upright handlebars on a road bike

percy212

I have a nice road bike and a neck problem. I want to put upright swept back type handlebars on the bike. I cycle for leisure and health only.


Has anyone done this? Any advice?

Lumen

If you can't make the bike fit using regular handlebars then you have the wrong sort of bike.

If by "road bike" you mean something with drop handlebars, then you're better off getting something more upright instead, e.g. a regular hybrid (not "flat bar road bike").

That way you'll be able to steer, control the gears and brakes properly.

topcat77

Fames are designed in relation to the centre of the load (rider). So a road bike is designed with the load towards the front wheel. If you change the load position it could lead to a twitchy and uncomfortable ride.

Qualitymark

Is there such a thing as a sit-up bike that's as light as a hybrid?

Lumen

Qualitymark wrote: »

Is there such a thing as a sit-up bike that's as light as a hybrid?

Probably not, but depends on what you mean by "as light as a hybrid".

This is a Jamis Citizen, a particularly upright hybrid with a claimed weight of about 15kg. That's a lot heavier than a typical light hybrid (~10kg) but much lighter than a classic step-through Dutch bike (20-25kg).

Qualitymark

Lumen wrote: »

Probably not, but depends on what you mean by "as light as a hybrid".

Well, hybrids I've been looking at are around 9kg. Why are sit-ups heavier?

check_six

Qualitymark wrote: »

Well, hybrids I've been looking at are around 9kg. Why are sit-ups heavier?

All the weight is in the depleted uranium kick stand.

Lumen

Qualitymark wrote: »

Well, hybrids I've been looking at are around 9kg. Why are sit-ups heavier?

I don't think there's any particular reason why that needs to be the case*, but since lighter=faster and upright=slower, companies building upright bikes assume that buyers of those product value things other than speed (like price, or comfort, and cheap frame + suspension=heavy).

They could build a 6kg upright bike if there was a market for them, but there probably isn't.

* Well, apart from the fact that the more upright you are, the more weight is on your arse, and so the more you're likely to pick a heavy, well-cushioned saddle.

topcat77

All the upright bike I've cycled all seam to have the same characteristics.

1. Heavy gearing

2. Heavy bike

They can be a joy to cycle if you happen to live in a flat area (Holland), once they get going they chew up the ground and in the correct environment it's hard to find a better bike.

Seaswimmer

percy212 wrote: »

I have a nice road bike and a neck problem. I want to put upright swept back type handlebars on the bike. I cycle for leisure and health only.


Has anyone done this? Any advice?

What about changing your stem to an adjustable type which can also be shorter than your existing stem. Also use the extender to make the bars higher. Both will have the effect of moving the bars up and also closer to you giving you a more upright position


http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ritchey-adjustable-road-stem/

http://www.shopraleigh.co.uk/Product.aspx?pc=2&pt=154&pg=2044

Eamonnator

The suspension forks and suspension seat post on Lumen's example weigh over 2 kgs.

Lumen

I suppose there's always the World's Greatest Madone. Needs a riser stem though.

Macy0161

Could also go 80's with the upturned handle bars...

smacl

Haven't used them myself, but butterfly bars can be setup to be very upright and might be what the OP is after.

outfox

percy212 wrote: »

I have a nice road bike and a neck problem. I want to put upright swept back type handlebars on the bike. I cycle for leisure and health only.


Has anyone done this? Any advice?

Guy I know has done this. Bought a road bike last year with drop bars, around €1000 mark. Got the bike shop to fit flat bars, with new shifters and brake levers. He's 6' 6", and reckons this is the only way to get a reasonably light fast bike that he can comfortably ride.

The thing is awful to look at. I can't bear to have it near me. But it works.

not yet

Giant rapid is more or less a road bike with flat bars, get yourself into a shop and try one before you change your bike..

outfox

Lumen wrote: »

I suppose there's always the World's Greatest Madone. Needs a riser stem though.

What's that white thing hanging off the handlebar?

check_six

outfox wrote: »

What's that white thing hanging off the handlebar?

Dignity. Don't you recognise dignity when it's trying to peel itself off a horror-show of a bike and run away?

check_six

outfox wrote: »

What's that white thing hanging off the handlebar?

My second guess is that it is the price tag that the gobdaw who bought this monstrosity left on the bike to prove that they do (or at least *did*) have more money than sense.

hesker

There's at least one ebay seller selling old lightweight steel bikes with straight bars. Weight would be about 10kg I'd say.

Can't remember the name but it could be this gang.

http://www.eisenherz-bikes.de/bikes

Very pricey on that site but you could always pick up an older steel bike at a reasonable prices and convert to flat bars.

piston

Plenty of people have used North Road bars on racing frames over the years.

tjc28

I use an orbit reynolds 531c with flat bars as my commuter. Originally I had it with drops but after a neck injury I converted it. Neck has recovered now but I'm happy with it as a flat bar

JBokeh

Halfords have adjustable stems, they're pretty heavy though, but it would be my first port of call for making the bars higher.

If it were myself I would go look at the "fitness bikes" that Giant Specialized and Trek do, they're road bikes with flat bars, but the head tube is taller to give you a more upright position. See does one of these suit you, and if it does modify your own bike, or trade it in