Moustache Handlebar
There are many reasons why I don't ride straight handlebars or road bike drop bars. Straight MTB bars are
too straight. They put my wrists at an uncomfortable angle. Also, there is only one hand position, and it isn't a very good one for road riding. Drop bars.... *sigh*. I really wish that I could ride normal drop bars; but I can't. 10 years as an auto mechanic have left me with hands that cramp far too easily, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a couple of hernias. A weight-lifting accident in high school has left me with a bad back. Too much fast food has left me with a huge gut. None of these things play well with drop bars.
In the end, however, the real deal-breaker for drop bars for me is this: I like to look at the scenery while I ride.
Moustache bars address all of my issues. They offer several hand positions, you ride more upright, and they are made for human wrists, rather than some alien anatomy where the arms and wrists are perfectly straight. There's also the "cool" factor. (I jest)
What will you need to convert your bike to moustache bars? It depends on your bike. If you are putting moustache bars on a road bike, you will need the handlebar (make sure it's 26.0!), a set of non-aero road bike brake levers (although you
can use aero levers with road brake calipers, I prefer non-aero), a shorter, more upright stem 26.0 stem, and bar-end shifters. If you are putting the handlebar on a mountain bike or hybrid, there are two possibilities. You can use a 26.0 bar with road levers and bar-end shifters, or you can use a 25.4 bar with your mountain shifters/brake levers (Shimano RapidFire). Twist shifters would technically work, but you'd lose most of the benefits of the moustache bar.
The following are images stolen from
this site which were, in turn, previously stolen from the Bridgestone web site. The images are ©1993 Bridgestone Cycles (USA) Inc. and Bridgestone Cycle Co. LTD
Riding on the brake hoods, moustache bar style.
Braking hand position. Note the small nubs near the center of the bar - you don't want those.
Riding on the brake lever nubs. I can't recommend this position. It's too unstable.
Here is a picture of the moustache bar on my Marin Venezia. As you can see, I have an adjustable stem. I have been experimenting with various positions over the past year. Where it is in the picture is the most comfortable for me so far; just slightly below the level of my saddle (about 1" lower). Also, I have the bar double-wrapped to help alleviate my hand problems.
What
is a moustache bar? It was designed by Grant Petersen and used on Bridgestone's XO series. Click
this link to see the 1993 Bridgestone XO-1, complete with moustache bar. On a side note, the site linked to - Sheldon Brown's web site - has a plethora of information, musings, and other cool stuff. Expect to spend several hours - if not days - exploring his site. His site is located at:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/
Where to Buy Moustache Handlebars
Your first stop should be your local bike shop. While not likely to be in stock at your local shop, they can have them for you in 2-3 days. Moustache bars are available from QBP and possibly other suppliers as well. If you don't have a local shop, or you just don't like them, here are some links to online stores that sell them:
Nashbar (This is a cheap steel bar that some like and some hate)
Rivendell Bicycle Works (Rivendell is owned by Grant Petersen; the designer of the moustache bar and head honcho of Bridgestone USA until it left the US in 1994. Offers 26.0 only.)
Price Point - On One Mungo (The Mungo bar has a really nice feel to it.)
Tree Fort Bikes (Offers the original Nitto bar in both 25.4 and 26.0)
