got some nitro 176 handlebars and this is a my first time setting up bars like this. It looks a bit off compared to my other drop bar bikes but I am trying to keep the drops horizontal and the levers in line with the top of the bar itself. Does this look along the right lines?
by pingas_42069
18 Comments
Depends on how straight upwards you want to sit on your bicycle. Deeper and you sit more leaned to the front so you would sit more “aggressive” on the bike.
Or let it like this for a more relaxed position. I also have them positioned like this on one of my bikes.
Personally I would run the levers much further forward, to the point that the hoods are horizontal. Reaching the levers in their current position would involve bending my wrists way too far back to be comfortable, would even be painful.
The positioning on this is way off. Usually you’re aiming for the top of the bar to be level and the tips of the brake levers to be even with the bottom of the bar. Though in a vintage style like these a gentle slope down is common, currently you’re rotated too far forward. I usually use a long ruler flush against the bottom of the bar to align the tip of my brake levers
IMO this is too high. Generally you want to create a flat spot from the ramp of the bars to the lever, giving you a more comfortable place to rest your hands when riding on the hoods. Obviously YMMV, there’s no hard and fast rule.
When I see levers cranked into a position like this, I often think the rider could be happier with an upright, swept-back handlebar.
Are you going to use the drop? If so, can you reach the levers from the drops like this? I’d be skeptical. It also looks like you’re going to put a bunch of stress on your wrists.
Remember that your tape will fill in some of the space between the hoods and bar. Slide the levers forward until the levers themselves are vertical–there will initially be a valley in the top, but it will be flat overall.
The levers should be comfortable to actuate when both on the hoods or in the drops. As they currently they are, your wrists are going to be doing awkward contortions reaching for the brakes. I’d start with levers at about a right angle to the drop and/or the lever ends in line with the bottom of the drops.
Rotate the bars any way you want, but the levers should remain vertical.
These are actually an old style drop bar, and they are meant to be rotated so drops are parallel to the ground, and the levers are vertical. Look at how road race bikes were setup from the 80s.
Modern drop bars are meant to have the tops of the bar flat. It makes the transition to the hoods better. They are more comfortable than old style drops.
Those classic bend bars aren’t intended for dirt drops. Levers even worse. Look how bad the wrist angle on these guys are. They’re also basically hanging off the side of the hoods rather than on the bars.
You’ll be better off getting something wide, compact and flared as intended for the grappler and Cane Creek/TRP levers.
https://preview.redd.it/st8lo35hbg9h1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=28430592854ec0225dc53c85cd4ad2487bc2d20d
Your current positioning needs adjustment. The bars don’t need to be leveled with the ground so rotate those upna it. And the brakes need to go down a lot.
Rivendell has this image to explain the position for their Nitto Noodlebars.
Good luck!
https://preview.redd.it/u528cty1dg9h1.jpeg?width=350&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09bf5c7fd7a4cf5de4a531c781aed0dfa0d657d7
It’s your bike and it’s your comfort that will be screwed if you set it up how other people say it “should” be done or how it looks best. Set it up so it’s right for you
Tile the bars way up so the tops of them are horizontal, then move the hoods down so the black parts are also horizontal.
https://preview.redd.it/21j6p07fgg9h1.png?width=3918&format=png&auto=webp&s=aad4e356cdcde73b733c0dba754fde39779775a6
I would re-align the bars first before the levers.
My general setup: pointing the bar-ends toward a point slightly above the rear-axle. Then the top of the bars will be close to level. The levers should angle up slightly but not much … maybe 5-7 deg.
Bring the bars up and the levers down
Looks perfect
Are you committed to the retro look or is it just what you have? For a more comfortable position I’d probably do a compact bar with say something like TRP RRL or Tektro RL340 levers to create a flatter transition from the tops to the drops while still creating a good drop position. Line up the bottom of the lever with the flat of the drop using a straight rule, and go from there.
Brake levers should be moved far downwards. Rule of thumb the lever part should be vertical and the end of the drop bars should be horizontal.
Old bars and brake levers like this were not meant to be ridden on the hoods. Instead of riding on the hoods you grapped the curve of the bar above the hoods.
“I am trying to keep the drops horizontal” <- there’s the problem.
i think the bars themselves need to be rotated upwards. one way to align them is to have the bottom flat portion pointing straight at the rear-dropouts, or, depending on the frame/bars/preference, at the rear brake hole. in general i like the forward curve of the bars to be pretty much horizontal, parallel with the ground. from there, the brake levers get attached lightly, i sit on the bike, and wiggle them into a position i like. tighten them down and take it for a few rides *before putting on bar tape*. make adjustments as needed, and *then* add bar tape.