Bicycle handle bar question.

[joehahn]

Back in the day I was quite the mountain biker. Those days have passed. I, however, am not quite ready to ride on this Mary Poppinsish bike I bought.

I bought an inexpensive Marin bike that appears to be a hybrid between road and dirt. I was getting the kids bikes and didn't really test it out so didn't realize how upright I am on it. Noticed the handlebars are sort of long and flared up. Can I simply swap out the handlebars and how hard is that? I saw several straight handlebars on ebay for little money. Is this a no brainer? All the shifters etc just bolt on right? This will be used for riding w/kids and wife and maybe a jaunt off the road occasionally but nothing serious.

TIA

Joe

[gr8fl4porsche]

If you have a hybrid - basically a street bike with small knobby tires then the upright bars are probably a better choice. A more upright position may be more comfortable for you on the bike paths. Hybrids make for terrible mountain bikes out on the trails.

[nikita76]

Hey Joe, The bar swap that you want to do is easy! If you can use an air gun/nozzle to take off your grips, you'll cut the job down 6-8mins. Everything else should be removable with an allen key. If you recently purchased your bike(within the last 2-3years) you will have a front loading stem so you can try different bars before deciding. Also check to so if your stem is adjustable. Lastly you can probably pick up an aluminum bar laying around your local shop pretty cheap.($5-$15) I try to support the local shops as much as possible. Bicycle retail is no easy gig!

Good luck!

Nikita

[joehahn]

Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate the fast responses. I can't figure out what it is so I just had wife snap/send pics. The handlebar pic kinda answers my question of how easy it would be to pull it out and stick a new one in but it sounds like the grips will be a PITA huh? I will def. call local shops for cheap bars. Any other thoughts? Thanka again.

joe

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Just undo the two allen head screws on the bracket, bars will come right off.

Lift up one edge of the grips and spray WD-40 in there.. Twist the grips till they come off. Bit take a little effort

[nikita76]

Nice Bike! I would go with a flater h-bar and lower the pitch on your stem...it is adjustable. To remove the grips without an air gun, try a can of compressed air that you use on your computer keyboard or use a small, skinny screwdriver and some windex. Lift the lip of th grip w/screwdriver then squirt some windex in the opening. Wiggle around and repeat. Everytime moving the screwdriver further in. B4 you kow it your done! To install use hairspray. Spray a little on the h-bar and some inside the grip. It should slide right on. Don't worry about it slipping the hairspray will dry!

Nikita

[joehahn]

Check it out, this little bike store: http://www.bicycleboulevard.com/ has "an old set lying around for $15" and it is literally a 90 second walk for me here at work. Another inquiry/problem solved via the PP OT FORUM!

I love it! thanks again.

Joe

[CamB]

A bit late now, but you could just lower the stem in the headset, and change the angle down a bit, then rotate the bars back to get them in a comfortable position.

I kinda like the way riser bars feel - I find the swept back angle better than a flat bar.

[joehahn]

Fellas:
All's well and it is exactly what I wanted BUT, I can't get the grips to stay in place? I even used the hairspray and after 24 hours plus they still slip? Did I do something wrong? I used wd-40 (took literally 2 seconds). TIA,

Joe

[nikita76]

Take the grips off! Clean out all wd-40 and re-apply.

Good luck,

Nikita

[joehahn]

damn. I knew it. Left out the all important "cleaning" step. thanks,

Joe

[mattdavis11]

Wrap double sided tape in a spiral form around the bar (start inside work towards the end) after you clean the bars. Use a solvent (paint thinner) to slip the grip over the bar. If you ever need to remove them again, you will need a hypodermic needle + solvent, or knife to remove.