Bar ends maybe??

[mandyspangles]

Hello everyone
I'm a newbie and recently back to cycling after quite some time. I've just purchased a Specialized ladies hybrid bike but I find the riding position slightly uncomfortable. I would like to be more upright but have been told my bike does not have an adjustable head tube so it would mean an extension and possibly new cables. I'm reluctant to do this in case I find it to have been unnecessary. I was wondering about bar ends or something similar?

I think if I did go for bar ends they would be too far apart for me. I wondered if there was another option whereby I could have something similar but the other side of the handle grips if that makes sense, more towards the middle of the handlebars rather than at the ends?

Aside from the positioning, my handgrips are all one piece with moulded ends and I really don't want to modify them if I can help it. Not even sure the solution is in some kind of extension to the height although I think it will help me as I like to change position. My handlebars are quite wide so there's plenty of room so they wouldn't need to be too close together.

I'd welcome any advice.
Many thanks.

 

[mjr]

Well, some bar ends can be fitted inside the grips and levers, but you'll have to remove the grips and levers to slide the ends into place so it's not a trivial task.

Which hybrid is it? An adjustable stem shouldn't be so expensive AFAIK

 

[vickster]

Has the stem been flipped up?

 

[bikeman66]

Hello everyone
I'm a newbie and recently back to cycling after quite some time. I've just purchased a Specialized ladies hybrid bike but I find the riding position slightly uncomfortable. I would like to be more upright but have been told my bike does not have an adjustable head tube so it would mean an extension and possibly new cables. I'm reluctant to do this in case I find it to have been unnecessary. I was wondering about bar ends or something similar?

I think if I did go for bar ends they would be too far apart for me. I wondered if there was another option whereby I could have something similar but the other side of the handle grips if that makes sense, more towards the middle of the handlebars rather than at the ends?

Aside from the positioning, my handgrips are all one piece with moulded ends and I really don't want to modify them if I can help it. Not even sure the solution is in some kind of extension to the height although I think it will help me as I like to change position. My handlebars are quite wide so there's plenty of room so they wouldn't need to be too close together.

I'd welcome any advice.
Many thanks.

How long is the stem that is currently on the bike? A shorter stem will give you a slightly more upright position, and combined with a riser handlebar should help a fair bit. This combination will also mean that you will still have your hands where they should be on the bars (i.e within easy reach of the brake levers).

The slight trade-off with a shorter stem will be that it will quicken the steering on the bike, but nothing you won't be able to get used to I guess.

 

[Cyclist33]

If the current grips lock onto the bar using a hex bolt then removing is a quick and simple task. If not, cut the grips off and replace them with lock-out grips.

Once the grips are off, most bar ends will slide onto the inboard position you're thinking about.

I found it a great place to mount bar ends when I had a flat bar bike.
Stu

 

[mjr]

If the current grips lock onto the bar using a hex bolt then removing is a quick and simple task. If not, cut the grips off and replace them with lock-out grips.

Why cut the grips off? Shove a bamboo skewer into them, squirt some GT85 inside, wiggle, repeat and they'll slide off. Then wipe a bit more on the bar and they'll slide back on.

 

[Cyclist33]

Why cut the grips off? Shove a bamboo skewer into them, squirt some GT85 inside, wiggle, repeat and they'll slide off. Then wipe a bit more on the bar and they'll slide back on.

I find all grips without lock on start to slide around in use. Nothing upsets me more than seeing people's bikes with ergo grips where the paddy bit has slipped down to a useless position and they don't fix it.

 

[raleighnut]

The best fixative/fitting lube for grips is hairspray, just give the inside of the grip and the bar a quick squirt and slide em on and position and they'll be stuck in 10-15 minutes.

 

[mandyspangles]

Wow, all these replies and all this terminology!!

My bike is a Spcialized Ariel step-thru ladies frame ( medium ).

In reply to mjray- I've been quoted £35 for an extension and changing the cables but that's not my issue. It's not about cost, it's about the necessity of doing that. Maybe there's a simpler solution?

Sorry Vickster, I don't know what ' has the stem been flipped up ' means. The bike is as it came from the shop a month ago.

bikeman66- the stem seems very short. Maybe you can google a picture of my bike to see.

cyclist33- yes, the current grips lock on to the bar with a hex key. Is there any reason why I shouldn't position the bar ends where I've suggested? Is there anything else I can try? Actually I watched a very informative video on you-tube yesterday with regard to removing grips and fitting bar ends.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFFET5eMScg


Thanks for the comments everyone, much appreciated.

 

[Cyclist33]

The best fixative/fitting lube for grips is hairspray, just give the inside of the grip and the bar a quick squirt and slide em on and position and they'll be stuck in 10-15 minutes.

Tried it, didn't work for me. Lock on grips are so cheap now it makes no sense not to use them.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

The best fixative/fitting lube for grips is hairspray, just give the inside of the grip and the bar a quick squirt and slide em on and position and they'll be stuck in 10-15 minutes.

A jug of very hot water works just as well to ease grips off and back on again. As long as they're not dripping wet when you put them on then they're solid in place again pretty quickly

But I agree with C33 the convenience and cost; £5 in Halfords for my last set & they're spot on; mames them a no brainer for me.

The only caveat I have on lockables (won't apply to you IIRC ) is I've never seen a shorter one to complement a twist grip gear.

<snip> Lock on grips are so cheap now it makes no sense not to use them.

yep.

 

[byegad]

I'd recommend bar ends. All my flat bar bikes ended up with them, with the exception of my Dahon Speed-Pro which had a nifty T end to the bars from new.. I found the 'Stubbies' were enough to grip, and give me an alternative hand position.

 

[mandyspangles]

Many thanks everyone.

 

[Milkfloat]

Regarding the stem flipping, which i had great success with when I had my back operation. The stem is the connection between the fork (the bit that holds the front wheel) and the handlebars. This stem is angled, often pointing downwards. If you remove the stem you can turn it upside down which in effect raises the handlebars.

Look at the photo below, image if the part labeled 'Ritchey' was taken off and turned the other way up.

You can also replace the stem with an adjustable one which allows you to decide what the best angle for you is.

However saying all this - if you go too high then you may need to lengthen your cables anyway.

 

[mandyspangles]

Many thanks for that suggestion. I did invest in some bar ends but they haven't made much difference so maybe I'll try this.