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Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 3:28pm
by Bigdummysteve
I fancy a Jones H bar for my ECR but the cost is silly, does anyone have any suggestions. On long tours I've suffered badly from numb hands especially my left where I broke my arm. I'm already using ergon grips and still suffering so any suggestions?

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 3:35pm
by mjr
The best-known clone is the VO Crazy Bar but it's still £45 from http://www.freshtripe.co.uk/Freshtripe/ ... Stems.html

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebars-o ... pt862_pg1/ has a pretty wide selection at the moment with some affordable butterfly-type ones if you'd consider that.

I use various porter and north road type bars, but I move my hands around them as I like, not just leaving my hands on the grips all day.

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 3:57pm
by Bigdummysteve
The VO bars look interesting but the mounting area is small for a rohloff shifter, sjs Humpert Boomerang Handlebar looks good though and the price is nice, cheers for the suggestion

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 4:13pm
by Freddie
Does your riding position take weight off your hands as far as possible? That would be the first thing I would look at. If it doesn't, then any other change will likely be in vain.

Have you considered dropped bars up high, say saddle height or higher? I tend to think having your hands on a bar as they naturally fall by your sides (hoods and drops) is far better for distance cycling than bars where the primary position is unnatural (straight bars & risers), as far as comfort is concerned.

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 4:26pm
by Bigdummysteve
Yes I've raised my bars as high as they will go on the dummy, I'm using a riser bar with foam covers over wrapped with gel bar tape. For the life of me I don't know why surly cut the steerer so low.
I'm building the ECR up from a frame so will leave it long, I've never used drops off road although salsa woodchippers look good I prefer hydraulic brakes so I'm limited in choice, they also need space enough for a rohloff shifter. I've ridden an ogre with the Jones bar and it feels very natural but I can't justify the price at the moment, the carbon version is the best part of £300!

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 4:36pm
by Freddie
I didn't realise we were talking about off road. You use your off road bike to tour on the road too?

I bet there is still quite some drop from saddle to bars after all your adjustment. This will be your problem. Now that frames aren't constrained by lugs any more, I'd be tempted to get one with a long head tube and steep sloping top tube, so you can get the bars up.

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 4:43pm
by Bigdummysteve
Freddie wrote:I didn't realise we were talking about off road. You use your off road bike to tour on the road too?

I bet there is still quite some drop from saddle to bars after all your adjustment. This will be your problem. Now that frames aren't constrained by lugs any more, I'd be tempted to get one with a long head tube and steep sloping top tube, so you can get the bars up.


I'm building the ECR mainly for loaded off road touring (it's geometry is more tourer/ MTB mix) but I will use it for road use with different tyres. I've managed to get my dummy bars to seat level but I'm still suffering hence the search for alternative bars.

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 4:48pm
by Freddie
We are not talking technical mountain biking though, are we; just paths and trails? If so, I'd be tempted by dropped bars, if you are going to get the miles in. Standard bars, rather than off road specific should be fine, something with a mild flare outwards would help comfort.

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 4:50pm
by mjr
Freddie wrote:Have you considered dropped bars up high, say saddle height or higher? I tend to think having your hands on a bar as they naturally fall by your sides (hoods and drops) is far better for distance cycling than bars where the primary position is unnatural (straight bars & risers), as far as comfort is concerned.

It is better to have the option of hand position near how they naturally fall by your sides, but most hoods and drops are a long way from that - both basically have the hands much more forwards and the thumbs rotated outwards more than many people would naturally (whereas straights and risers put the hands forwards with thumbs rotated inwards). Not uncomfortable to many, but still not natural. North roads or butterflies offer more natural positions for most people IMO and I suspect H bars do too, but I've never ridden with them.

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 15 Mar 2016, 5:36pm
by Bigdummysteve
My planned riding is trails like the ridgeway, my days of hooning around off-road are long gone. But I do plan on putting in some miles, the problem only got really bad during my jogle. Although I was riding very long hours after several days my hands were numb after 20 miles.
Apart from shape is carbon any better at ironing out the hits? I noticed that on-one do a carbon bar in hard and chewy versions the ECR is 29+ so that should help as well. I may end up with the Jones bar, I went through so many bars and stems the cost might be worth it.....

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 16 Mar 2016, 9:06am
by reohn2
Jones bars look good and have 45degree back sweep with at least three other hand positions.
Space Bugel(if you can get them,they seems to be scarce ATM) back sweep is 34deg and have the same three alternative positions though the aren't as wide as Jones' due to a shorter grip length.
On One Mary's have the same back sweep as Bugels but no loop.

Other options are Salsa Woodchippers,dirt drops with a flared drop portion,or On One Midge a shallow flared drop.

I don't like straight/almost straight bars as I find they dig into the web of my hand at the base of the thumb and also cause numbness in the fingers.

TBH I'd really like to try a Jones bar but the cost is nothing short of ridiculous @£130 :? :shock:
I find hands with the palms facing inward to be more natural such drops afford though don't work as well on really technical off road singletrack,Bugels are great in that respect and I suspect Jones to be slightly better.
Have a read at Geoff Apps blog on handlebar position and the tiller effect:- https://clelandcycles.wordpress.com/evolution/

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 16 Mar 2016, 10:57am
by dezzie
Sure those bugle bars are on ebay! Also check out Rose Bikes online as they have loads of bar choices including Humpert bars.

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 16 Mar 2016, 11:33am
by reohn2
dezzie wrote:Sure those bugle bars are on ebay! Also check out Rose Bikes online as they have loads of bar choices including Humpert bars.

Nope not available,Rose nor Bike Discount sell them either,I'm beginning to wonder if they're a deleted item :?
It's still listed on Humpert's website

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 17 Mar 2016, 7:06pm
by Bigdummysteve
I have a cunning plan..... A pair of these http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/HBOOOG/on-one-og-handlebar
And a pair of these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobi ... -prod52198
Mounted inboard of the controls just where they bend so they curve inwards, I won't get the mounting space of the Jones bars but will still have £100 in change.....

Re: Alternative to Jones H bar ?

Posted: 13 Feb 2019, 2:01pm
by mreadman
Old thread, but these have just appeared and look like a dead ringer for the Jones H Loop:

https://bit.ly/2DDafUZ