1. I use something similar to your old bar, but it's adjustable. My bike is one size too small, so it's good for me to have something I can be a bit more laid back than a flat bar. Gives my knees more room to come up. 2. Unwanted advice from a man is called mansplaining. It is possible to mansplain to another man.
haven't tried that many, but so far, preference for flat bars. have rarely ridden longer than 45 mins the couple of swept back style i tried both hurt my wrist. but it's possible the brake levers/shifters weren't adjusted to the appropriate position for my hands. but i do generally like to sit more upright, for safety when commuting.
I enjoy the swept back handlebars that come on dutch bikes very comfortable pressure off the wrists and as long as you have a comfy seat you'll be comfortable all around can't get more comfortable than a dutch bike in my opinion I'll take comfort over speed everyday of the week
changing over to a more upright 'dutch' style of cycling was an absolute game changer for me. I cycle more (pretty much every day) and further (being an ebike also helps that. Most of all I feel safer because I am more upright so I have better vision on the roads. There is a huge amount to be said for having the right kind of handlebars on your bike to improve your overall ride!
I believe deeply that sitting more upright on your bike changes the entire experience of riding a bike. Its not better or worse than the riding for speed, but it's certainly different.
Totally agree! Changed out the standard bars of my ebike to a set of Jones H bars - lots of hand placement options and more upright posture = more comfort/riding. 👏👏
I am 62, I have been riding bikes all my life. What age and wisdom has taught me, is comfort is everything, if someone thinks you look silly, that’s their problem, not yours.
Pro Tip: Replacing the stem with one that is a shorter extension and taller can make a lot of commuter bikes more comfortable for people that aren't into the sweep.
The sweep is more ergonomic though, if you find the right angle, I ride flat bars but the angle is awful for comfort on long rides... I end up having to change hand positions all the time where I rest my palm heel on the grips rather than grasping them with my hand. it's great for getting leverage for trail riding though
Sure, for some, though the sweep isn't necessarily about getting higher. On my cruiser I put on swept bars upside down, to get lower. Works great, perfect height for me on that bike. On my daily rider I went for a short-and-low stem with swept bars. Comfort is all about experimenting until you find what's right for you.
Ultimately, riding comfort is something that few bikes can adequately provide off the rack for every rider. You've got to play around with this stuff a bit to know what works best.
The crucial thing that is often overlooked when switching to cruiser bars is the saddle width. The same rider needs a wider saddle when they have a more upright position. If you ride upright on a saddle that's designed for an aggressive position, you will have a sore ass very quickly. Take a look at some of the saddles on Dutch streets. Absolutely gargantuan haha. Also the case the other way round: if you ride drops with a fat saddle you will chafe big time
Also, the position of pedals: dutch style has the pedals further to the front. So, the triangle between bump, feet and hands is slightly turned. You can put down your feet more easily, too. The handle bar might want a different angle with the ends lower than your index fingers - might require to lift the whole bar a little. To find the position: hold your arms in fro t of you and look what position your hands take
Why do I need a low bar humped over the front wheel? I'm not racing against the wind or jumping rocks. Tired of 90 percent of bikes being some kind of tribute to sportsmen style bikes.
I've owned multiple bikes over the last 25 years, and still have four in total. But the one constant (and still my basic daily driver) is a Giant hybrid that I bought in 2001, at age 51. That bike came with flat bars. Several years later (age 55?) I changed the flat bars out for a horizontal bar with a slight rise on each side. Several years after that (age 60?) I changed those for ones with a slight swept back design, perhaps like the ones you tested. And several years after that (age 65) I went for handlebars that were more upright and more swept back, but not as radical as the Dutch style ones that you tested. They were comfortable enough for a six week ride down the west coast that year, from Vancouver to Mexico. Ten years later (age 75) those ones still work for me, and are still supremely comfortable. The takeaway is - your body will tell you what handlebars to use, and its advice will change over the years. Make sure you listen to it, and act on it. Your bike riding will continue in comfort for decade after decade. 🙂
Swept back handlebars are so underrated. Most bikes seem to have drop or flat bars, which may not be as comfy. Swept back designs make cycling super chill and I find the control more relaxed when riding.
For the second pair of bars, try angling them down just a touch. I find doing that makes them much more comfortable. You will end up leaning forward a little more and taking some of the weight off your saddle.
@@markhamilton9483 I've also found frame size is super critical. On a 21" frame, fit wasn't what it should have been. Went to a 22" frame and that was great. The reach was good, the weight distribution was a much nicer balance. This is all with repurposed steel '90s mountain bike frames where back in the day I would be fitted with a 19" frame.
This video is a big coincidence for me. I changed my old hybrid's handlebar yesterday to the classic swept-back one on a whim, and so far I've been loving it.
Cycling in a traditional North American posture was very hard on my neck from having to look up to see where I was going. I absolutely love my Jones H-Bar combined with my Brooks B67 saddle which is now breaking in. When it was new I sat on it but now i am sitting in it. Keeps an older guy like me rolling.
The last modification I made to my bike was installing a higher stem (Velo Orange Cigne) and curved handlebars. My bike shop is always surprised when I tell them its a Giant Escape 2. Best decision I made. (Even though I had to learn how to do cabling on a bike because my cables were too short. Same with the cable housing at the stem level 😂)
"Breaking news: Old man keeps using the bars he's used to!" 😁 I ride similar swept back bars on my daily bike, which replaced the original flat bar. I also swapped the stem to get one that's lower and as short as physically possible. The original tall-and-far-reach stem didn't work for me. On my folding bike flat bars are a necessity, and preferable on the MTB.
I’m old now and due to a pinched nerve in my neck I have just got to have handlebar so let me be upright. Sure, I catch more wind and it’s slower. But at least my hands aren’t going numb anymore. You do what you can.
45* sweep is great. Jones H-bars are my go to. Full sweep cruiser bars are comfy but are not confidence inspiring for cornering and tend to be too flexy for standing power output. Flat bars are not super comfortable but have the best handling by far. Something like a 15-30* sweep is a good compromise to maintain comfort and control. For reference most flat bars tend to have around 5-8* of sweep. This totally ignores rise and reach of the bars which works in conjunction with the stem to place your hands relative to your hips as well as the steering axis of the bike.
Is Tom sure he wasn't talking about bar end caps (vs plain grips)? Core sampling yourself is a "monster in the closet" level of primal terror for mountain bikers. Seeing handlebars like that will definitely get people speaking up and that's a good thing.
I know your comment is well intended but the actual risk is quite minimal if you think rationally about it. He's not racing enduro, just trying out some bars. No helmet, gloves or pads either and what about sun protection for that bare skin! Please let adults make their own safety decisions unless they're endangering others. Unfortunate that he even mentioned grips and stirred up the safety brigade. This attitude portrays cycling as an inherently unsafe activity when safety has much more to do with how and where you ride.
I put a Jones H Bar with the 2.5" rise on my Priority 600, added Ergon grips, and I love it! It took some fiddling to find the right angle for the grips so that my wrists were at a comfortable angle. The only downside was that this really stretched out my brake cables. I went to the bike shop to have the mechanic install longer cables, which of course meant having to pay for a brake bleed on both brakes. Despite this extra expense and hassle, I'm super happy with this setup and consider it money well spent.
The only improvement I had to make to my priority onyx was the swap to a jones bar. I love the added storage within reach. Worth the money to replumb the brake cables.
This is great - I have done a similar change on a specialized have. What was a game changer for me was inner bar ends. It helps turn the hands in a nice position and when I have enough of that I hold normally on the ergon grips I have. I love this setup and added them to my third bike now
Sold my Novara Gotham, which is very similar to the Priority Onyx, for an Electra Townie 7EQ Step-thru and love the comfort of the 5" riser bars AND, suspension saddle. Step-thru's are great -I don't need to throw my leg around the huge Topeak bag/paniers in the back. Wife test rode it and demanded I get her something comfy, so we sold her Breezer Infinity for an Electra Cruiser 7 Step-thru and the wife just absolutely LOVES the Electra "longhorn" swept back handlebars and suspension saddle. Both bikes are like riding Lazyboys around town. Went to Scheels to pick up a couple of water bottles and cages and noticed the numerous bikes on display, but...there was a section that was pretty much depleted -it was the Electra section with only one Townie left.
Your videos have helped me tremendously as a new cyclist. I am leaning more towards recreational riding and as a means of cardio exercise as I try to limit high impact cardio like running. I think I can enjoy myself more and probably extend my cardio if I am enjoying the scenery while doing it.
I'm glad someone finally did a video on swept back handlebars. I had an old Shwinn Gateway that I loved bc of its sweptback bars. I now have a Trek that is very similar to your Priority bike. I find as I get older I need to have this kind of bar, the position is everything. To remedy seat soreness I use a Brooks saddle. 👍
Those first handlebars remind me of what we used to call steerhorn handlebars. One of the kids where I grew up had a bike with those huge bars. It was very challenging to ride but once one got used to them they worked pretty well. Especially on gravel roads which were very common where I grew up.
I changed mine and now use comfort swept up and back (35 deg) with Ergonomic Rubber grips. I like that they sweep up a little as this enables me to put an odometer and bell below the level of the grips so that if I need to turn the bike upside down for any reason only the grips will rest on the ground. The other thing I have fitted is a handlebar bag. I sit fairly upright, the original flat mountain bike bars gave a way too forward/aggressive riding position.
I had a Faraday bike for several years that had the best handlebars I've ever ridden with--amazing comfort, felt great to ride on an upright bike. That bike got stolen and the company went out of business and now I've been on a search for the perfect swept-back bars. Wish some other company would make something similar!
One thing to consider Tom: swept back bars will push you more upright on the bike which will mean a narrower saddle can become less comfortable than when you sitting were more forward, so consider for maximum comfort also upgrading the saddle to something wider (like the Brooks B67).
One tip for rear end discomfort when you are sitting upright: adjust the tilt of your saddle to that it's tilted back a bit (nose of the saddle slightly higher than rear). If you think about it, your whole body has rotated up and back and so your saddle needs to rotate back to hit you right! It took me forever to figure this out 😂 Also, a wider saddle feels amazing when you are more upright! I love riding my drops when racing around, but my daily driver has Dutch style swept back bars and I'm sitting straight upright.
The third thing I need on my bars is a mirror on the left side. If I eventually die on this thing it will likely be a car taking me out. I have developed a habit of watching each car coming up on me. It is easy to detect the ones that do not have any value on my space (life) and many times I have been able to make adjustments in a timely way. Last year I had an unobservant moment and a car mirror removed mine. Proof positive that this exercise is worthwhile.
I swapped out the flats on my Priority Current for a 90mm rise mountain bike bar, made a wonderful world of difference in ride feel. Great pointers here.
There is something about older "not as good" bikes that are so fun. My 2 bikes are a late 80s Peugeot which I love, despite it being objectively terrible. And a 2013 Mongoose Maurice fixed gear, which is objectively terrible, but I love it because it's fun to ride.
I do lots of 90 to 130 mile rides on my 3 IGH heavyweights. The Rohloff14 tour bike is always 73 lbs , 120 on tour. LOL. I ride 45 miles out and back to all the small cities around Edmonton.
Excellent video! Amazing to see how different handlebars impact ride experience. Personally, I switched to a more upright position when I got my R&M Nevo ebike. It took me a while to get used to the upright position, but now I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. I agree with what you mentioned about a slight attitudinal adjustment that takes place as a result of switching from a more aggressive, sporty handlebar, to one that places you in a relaxed position.
I'd add a light to the bar. Its often dark up in the great snowy north for an 8-5 type commute, both ways. I'm riding a flat bar with ergo grips and horns, and a luxurious Soft Ride stem that takes the bite out of bumps.
Really good video. I enjoyed it. I’d often wondered about putting cruiser type handlebars on my bike. I basically use 50-60mm riser mountain bike handlebars, on all my bikes.
Great video. I always say that new bars, new bike. Sometimes for good and sometimes for bad. Good example in this video of how you can tell you might need something different is the way he's riding the smaller swept back bars, he's riding with his hands half off the "grips". If you just ride and let your body adjust to a comfortable position and then catch yourself holding the very ends of the bars, or riding with just your fingertips on the grips, or holding half grip and half brake lever clamp it kind of shows you exactly what direction you need to move the grip area to be in the right position for you.
I would recommend two changes with the middle bars- use a higher stem and turn the bar ends down. Your wrist position was very poor with the bar ends turned up. in general I would start with the bar ends turned down to approximately parallel with the top tube, then adjust from there. Ergonomic grips definitely improve the ride.
Best comment so far , you know your bike. Albatross or North Road style bars need a higher stem than his set-up. Reason being, you want your handle grips turned slightly down for leaning into the front end of the bike . Also this handlebar give a little flex over the bumps. Take a look at the Rivendell Joe Appaloosa🥴
Great video! I just did my own research for the same reasons and 100% agree with you on the Crane bell. For handlebars I decided on Granola Moose bars from velo orange. They are about the same width but sweep forward then back with a cross piece up front. I put bar tape on the tee’s and have multiple hand positions. I decided on ergon grips GA3’s. One point that was important is they keep my wrist from rotating down so they don’t get strained.
I also have the Priority Onyx wiith Enviolo. It is indeed very sluggish. I changed the handle bar also to get a much more upright riding position. This new position had me changing the saddle. Enviolo system is great but quite worthless if your are after speed in any agressive riding position. Great channel! Keep it up!
I let Priority know that you are the reason I bought one of the Eights for myself! I have been interested in a carbon fiber belt bicycle for several years, and not I have made the choice.
I changed from flats to curved last year. Same reason as you , numbness in my hands. The down side was fitting all my stuff on the curves. The ones I got have very little room to accessorize. I had to change stem as well to make it really fit.
the cruiser / dutch handlebars felt disconfortable because the stem is too low. go to the maximum height and be chill forever! the stem should be way shorter also....
Yes, I know my stem is too low, but for my commute it’s not too uncomfortable. When I go for long rides, it’s uncomfortable. Need to get this fixed. Thanks for the advice.
The crumbling infrastructure of my hands limits my leaning to about 5 minutes before they start hurting. Two miles is about my limit before I have to get off for a while. So I need a very upright position that keeps the weight off my hands. This turns my hands farther out than a flat bar position, so my wrist hurts unless the bars are swept back. I like North Road bars with about a 45 degree sweep.
Those handlebars look great. I found that I like around 25-30 degrees of rear sweep for hand comfort on my Priority Turi. I wish more online stores would list the rise and up/rear sweep in addition to the width, I had to go throush a few sets of bars before finding the right one.
My favourite hand grips are the large hard spongy ones. Keeps my hands from going numb as quickly, and in a pinch I can rest my elbows on them if I want to tuck into a wind or just rest a bit while I cycle. The foam/sponge holds my elbows securely (as long as I'm on smooth pavement though. I've hit a considerable bump and had an elbow come off and I barely regained control; almost took a head tumble sideways.
I tried butterfly handelbars and had the same problem like the flat bars. On long rides my hands get numb. Since then(3 years) i have the Surly Moloko handlebars with SQlab 710 grips(and bartape) and i am really happy with that. No numbness on my hand, even after 300 continues kilometers. Just a little bit of numbness on my pinkie, but thats totally okay for 300 kilometers. The important things for me are the backsweep, the variety of hand positions and the ergonomic grips.
I can just achieve the upright position by going hands-free. Sure, not everybody can and it's not ideal for any situation but it works well for me. That way I can switch between and aggressive position and a laid-back one without modifications.
That is a pretty nifty looking bike, and with the flat bar too. Considering I expect to get substitute athletic rides in with my Marin hybrid, or dirt rides rarely, the flat bar on it lends itself to that. I actually think any steep hills you'd hit some of the time would effect your thinking on the style of handlebars you're prefer. Even on the heavier hybrid I have the speeds are still up to over 32 MPH on a couple of them. Comparatively the swept back bars like these would seem to promote more of a lolly-gagging and overly upright ride style. I seem to remember that these are pretty expensive bikes of this brand, I guess related to the hub drive more than anything. Was looking at the specs. It's listing as five full pounds less than my Marin, with the kickstand! Probably that's related to the top tube size, the triple front ring, and shocks on the front, which are kind of unnecessary even on the dirt rides I do.
I have an old Raleigh Olympian frame that I added the chopper style handlebars from an old exercise bike to. Its terrible when its windy but it puts me in a really comfy body position and they're actually great for hill climbing (important in my area) because you can stand up on the pedals and not have to awkwardly bend over. Need to combine it with one of those big cushy saddles tho to avoid butt problems
I would super recommend you check out alt bars, they're similar to the bars you currently like, but are even more unique, such as having inner bar ends along with comfy swept back bars so you have multiple hand positions. My recommendation is the Koga denham, crazy bars, or surly maloko.
Can confirm. I switched to the Surly Moloko two years ago and it completely changed my comfort level. Multiple hand positions mean all day comfort and allows for a decent range in body position. Highly recommend!
Great review Tom!! I totally agree with your final choice, I have something very similar on my commuter, one question for you, have you considered adding fenders and a kickstand? The fenders would be so useful, especially where you live, and a kickstand (even better with the double version), that makes it so much easier when you have to load up groceries on the panniers, or just for everyday parking convenience. Well, be safe, and safe riding! 🚴🙏
When I replaced my steel road bike with carbon I was going to quickly put on tri- bars which really helped with carple tunnel. An advisor said wait, the carbon stem and bars were going to dampen things which was correct. But he also said my new bars had varying contours on them. This tends to change the contact point on my palm. With round grips the contact contour is always the same prompting irritation. Again he was right. So now when picking handgrips I do the same thing, looking of ones that have both round and flat sections so I can change up that contact surface.
Looks like I have the exact same albatross style handlebars as the ones you disliked on your bike! I have to say with my bike, just an old aluminum rockhopper, they’ve been really transformational to my comfort and my ability to look up and enjoy cycling. Those bar style handles are hard on the wrists!
Hi Tom! Have you ever considered suspension seat posts? They may give you some extra comfort while riding in a more upright position. Enjoy your new bike! Remember that Alfine needs an oil change after the first 500Km and then every 4000Km or so.
I have 9" rise bmx bars on my shopping bike because I can hang a small backpack off them for extra capacity. It's not all ergonomics sometimes compromise is required.
I had the same issue you had with the very swept back handles - it put my hands at such an extreme angle that it made it uncomfortable. I also currently have the slight swept back and found that the most suitable for my bike. In general, I'd say if you want slightly upright on a bike that originally has flat bars, I'd say go with slight swept back. Alternatively, you could also get a Dutch style/upright bike from the very beginning.
I have the L-Train and the Eight wasn't made at the time. Now I wish I had the Eight. That extra gear plus the disk brakes are nice upgrades. Also, you're kinda creating a Classic Plus with eight gears and disk brakes. Which is actually a good idea.
Had an old treader a mate gave me, when my bike had been nicked, and if had bars a bit like the second set, but a bit more apehangery, and that was the comfiest I'd ever had had. Mostly only rode it a couple of miles to get the bus to work, but loved it. Till that also got nicked 😂
For shorter city commutes I'd say the best bars are angled about 30 degrees. If your arms are parallel, flat bars make sense, but if they are extended out, the natural position is for your hands to be angled. So I'd say angled bars for rides less than 30 mins, but for longer rides you want both flat and angled. Best bet is to use 'butterfly' type bars which allow you to move position.
Having the kink at the end of the handle bar allows your wrist to be straight, where as flat bars turn you wrist outwards. Straight wrists allow you more comfort over longer distances.
I used to ride in a relatively flat area, now I live in a hilly place. My choice of bars (and drive train) changed a lot. Also, if you want to get the most comfort out of swept back bars, a long top tube frame sure helps.
Or a super long stem. I'm using something like 135mm and that's on a vintage MTB that already has a fairly long top tube. But the classic touring bar comes back really far, so my hands can be back at steerer tube position on the grips, which is plenty close.
Thanks for a great video! I would like to get a handlebar with little sweep on it to turn my wrists and elbows slightly, for comfort. However, I don't want to sacrifice the flat central part of the bar, where I mount my lights and basket. The light in particular needs to be facing fairly straight ahead!
Kona handplant bars (featured on their hybrids) are a really nice bar for this purpose. ~45⁰ backsweep but they sweep forward first so the net position is similar to a flat bar, just with a more comfortable wrist angle. Love them on my gravel bike, kind of a halfway between a flat bar and drop bar
I am amazed how much difference little changes make - I swapped my stem for a Redshift suspension stem. The sizes available then (I think they have more now) were slightly shorter or much longer than the one on the bike. Naturally, I went for the slightly shorter - a few millimeters can't make much difference, can it? That tiny change made me feel really cramped, even after moving the saddle back and adjusting the position of the handlebars.
Man, I hope Priority sponsoring you is an indicator they may be looking to expand into the Canadian market. I know the prices wouldn't be any lower than importing if they do move in, but at least they'd be reflected up front. I love my Priority Apollo, but the duty tax was a painful surprise (I knew it was coming, but hadn't looked up exactly how much it would be!).
Two important questions from this video.
1. What type of handlebars do you find most comfortable?
2. Is is possible to mansplain to another man?
1. Flat. 2. If both are Canadians - unavoidable, ha ha.
1. I use something similar to your old bar, but it's adjustable. My bike is one size too small, so it's good for me to have something I can be a bit more laid back than a flat bar. Gives my knees more room to come up.
2. Unwanted advice from a man is called mansplaining. It is possible to mansplain to another man.
haven't tried that many, but so far, preference for flat bars. have rarely ridden longer than 45 mins the couple of swept back style i tried both hurt my wrist. but it's possible the brake levers/shifters weren't adjusted to the appropriate position for my hands. but i do generally like to sit more upright, for safety when commuting.
I enjoy the swept back handlebars that come on dutch bikes very comfortable pressure off the wrists and as long as you have a comfy seat you'll be comfortable all around can't get more comfortable than a dutch bike in my opinion I'll take comfort over speed everyday of the week
Swept-back by about 25° works for me. But also learnt to tweak saddle position and rake to go with the bars. There's your mansplaining right there.
changing over to a more upright 'dutch' style of cycling was an absolute game changer for me. I cycle more (pretty much every day) and further (being an ebike also helps that. Most of all I feel safer because I am more upright so I have better vision on the roads. There is a huge amount to be said for having the right kind of handlebars on your bike to improve your overall ride!
I believe deeply that sitting more upright on your bike changes the entire experience of riding a bike. Its not better or worse than the riding for speed, but it's certainly different.
Same. I bought an e-bike last year and I searched for a bike where I was more upright. I found it and I have LOVED riding around in it.
Totally agree
I grew up with the old standard swept back handlebars of the 50’s-60s. Use what you like
Totally agree! Changed out the standard bars of my ebike to a set of Jones H bars - lots of hand placement options and more upright posture = more comfort/riding. 👏👏
I am 62, I have been riding bikes all my life. What age and wisdom has taught me, is comfort is everything, if someone thinks you look silly, that’s their problem, not yours.
Why are you so wholesome!?
You’re like a Sesame Street Character. Not a muppet, but one the humans.
Haha! I totally see it!
...But now I kinda want a video where Tom talks by keeping his chin still and moving the rest of his head, Muppet-style...
Like a biking mr rodgers!
Pro Tip: Replacing the stem with one that is a shorter extension and taller can make a lot of commuter bikes more comfortable for people that aren't into the sweep.
The sweep is more ergonomic though, if you find the right angle, I ride flat bars but the angle is awful for comfort on long rides... I end up having to change hand positions all the time where I rest my palm heel on the grips rather than grasping them with my hand. it's great for getting leverage for trail riding though
A confort seat helps a lot too.
Sure, for some, though the sweep isn't necessarily about getting higher. On my cruiser I put on swept bars upside down, to get lower. Works great, perfect height for me on that bike. On my daily rider I went for a short-and-low stem with swept bars. Comfort is all about experimenting until you find what's right for you.
@@tvuser9529 yes, agreed. There are a lot of comfort tweaks you can do on a bike.
Ultimately, riding comfort is something that few bikes can adequately provide off the rack for every rider. You've got to play around with this stuff a bit to know what works best.
The crucial thing that is often overlooked when switching to cruiser bars is the saddle width. The same rider needs a wider saddle when they have a more upright position. If you ride upright on a saddle that's designed for an aggressive position, you will have a sore ass very quickly. Take a look at some of the saddles on Dutch streets. Absolutely gargantuan haha.
Also the case the other way round: if you ride drops with a fat saddle you will chafe big time
Also, the position of pedals: dutch style has the pedals further to the front. So, the triangle between bump, feet and hands is slightly turned. You can put down your feet more easily, too.
The handle bar might want a different angle with the ends lower than your index fingers - might require to lift the whole bar a little. To find the position: hold your arms in fro t of you and look what position your hands take
Why do I need a low bar humped over the front wheel? I'm not racing against the wind or jumping rocks. Tired of 90 percent of bikes being some kind of tribute to sportsmen style bikes.
I've owned multiple bikes over the last 25 years, and still have four in total. But the one constant (and still my basic daily driver) is a Giant hybrid that I bought in 2001, at age 51.
That bike came with flat bars. Several years later (age 55?) I changed the flat bars out for a horizontal bar with a slight rise on each side. Several years after that (age 60?) I changed those for ones with a slight swept back design, perhaps like the ones you tested. And several years after that (age 65) I went for handlebars that were more upright and more swept back, but not as radical as the Dutch style ones that you tested. They were comfortable enough for a six week ride down the west coast that year, from Vancouver to Mexico.
Ten years later (age 75) those ones still work for me, and are still supremely comfortable. The takeaway is - your body will tell you what handlebars to use, and its advice will change over the years. Make sure you listen to it, and act on it. Your bike riding will continue in comfort for decade after decade. 🙂
Swept back handlebars are so underrated. Most bikes seem to have drop or flat bars, which may not be as comfy. Swept back designs make cycling super chill and I find the control more relaxed when riding.
For the second pair of bars, try angling them down just a touch. I find doing that makes them much more comfortable. You will end up leaning forward a little more and taking some of the weight off your saddle.
Bingo, I have similar bars (maybe longer hand grip area) and have them rotated down , they are super comfortable
@@markhamilton9483 I've also found frame size is super critical. On a 21" frame, fit wasn't what it should have been. Went to a 22" frame and that was great. The reach was good, the weight distribution was a much nicer balance. This is all with repurposed steel '90s mountain bike frames where back in the day I would be fitted with a 19" frame.
This video is a big coincidence for me. I changed my old hybrid's handlebar yesterday to the classic swept-back one on a whim, and so far I've been loving it.
The metal ringing of the metal bars clanking against each other and especially plopping on the ground starting around @02:10 is very satisfying. 🤘
Cycling in a traditional North American posture was very hard on my neck from having to look up to see where I was going. I absolutely love my Jones H-Bar combined with my Brooks B67 saddle which is now breaking in. When it was new I sat on it but now i am sitting in it. Keeps an older guy like me rolling.
Have an old hybrid I use as a city commuter, and never considered replacing the flat bar until your video. Now I can't wait to try it out. Thanks!
I also use a Crane bell! I love the bright, loud sound. Cheaper bells can be grating but this one has a great, pure tone.
The last modification I made to my bike was installing a higher stem (Velo Orange Cigne) and curved handlebars. My bike shop is always surprised when I tell them its a Giant Escape 2. Best decision I made. (Even though I had to learn how to do cabling on a bike because my cables were too short. Same with the cable housing at the stem level 😂)
@nipo2540 I’ve also got an Escape and would love to see your bike with the changes.
What you did is exactly what we all need
Try , try ,try
When at the end it feels like a fitted suits, it make it worth while
Thanks!
"Breaking news: Old man keeps using the bars he's used to!" 😁
I ride similar swept back bars on my daily bike, which replaced the original flat bar. I also swapped the stem to get one that's lower and as short as physically possible. The original tall-and-far-reach stem didn't work for me. On my folding bike flat bars are a necessity, and preferable on the MTB.
A seating position that allows my back to be relatively straight up while having my hands on the bars really helps.
The older you get, being more upright allows you more rotation in your body to do head checks
I’m old now and due to a pinched nerve in my neck I have just got to have handlebar so let me be upright. Sure, I catch more wind and it’s slower. But at least my hands aren’t going numb anymore. You do what you can.
45* sweep is great. Jones H-bars are my go to. Full sweep cruiser bars are comfy but are not confidence inspiring for cornering and tend to be too flexy for standing power output. Flat bars are not super comfortable but have the best handling by far. Something like a 15-30* sweep is a good compromise to maintain comfort and control. For reference most flat bars tend to have around 5-8* of sweep. This totally ignores rise and reach of the bars which works in conjunction with the stem to place your hands relative to your hips as well as the steering axis of the bike.
Some people really don't know the risks of having no grips on a handlebar, great to have some people willing to tell them.
Is Tom sure he wasn't talking about bar end caps (vs plain grips)? Core sampling yourself is a "monster in the closet" level of primal terror for mountain bikers. Seeing handlebars like that will definitely get people speaking up and that's a good thing.
I know your comment is well intended but the actual risk is quite minimal if you think rationally about it. He's not racing enduro, just trying out some bars. No helmet, gloves or pads either and what about sun protection for that bare skin! Please let adults make their own safety decisions unless they're endangering others. Unfortunate that he even mentioned grips and stirred up the safety brigade. This attitude portrays cycling as an inherently unsafe activity when safety has much more to do with how and where you ride.
I got hit by a car and my bars entered my groin 😂
@@Skatted I'm genuinely sorry to hear that but it was obviously your fault for not having grips and end caps.
@@decadenthedonist yep! You live and you learn
Finally, the correct type of handlebar video...all about swoopbacks!
Two quotes come to mind:
"Know thyself." - Socrates
"Change your bars; change your life." - Igor from Velo Orange
I put a Jones H Bar with the 2.5" rise on my Priority 600, added Ergon grips, and I love it! It took some fiddling to find the right angle for the grips so that my wrists were at a comfortable angle. The only downside was that this really stretched out my brake cables. I went to the bike shop to have the mechanic install longer cables, which of course meant having to pay for a brake bleed on both brakes. Despite this extra expense and hassle, I'm super happy with this setup and consider it money well spent.
Jones H Bars on my medium 600!! Did not need new cables on my install. Considering trimming the bars to 660mm. I use silicone grips.
Why the bike shop? You can't do a simple job like that yourself?
The only improvement I had to make to my priority onyx was the swap to a jones bar. I love the added storage within reach. Worth the money to replumb the brake cables.
This is great - I have done a similar change on a specialized have. What was a game changer for me was inner bar ends. It helps turn the hands in a nice position and when I have enough of that I hold normally on the ergon grips I have. I love this setup and added them to my third bike now
What a friend of mine calls "bar mids". He's using them too.
@@tvuser9529 yes the name is much better. Or devils horns
Sold my Novara Gotham, which is very similar to the Priority Onyx, for an Electra Townie 7EQ Step-thru and love the comfort of the 5" riser bars AND, suspension saddle. Step-thru's are great -I don't need to throw my leg around the huge Topeak bag/paniers in the back. Wife test rode it and demanded I get her something comfy, so we sold her Breezer Infinity for an Electra Cruiser 7 Step-thru and the wife just absolutely LOVES the Electra "longhorn" swept back handlebars and suspension saddle. Both bikes are like riding Lazyboys around town. Went to Scheels to pick up a couple of water bottles and cages and noticed the numerous bikes on display, but...there was a section that was pretty much depleted -it was the Electra section with only one Townie left.
I like the extra loud bell from Japan, the big symmetrical one with the ring actuation all around.
Your videos have helped me tremendously as a new cyclist. I am leaning more towards recreational riding and as a means of cardio exercise as I try to limit high impact cardio like running. I think I can enjoy myself more and probably extend my cardio if I am enjoying the scenery while doing it.
I'm glad someone finally did a video on swept back handlebars. I had an old Shwinn Gateway that I loved bc of its sweptback bars. I now have a Trek that is very similar to your Priority bike. I find as I get older I need to have this kind of bar, the position is everything. To remedy seat soreness I use a Brooks saddle. 👍
Those first handlebars remind me of what we used to call steerhorn handlebars. One of the kids where I grew up had a bike with those huge bars. It was very challenging to ride but once one got used to them they worked pretty well. Especially on gravel roads which were very common where I grew up.
I changed mine and now use comfort swept up and back (35 deg) with Ergonomic Rubber grips. I like that they sweep up a little as this enables me to put an odometer and bell below the level of the grips so that if I need to turn the bike upside down for any reason only the grips will rest on the ground. The other thing I have fitted is a handlebar bag.
I sit fairly upright, the original flat mountain bike bars gave a way too forward/aggressive riding position.
Love jones bars with rise or Nitto .
I had a Faraday bike for several years that had the best handlebars I've ever ridden with--amazing comfort, felt great to ride on an upright bike. That bike got stolen and the company went out of business and now I've been on a search for the perfect swept-back bars. Wish some other company would make something similar!
The Priority Eight is a super awesome bike. It is pretty fast and comfortable to ride.
One thing to consider Tom: swept back bars will push you more upright on the bike which will mean a narrower saddle can become less comfortable than when you sitting were more forward, so consider for maximum comfort also upgrading the saddle to something wider (like the Brooks B67).
One tip for rear end discomfort when you are sitting upright: adjust the tilt of your saddle to that it's tilted back a bit (nose of the saddle slightly higher than rear). If you think about it, your whole body has rotated up and back and so your saddle needs to rotate back to hit you right! It took me forever to figure this out 😂
Also, a wider saddle feels amazing when you are more upright!
I love riding my drops when racing around, but my daily driver has Dutch style swept back bars and I'm sitting straight upright.
That was a huge effort making this video.
The third thing I need on my bars is a mirror on the left side. If I eventually die on this thing it will likely be a car taking me out. I have developed a habit of watching each car coming up on me. It is easy to detect the ones that do not have any value on my space (life) and many times I have been able to make adjustments in a timely way.
Last year I had an unobservant moment and a car mirror removed mine. Proof positive that this exercise is worthwhile.
i like the surly moloko bars. comfortable, many mounting points and hand positions. Great for bags.
I love the phone mount tip. More bike companies should use this type of handlebar.
I swapped out the flats on my Priority Current for a 90mm rise mountain bike bar, made a wonderful world of difference in ride feel. Great pointers here.
Vintage MTB + Swept bars = perfect everyday hack bike. Put fenders, a carrier and 2" slicks on and it's a bulletproof and comfy commuter or shopper.
Long time bike rider enjoy your show for me. The most comfortable ones are the third ones you tried. They are the traditional Dutch looking bars.
There is something about older "not as good" bikes that are so fun.
My 2 bikes are a late 80s Peugeot which I love, despite it being objectively terrible.
And a 2013 Mongoose Maurice fixed gear, which is objectively terrible, but I love it because it's fun to ride.
80km on the beautiful Calgary bike paths with a pannier full of handlebars to try out? That's a very good day in my book!
I do lots of 90 to 130 mile rides on my 3 IGH heavyweights. The Rohloff14 tour bike is always 73 lbs , 120 on tour. LOL.
I ride 45 miles out and back to all the small cities around Edmonton.
Excellent video! Amazing to see how different handlebars impact ride experience. Personally, I switched to a more upright position when I got my R&M Nevo ebike. It took me a while to get used to the upright position, but now I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. I agree with what you mentioned about a slight attitudinal adjustment that takes place as a result of switching from a more aggressive, sporty handlebar, to one that places you in a relaxed position.
Watched again.
Great video!
I'd add a light to the bar. Its often dark up in the great snowy north for an 8-5 type commute, both ways. I'm riding a flat bar with ergo grips and horns, and a luxurious Soft Ride stem that takes the bite out of bumps.
Really good video. I enjoyed it. I’d often wondered about putting cruiser type handlebars on my bike. I basically use 50-60mm riser mountain bike handlebars, on all my bikes.
Great video. I always say that new bars, new bike. Sometimes for good and sometimes for bad. Good example in this video of how you can tell you might need something different is the way he's riding the smaller swept back bars, he's riding with his hands half off the "grips". If you just ride and let your body adjust to a comfortable position and then catch yourself holding the very ends of the bars, or riding with just your fingertips on the grips, or holding half grip and half brake lever clamp it kind of shows you exactly what direction you need to move the grip area to be in the right position for you.
Consider trying a butterfliy/moustache bar. If you like multiple hand positions it's got lots of options.
I would recommend two changes with the middle bars- use a higher stem and turn the bar ends down. Your wrist position was very poor with the bar ends turned up. in general I would start with the bar ends turned down to approximately parallel with the top tube, then adjust from there. Ergonomic grips definitely improve the ride.
Best comment so far , you know your bike. Albatross or North Road style bars need a higher stem than his set-up. Reason being, you want your handle grips turned slightly down for leaning into the front end of the bike . Also this handlebar give a little flex over the bumps. Take a look at the Rivendell Joe Appaloosa🥴
I would love to see you ride the priority cruiser, that sounds like a fun video.
You don't know comfort until you've tried a recumbent :D
Great video! I just did my own research for the same reasons and 100% agree with you on the Crane bell. For handlebars I decided on Granola Moose bars from velo orange. They are about the same width but sweep forward then back with a cross piece up front. I put bar tape on the tee’s and have multiple hand positions. I decided on ergon grips GA3’s. One point that was important is they keep my wrist from rotating down so they don’t get strained.
I also have the Priority Onyx wiith Enviolo. It is indeed very sluggish. I changed the handle bar also to get a much more upright riding position. This new position had me changing the saddle. Enviolo system is great but quite worthless if your are after speed in any agressive riding position.
Great channel! Keep it up!
That is one cool looking bike
Surly Moloko bars been a game changer for me
Calgary is pretty during the summer!
I let Priority know that you are the reason I bought one of the Eights for myself! I have been interested in a carbon fiber belt bicycle for several years, and not I have made the choice.
Nice, but you're going to get your bank account gouged if you are in Canada. Taxes, duty, $1.37 exchange.
@@GordoGambler Fortunately, I am in the US. (Fortunate for this purchase. Perhaps not fortunate for other reasons.)
I changed from flats to curved last year. Same reason as you , numbness in my hands. The down side was fitting all my stuff on the curves. The ones I got have very little room to accessorize. I had to change stem as well to make it really fit.
the cruiser / dutch handlebars felt disconfortable because the stem is too low. go to the maximum height and be chill forever! the stem should be way shorter also....
Yes, I think that's correct. I mentioned that in the video as well.
Yes, I know my stem is too low, but for my commute it’s not too uncomfortable. When I go for long rides, it’s uncomfortable. Need to get this fixed. Thanks for the advice.
The crumbling infrastructure of my hands limits my leaning to about 5 minutes before they start hurting. Two miles is about my limit before I have to get off for a while.
So I need a very upright position that keeps the weight off my hands. This turns my hands farther out than a flat bar position, so my wrist hurts unless the bars are swept back. I like North Road bars with about a 45 degree sweep.
Those handlebars look great. I found that I like around 25-30 degrees of rear sweep for hand comfort on my Priority Turi. I wish more online stores would list the rise and up/rear sweep in addition to the width, I had to go throush a few sets of bars before finding the right one.
I have a trek verve and I love it. Very much cruiser position.
My favourite hand grips are the large hard spongy ones. Keeps my hands from going numb as quickly, and in a pinch I can rest my elbows on them if I want to tuck into a wind or just rest a bit while I cycle. The foam/sponge holds my elbows securely (as long as I'm on smooth pavement though. I've hit a considerable bump and had an elbow come off and I barely regained control; almost took a head tumble sideways.
I tried butterfly handelbars and had the same problem like the flat bars. On long rides my hands get numb.
Since then(3 years) i have the Surly Moloko handlebars with SQlab 710 grips(and bartape) and i am really happy with that. No numbness on my hand, even after 300 continues kilometers. Just a little bit of numbness on my pinkie, but thats totally okay for 300 kilometers. The important things for me are the backsweep, the variety of hand positions and the ergonomic grips.
I can just achieve the upright position by going hands-free. Sure, not everybody can and it's not ideal for any situation but it works well for me. That way I can switch between and aggressive position and a laid-back one without modifications.
That is a pretty nifty looking bike, and with the flat bar too. Considering I expect to get substitute athletic rides in with my Marin hybrid, or dirt rides rarely, the flat bar on it lends itself to that. I actually think any steep hills you'd hit some of the time would effect your thinking on the style of handlebars you're prefer. Even on the heavier hybrid I have the speeds are still up to over 32 MPH on a couple of them. Comparatively the swept back bars like these would seem to promote more of a lolly-gagging and overly upright ride style. I seem to remember that these are pretty expensive bikes of this brand, I guess related to the hub drive more than anything. Was looking at the specs. It's listing as five full pounds less than my Marin, with the kickstand! Probably that's related to the top tube size, the triple front ring, and shocks on the front, which are kind of unnecessary even on the dirt rides I do.
Here I thought this is going to be a recount of flat vs riser vs drop vs bullhorn. Glad the alt bars are getting their day
I have an old Raleigh Olympian frame that I added the chopper style handlebars from an old exercise bike to. Its terrible when its windy but it puts me in a really comfy body position and they're actually great for hill climbing (important in my area) because you can stand up on the pedals and not have to awkwardly bend over. Need to combine it with one of those big cushy saddles tho to avoid butt problems
I would super recommend you check out alt bars, they're similar to the bars you currently like, but are even more unique, such as having inner bar ends along with comfy swept back bars so you have multiple hand positions. My recommendation is the Koga denham, crazy bars, or surly maloko.
Can confirm. I switched to the Surly Moloko two years ago and it completely changed my comfort level. Multiple hand positions mean all day comfort and allows for a decent range in body position. Highly recommend!
Great review Tom!! I totally agree with your final choice, I have something very similar on my commuter, one question for you, have you considered adding fenders and a kickstand? The fenders would be so useful, especially where you live, and a kickstand (even better with the double version), that makes it so much easier when you have to load up groceries on the panniers, or just for everyday parking convenience. Well, be safe, and safe riding! 🚴🙏
I use the ergon gc1 biokork grips on medium sweepback bars.
Ergonomics are super important, if you're comfortable, you will ride more :)
When I replaced my steel road bike with carbon I was going to quickly put on tri- bars which really helped with carple tunnel. An advisor said wait, the carbon stem and bars were going to dampen things which was correct. But he also said my new bars had varying contours on them. This tends to change the contact point on my palm. With round grips the contact contour is always the same prompting irritation. Again he was right. So now when picking handgrips I do the same thing, looking of ones that have both round and flat sections so I can change up that contact surface.
Looks like I have the exact same albatross style handlebars as the ones you disliked on your bike!
I have to say with my bike, just an old aluminum rockhopper, they’ve been really transformational to my comfort and my ability to look up and enjoy cycling. Those bar style handles are hard on the wrists!
Some great ideas here
The first thing you need to change is your seat! That’s like sitting on a cement block! Then get an adjustable stem!
I’ve been experimenting with handlebars/body positioning for about 50 years - good luck : )
this is a very helpful video Thank You
Hi Tom! Have you ever considered suspension seat posts? They may give you some extra comfort while riding in a more upright position. Enjoy your new bike! Remember that Alfine needs an oil change after the first 500Km and then every 4000Km or so.
I have 9" rise bmx bars on my shopping bike because I can hang a small backpack off them for extra capacity. It's not all ergonomics sometimes compromise is required.
Wow what a fantastic set up and a great bike to boot. Shame they are not for sale in the UK
Bike cockpit, never would have thought of that.
I had the same issue you had with the very swept back handles - it put my hands at such an extreme angle that it made it uncomfortable. I also currently have the slight swept back and found that the most suitable for my bike.
In general, I'd say if you want slightly upright on a bike that originally has flat bars, I'd say go with slight swept back. Alternatively, you could also get a Dutch style/upright bike from the very beginning.
I’m obsessed with replacing my bikes with an adjustable stem and swept back handlebars. That switch is mandatory for a comfortable ride.
I have the L-Train and the Eight wasn't made at the time. Now I wish I had the Eight. That extra gear plus the disk brakes are nice upgrades. Also, you're kinda creating a Classic Plus with eight gears and disk brakes. Which is actually a good idea.
Had an old treader a mate gave me, when my bike had been nicked, and if had bars a bit like the second set, but a bit more apehangery, and that was the comfiest I'd ever had had. Mostly only rode it a couple of miles to get the bus to work, but loved it. Till that also got nicked 😂
For shorter city commutes I'd say the best bars are angled about 30 degrees. If your arms are parallel, flat bars make sense, but if they are extended out, the natural position is for your hands to be angled.
So I'd say angled bars for rides less than 30 mins, but for longer rides you want both flat and angled. Best bet is to use 'butterfly' type bars which allow you to move position.
Having the kink at the end of the handle bar allows your wrist to be straight, where as flat bars turn you wrist outwards. Straight wrists allow you more comfort over longer distances.
I used to ride in a relatively flat area, now I live in a hilly place. My choice of bars (and drive train) changed a lot. Also, if you want to get the most comfort out of swept back bars, a long top tube frame sure helps.
Or a super long stem. I'm using something like 135mm and that's on a vintage MTB that already has a fairly long top tube. But the classic touring bar comes back really far, so my hands can be back at steerer tube position on the grips, which is plenty close.
Thanks for a great video!
I would like to get a handlebar with little sweep on it to turn my wrists and elbows slightly, for comfort. However, I don't want to sacrifice the flat central part of the bar, where I mount my lights and basket. The light in particular needs to be facing fairly straight ahead!
Kona handplant bars (featured on their hybrids) are a really nice bar for this purpose. ~45⁰ backsweep but they sweep forward first so the net position is similar to a flat bar, just with a more comfortable wrist angle. Love them on my gravel bike, kind of a halfway between a flat bar and drop bar
I am amazed how much difference little changes make - I swapped my stem for a Redshift suspension stem. The sizes available then (I think they have more now) were slightly shorter or much longer than the one on the bike. Naturally, I went for the slightly shorter - a few millimeters can't make much difference, can it? That tiny change made me feel really cramped, even after moving the saddle back and adjusting the position of the handlebars.
I’ve found a stem extender, and a shorter more angled stem helps with the fit, grips wise you can’t beat Ergon
Man, I hope Priority sponsoring you is an indicator they may be looking to expand into the Canadian market. I know the prices wouldn't be any lower than importing if they do move in, but at least they'd be reflected up front. I love my Priority Apollo, but the duty tax was a painful surprise (I knew it was coming, but hadn't looked up exactly how much it would be!).