Coal Bee Rye Anne]

I've used the Bosco 55cm steel non-moose variation that came stock on my Clem.  I ended up using some stoker nubs on mine.  Well, to be more accurate, my 'nubs' were just old Dia Compe non-aero lever hoods with the levers removed rather than the actual stoker nubs.  It wasn't long before I installed them since I preferred to have something to extend that 'in front of lever secondary grip' and also to offer something to lean into to keep from slipping forward and down that slope.  I also personally found the 55cm a bit too tall, narrow, and straight for my own use... plus the occasional slip in the stem clamp from all the leverage made me go ahead and trade them away after a short period of use.  I'd eventually come to prefer the Jones loop, Chocomoose, and Bullmoose I'd later come to try on the same bike but I do recall finding the addition of the hoods/nubs to increase my own comfort with the bar.  Based on my own experience I came to think I'd likely prefer the wider 58cm Boscomoose if it were the 'wrong angle' variation I where the grips angled a bit further down than normal.  I'm not even sure how many of those made it into circulation but do recall seeing photos and during my limited use of the 55cm Bosco I discovered after a few mid ride slips in the stem clamp that after the bar accidentally angled itself further down by a few degrees the grips became more comfortable until they eventually slipped more and felt too steep.  I should have taken a measurement or picture at their most comfortable spot for future reference but forgot to even bother before the opportunity came to trade them for the Jones (I think... I could certainly be confused with my past trades.)

I'm not sure whether use of the hoods or stoker nubs would be as effective on a Tosco with the less extreme rise but maybe someone has similarly tried those on a Tosco variation?  I only recall they fit well on the top curve of the Bosco and made an otherwise too short (for me) ramp section more useful and ultimately made my Bosco a 3... or more like 2.5 grip bar.  2.5 only because I mostly stuck to the top 2 grips (in front of and behind the brake levers) and didn't really use the low and next to stem clamp flat section very much although I know others have found it more useful.

Either way I hope you find the bar that suits you best!

Brian Cole

Lawrence NJ

[Dustin]

I enjoy the circled portion of the bar on the Boscos at least.  The transition zone between the flat, center portion at stem height and the swept back control area on the Boscos is where I go to get a little more "aggressive." Its a riding position that keeps my hands relatively close to the brakes when I'm riding near anyone or anything else.  I'm fairy hesitant to go all the way to the flats unless I'm all alone.  

D

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 12:00:56 PM UTC-4 Kevin wrote: