To: Chris K (I have no idea how to quote your question and reply) I tend to move around a lot on bars and it's no different with the Mothbars, I definitely see them as 3 position bars. I spend quite a lot of time up in the bends in front of the shifters, the width is about identical to my favorite drop bar hood position.
On Monday, December 4, 2023 at 1:35:33 PM UTC-5 Chris K wrote: > J, question about your mothbars - do you find yourself ever using other > hand positions? > > Intrigued by this bar but it looks like holding on anywhere but the ends > would be awkward with such a wide bar. > > On Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 4:20:31 PM UTC-6 J wrote: > >> I've always had problems with swept back bars, tried many over the years >> from Riv, Velo O, Soma and the Albatross bar lasted the longest (6 months?) >> on any bike but they were never really comfortable either. Everything >> always felt too narrow for my shoulder width and gave me neck pain. I had >> an opportunity to try the Tumbleweed Persuader bars on my hardtail, and >> even though the back sweep threw the fit off it still got my gears turning >> about wider swoopy bars. I widened some Albatross bars in a vice and really >> felt like I was getting somewhere but started having saddle comfort issues >> from riding upright again, an issue I've always had. Last year I got to try >> Ron's Ortho bars on his Atlantis and they felt ridiculous in the moment, >> but a day later I was still thinking about them. They'd been sold out for >> so long I gave up and sourced some Magic Components Mothbars, and they've >> been great! They turned an old aluminum mtb I wasn't riding into a bike I'd >> happily take for a casual ride under 30 miles. >> >> [image: 2xzuKpol[1].jpg] >> [image: JMRTj5Ql[1].jpg] >> [image: 6ySLdfsl[1].jpg] >> [image: TPvZVebl[1].jpg] >> >> On Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 3:01:00 PM UTC-4 exliontamer wrote: >> >>> The Albatross is my favorite upright bar. I'm a fairly tall guy with >>> fairly big hands and it really only has 1 1/2 hand positions for me but I >>> love the feel of it. It's stiff enough for trails, upright enough to >>> commute on, etc. They live on my older Toyo Atlantis. I do think the newer >>> revisions like the Billie work a lot better for newer Rivs with longer top >>> tubes. The Billie in particular is incredible. It would just have too much >>> sweepback for me on the Atlantis without using a comically long stem and I >>> would lose that forward bend position without having to lean a lot. >>> As to Ortho bars I don't know how well they work for smaller statured >>> riders. I just put a pair on my Cheviot and they feel good out of the gate >>> but for someone who doesn't have broad shoulders they could be overkill. >>> On Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 11:22:34 AM UTC-5 Glen wrote: >>> >>>> I'm a Billie Bar convert thanks to a kind list member and prefer them >>>> for the extra hand position in front of the brake levers. Yes they could >>>> look nicer with some extra rise, I'd prefer to look at a swooped up bar >>>> than a tall stem but that doesn't impact my ride only my gaze when looking >>>> at my bike instead of riding it. >>>> >>>> Regarding the usability of the front hand position. I find myself there >>>> when I need one of two things, getting out of the wind while fighting a >>>> head wind or giving myself a good long stretch while still seated. With a >>>> 13cm stem and Billies I can get a really good stretch without getting off >>>> the bike. >>>> >>>> FWIW my Billies are on a 64cm Atlantis >>>> >>>> On Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 6:00:25 PM UTC+2 kirkebc...@gmail.com >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I've been riding Billie bars on my 90s Novara mtb for about two years >>>>> and absolutely love them for all the reasons Eric mentioned. >>>>> I have two critiques: I wish they had a little bit more rise and they >>>>> just aren't quite as aesthetically appealing as Albatross bars, which >>>>> just >>>>> seem to have a smoother overall curvature and shape. I'd love it if >>>>> someone >>>>> made a handlebar that was an Albatross with essentially the same width >>>>> and >>>>> extended sweep back of the Billie bars. >>>>> On Friday, August 25, 2023 at 2:34:41 PM UTC-5 eric...@gmail.com >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi David — I've run Albatross, Billie and Ortho bars on different >>>>>> bikes and have enjoyed them all. I think that the Billies are the sweet >>>>>> spot, more sweep back and wider than the Albatross and not out there in >>>>>> mutant territory like the Orthos. >>>>>> >>>>>> All three bars have a similar shape but each has more sweep back than >>>>>> the next and they get wider along the scale as well. I do like having >>>>>> more >>>>>> sweep back to accommodate levers, thumb-mounted shifters *and *to >>>>>> have a nice long grip position in the hooks which I find good for >>>>>> spirited >>>>>> riding and climbing out of the saddle. >>>>>> >>>>>> I don't think I'll run *Albatross* bars again, despite their beauty >>>>>> and the classic shape. Just not enough room for levers, thumb shifters >>>>>> and >>>>>> the hooks grip position for me. I'd consider it with bar end shifters >>>>>> but >>>>>> don't see myself running swept back bars and bar-ends together anytime >>>>>> soon. The image below, from Rivendell Catalog No. 20, is how I fell in >>>>>> love >>>>>> with the Albatross bar. >>>>>> >>>>>> [image: Screenshot 2023-08-25 at 3.12.33 PM.png] >>>>>> >>>>>> I don't have any pictures handy but I ran mine just like this on my >>>>>> Surly LHT. >>>>>> >>>>>> I had the *Billie* bars on my Appaloosa for a while before I swapped >>>>>> to the Ortho bars. Great hooks position, nice shape, plenty of sweep >>>>>> back. >>>>>> >>>>>> [image: Screenshot 2023-08-25 at 3.30.59 PM.png] >>>>>> >>>>>> The *Ortho* bars are very flexy and the long sweep back requires a >>>>>> 12cm or 13cm stem to get them far enough away from you. This will depend >>>>>> on >>>>>> how big your frames are. They're 69cm wide, mine measure 29" outside to >>>>>> outside. I sometimes struggle to fit the bars through my shed door but >>>>>> it's >>>>>> only a 2-8 (32") door. I think on a smaller frame they might teeter on >>>>>> true >>>>>> absurdity. I've found mine to be overall pretty comfortable though not >>>>>> life-changing. I won't rant or rave about them. I think I'd be just as >>>>>> happy with the Billie bars. The Ortho is based on a set of Bosco bars >>>>>> that >>>>>> Ron bent and flattened out, you can sort of see it in their overall >>>>>> shape. >>>>>> Here's a picture of the bike with the Ortho bars. >>>>>> >>>>>> [image: Appaloosa-updates-3-scaled.jpg] >>>>>> >>>>>> Here's a quick overlay with my Billie bars strapped to my Ortho bars >>>>>> for comparison. >>>>>> >>>>>> [image: IMG_7187.JPG] >>>>>> >>>>>> The last round of Orthos were out of stock for over a year and then >>>>>> quickly sold out. I haven't heard any rumors about how soon Crust will >>>>>> have >>>>>> another shipment in. If they're unavailable I think the Billies would be >>>>>> worthwhile. >>>>>> >>>>>> Best of luck and let us know what you do! >>>>>> >>>>>> Eric >>>>>> >>>>>> On Friday, August 25, 2023 at 1:51:07 PM UTC-4 David Pulsipher wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi there, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I've been using the Nitto Albatross now for over 13 years - and love >>>>>>> it immensely. But recently I've been intrigued by the idea of going >>>>>>> wider, >>>>>>> much wider. Was wondering if any one had made a similar transition and >>>>>>> would mind sharing their thoughts, reflections. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thanks hive mind! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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