Current Projects chat and miscellany

shorter stem will help, I mean it like having a bullhorn bar with a long stem - made the hood too far to reach.

I have never ridden drops so I started out with zero idea about reach

never ridden drops he says!

good God, sir!
by what devilry did you set about steering your vessel on the streets of London town?

my courier bike was a Roberts hybrid - my fixed either had bullhorns or risers - today was the first time I have ever ridden 'a racing bike' - I still can't quite figure out how to actually use the brakes - I assume you are ment to move your hands when you want to brake

your hoods should be like your bullhorns, you can operate the brakes when riding the hoods or in the drops.

by what devilry did you set about steering your vessel on the streets of London town?

repped you if I could.

see the brake lever on this bullhorn bar - should be quite similar to reach with the brake levers on the drop.

so you ride with you hands on the hoods and fingers on the brakes not with your hands on the bars fingers on your brakes?

both, the brake position allowed you to use it on the drop as well as the hood.

risers ftw

you should be able to do both
hands on the dops with fingers on the brakes and hands on the hoods fingers on the brakes.

so you ride with you hands on the hoods and fingers on the brakes not with your hands on the bars fingers on your brakes?

by golly I think hes got it!

If your frame fits you well, it should be really comfortable to ride on the hoods. As others have said, think of them as your bullhorns.

They are way too low in the picture, most people have em between 2-3 oclock.

If they are difficult to reach & uncomfortable, try highering the stem. If that fails. Shorter stem, but bearin mind that would make your steering more heavy.

OK I'll move them up to 2 o'clock - the way these bars curve - the levers will stick out - so do you typically ride on the hoods or on the tops of the bars - or both?

I must admit that in traffic I longed for the simplicity of my fixed

OK I'll move them up to 2 o'clock - the way these bars curve - the levers will stick out - so do you typically ride on the hoods or on the tops of the bars - or both?

I must admit that in traffic I longed for the simplicity of my fixed

that's the thing about drop bars you get the choice.
when commuting i find i use the drops for hammering long stretches of road with no traffic lights, hoods for traffic/slower riding and tops for slowing down at juctions (i have a cross top lever).

riding out of town on the road i use the drops a lot mainly as it's so much quicker getting down out the wind and more efficient. hoods for drafting or a change of position tops for looking at the view.

Just went for a test drive with lpg

The Italian BB unthreaded

& the hoods are too far forward

and too low

I need to swop the saddle out for a concor or regal

Cool as, man. Good to see not everyone is riding a (crazy toy-town neon pink trick track) bike (in a hip hop stylee) nowadays.

that's the thing about drop bars you get the choice.
when commuting i find i use the drops for hammering long stretches of road with no traffic lights, hoods for traffic/slower riding and tops for slowing down at juctions (i have a cross top lever).

riding out of town on the road i use the drops a lot mainly as it's so much quicker getting down out the wind and more efficient. hoods for drafting or a change of position tops for looking at the view.

Mr Smith I believe it was you that recommended short drop Italian bars - I think I might see if I can find a set - I am not used to riding with me head so far down

that's the thing about drop bars you get the choice.
when commuting i find i use the drops for hammering long stretches of road with no traffic lights, hoods for traffic/slower riding and tops for slowing down at juctions (i have a cross top lever).

riding out of town on the road i use the drops a lot mainly as it's so much quicker getting down out the wind and more efficient. hoods for drafting or a change of position tops for looking at the view.

I pretty much ride on the hoods most of the time (particularly in traffic). I'll use the drops for when I'm going fast (or downhill or just trying to avoid the wind) and the top of the bars (no cyclo cross levers) for more leisurely cruising.

Of my two main bikes one is a flat bar (with bar ends - I know they're uncool but it works well for me giving me two/three extra hand positions which works well for reducing fatigue) and the other is on drops. I prefer the drops for proper riding but when I'm going short journeys or more leisurely long rides I go with the flat bars.

I'd like to try out a mellow drop bar with interrupter levers on my flat bar bike one day.

they look quite deep you should be able to find some shallower ones. but you will find getting lower easier the more you ride it until it feels perfectly natural.

it was built to eat up the miles - so I need to get out on the open road - against a head wind - that'll get me into position - next though I am going to take it apart and rebuild it - I need to stop the BB unscrewing - sort out the bars - add nosed ferrules to the rear brake and derailleur cabling - re glue the tubs - properly wrap the bars - and polish the bloomin thing - building this is so different from building a fixed - I am so looking forward to my first 100 mile ride on this bike

bmw, common as muck.

How much are those Brooklyn frames over here anyway?

@buddha, nice bike man.

@buddha, nice bike man.

thanks murtle - it is getting there

@the-smiling-buddha

Simply beautiful!

(PS: from the pic the bars seem to have a good 'drop' with relation to frame size. I would ride them for a while before deciding on changing them. Drop bars are tricky to size just right.)

First I'll move the brakes lets see how we get on
thanks for the nice comments
I am glad at least that you lot know what you are doing ;)

Nice Charlie, have to go for a burn when I'm back in Paris and IF I bring a bike back