If your goal is an around town errand runner, I don't think you can go wrong with the Albatross. It's great in the city raising you up and back. I also had a set of Bosco's but they just seemed too high for my liking and there really isn't a second hand position that works for me (I only bought them to take pressure off an injured shoulder which it did by raising me way up). If you don't want the second hand position and don't want to buy another stem, the Bosco will get you up much higher. You may still need to buy another stem just to add length as the Albatross and Bosco bring the hands back to where they could bump knees if you're not careful.
John On Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 4:26:37 PM UTC-8, SeanMac wrote: > > Its funny how a project evolves over time. I started this thread asking > about replacing the Noodle bars on my Trek 520 with Albastache bars. Now, > one day later, after reading a whole lot of comments here (and other places > on the web), I think that I may do better going with Albatross bars rather > than the 'stache bars. Here is my thinking. . . . > > A number of folks have commented that the 'stache bars put their hands > forward in an aero position. This, to me, makes them sound like bars made > for somewhat aggressive, go-fast riding. This is not what I want with my > Trek. I already have two other bikes that fill the go-fast niche. I want > my Trek to be different. It should be the grocery-getter; the bike that I > ride to the library or on the bike path with my kids. The Trek should be a > stop and smell the roses kind of bike. After doing some research, it seems > as though the Albatross bars will be the best fit for this kind of riding. > > My thinking on this was heavily influenced by this post from our friend > Pondero: How Albatross Bars Changed My Life > <https://pawndero.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/how-albatross-bars-changed-my-life/> > > Of course, making this conversion will require me to buy new brake levers > as well. Riv has me covered there. I don't know about replacing them > stem. I currently have a Nitto Technomic. However, this set up puts the > bars several inches below the saddle, so perhaps I should replace the stem > with a Dirt Drop stem or one of the Dead Stock stems that Riv. currently > has available. > > All of this thinking makes my head spin sometimes. I wish it was warmer > outside (and the roads were not covered with snow so that I could go for a > nice relaxing bike ride. > > Sean > > On Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 2:55:52 PM UTC-5, Surlyprof wrote: >> >> I agree about the plugs. I've never gotten them to stay in long without >> a little adhesive. I have also seen that some of the Brooks tape colors >> fade due to sun exposure (badly in some cases). I haven't had this problem >> with the 9 year old honey tape. They've darkened nicely with age. >> >> John >> >> On Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 8:39:48 AM UTC-8, Tim Gavin wrote: >>> >>> Brooks leather bar tape isn't the same leather as the saddles (that >>> would be much too thick, of course). It's thinner and has a wax treatment >>> from the factory (which is noted in the accompanying paperwork, iirc) so it >>> holds up pretty well without any treatment. >>> >>> However, I also use Obenauf's on the tape after it gets a little worn. >>> I use Obenauf's on everything leather (though I also use silicone cream on >>> my boots once a year). >>> >>> FYI, the black, brown, honey, and red Brooks tape is made in Italy, and >>> all the other colors are made in China. >>> >>> The Brooks bar plugs fall out quickly, in my experience. Whiskey caps >>> are a closer replacement to the Brooks plugs, but they don't stay in as >>> positively as wine corks. >>> >>> On Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 10:32 AM, Surlyprof <jmcc...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> I use the Obenauf's that Rivendell sells. Stuff is fantastic. >>>> http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/goo13-tiny.htm >>>> >>>> John >>>> >>>> On Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 8:29:24 AM UTC-8, Pudge wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Do you Proofide the bar tape? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *From:* rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com [mailto:rbw-owne...@ >>>>> googlegroups.com] *On Behalf Of *Surlyprof >>>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 20, 2015 11:28 AM >>>>> *To:* rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com >>>>> *Subject:* [RBW] Re: Noodle to Albastache Swap - Trek 520 Touring Bike >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I'm a big fan of Brooks tape which, of course, matches the honey >>>>> saddle perfectly. They are expensive but I bought them after my third >>>>> set >>>>> of corks crapped out in less than a year. I bought one pack of Brooks 9 >>>>> years ago and have moved them across three different handlebars. I only >>>>> had to clean off a little of the adhesive with Goof-off. They feel great >>>>> and age in a similar fashion as the seat (although not quite as quickly). >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> The new-to-me Hillborne I recently purchased came with Albatross >>>>> bars. I've thought about swapping them for Albastache bars because I >>>>> miss >>>>> having the mustache-style bars I had on a Surly. Initially, I have >>>>> considered at least flipping them upside-down (as David said he tried) to >>>>> achieve the more ergonomic down drop on the front curve. I fear I would >>>>> lose the upright quality at the bar ends that is nice to have when >>>>> commuting through the city. If I did switch to Albastache, I would >>>>> probably go back to a shorter stem. 'Stache bars really increase the >>>>> reach. Has anyone flipped Albatross bars over or is that just a >>>>> ridiculous >>>>> idea? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> As for the quicker steering on the 'stache bars, I believe that has >>>>> more to do with the hand position being in front of the pivot point of >>>>> the >>>>> headset. More of your weight is further out so the steering action is >>>>> more >>>>> of releasing of your weight from one side to the other. It uses your >>>>> weight more in the steering. With the upright bars such as the Albatross >>>>> and Bosco, your hands are more in line with that pivot point and less of >>>>> your weight is on the bars. Steering becomes more of a push/pull >>>>> relationship. At least that's what I've been able to surmise from a >>>>> basic >>>>> ergonomic comparison between the drops, bosco, albatross and older >>>>> mustache >>>>> bars I've had. This is also why I think that flipping the Albatross bars >>>>> will not achieve a similar feel of my old mustache bars. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi, I'm John and I'm a bar-swap addict. >>>>> >>>>> On Monday, January 19, 2015 at 8:08:47 AM UTC-8, SeanMac wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Hi folks, >>>>> >>>>> I am contemplating a winter project that would convert an early 1990 >>>>> Trek 520 touring bike into an around town "grocery getter" and/or bike >>>>> trail, easy cruising bike. My plan is to swap out the Noodle bars on my >>>>> Trek for Albastache bars. >>>>> >>>>> From what I have read, this looks to be a pretty easy conversion. The >>>>> bar end shifters that I have on the Noodles should work on the Albastache >>>>> bars. I should also be able to swap over the brake levers from the >>>>> Noodle >>>>> to the Alnbastache (I've got the original levers - non-aero, >>>>> non-brifters). Is there something that I am missing? Will be cable >>>>> lengths be similar or will I likely need new cables? >>>>> >>>>> For as long as I can remember, every bike that I have ever ridden has >>>>> used drop bars, so I contemplate this shift with both excitement and a >>>>> bit >>>>> of apprehension. After all, why mess with something that works? On the >>>>> other hand, I think that this conversion will bring new life to a bike >>>>> that >>>>> does not get used very often. >>>>> >>>>> One other thought, what color Newbaum tape do you suggest to best >>>>> match an Brooks B-17 honey saddle that has some years on it? >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for your thoughts. >>>>> >>>>> Sean >>>>> EA, NY >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> 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-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to rbw-own...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>> >>>>> **************************************************** >>>>> >>>>> This email (and any attachments thereto) is intended only for use by >>>>> the addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or >>>>> confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this >>>>> email, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or >>>>> copying of this email (and any attachments thereto) is strictly >>>>> prohibited. >>>>> If you receive this email in error please immediately notify me at (212) >>>>> 735-3000 and permanently delete the original email (and any copy of >>>>> any email) and any printout thereof. >>>>> >>>>> Further information about the firm, a list of the Partners and their >>>>> professional qualifications will be provided upon request. >>>>> **************************************************** >>>>> ============================================================================== >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> 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-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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