Hi, has anybody adapted a drop barred tourer to one with straight bars to help achieve a more upright riding position due to arthritis in the neck?
Could I ask which type/s of (handle!)bars you find most comfortable? I've been looking at riser style bars, after using drops for over 30 years. The tourer has side pull caliper brakes and dt shifters.
I would very much appreciate feedback from someone who's carried out this type of conversion.
Handlebar adaptation for neck problem
Re: Handlebar adaptation for neck problem
Invicta Tourist wrote:Hi, has anybody adapted a drop barred tourer to one with straight bars to help achieve a more upright riding position due to arthritis in the neck?
Could I ask which type/s of (handle!)bars you find most comfortable? I've been looking at riser style bars, after using drops for over 30 years. The tourer has side pull caliper brakes and dt shifters.
I would very much appreciate feedback from someone who's carried out this type of conversion.
It can be done, but gear and brake levers may need to be changed
I have done this successfully on my Dawes Galaxy Twin, and my Thorn Nomads, both came with straight bars
There is a "third way"
My wife used Butterfly bars, also known as trekking bars:
These are effectively straight, but versatile enough to allow a range of positions on a long day.
They can be fitted at almost any angle to suit the rider, and even fitted in reverse with the "gap" at the front to extend reach
Re: Handlebar adaptation for neck problem
+1 for butterfly bars. This is the solution that my wife ended up with (after trying flat bars) as they offer a wide range to hand positions.
geomannie
- Invicta Tourist
- Posts: 221
- Joined: 19 Jul 2009, 10:18am
Re: Handlebar adaptation for neck problem
Thank you for your replies and usefu photos showing the brake levers on the nearer side of the bars. It's a helpful idea as I'm finding it's a strain on the neck to reach the bars on the top of the drops.