A randonneur bar goes up a bit as it goes outward from the stem. This provides a great hand position BEHIND the brake hoods, more upright than the normal ON the brake hoods position. If you want to go fast, you still have the ON the brake hoods position...
The BEHIND the brake hoods position is great on randonneur bars, because they don't slope down here like "drop" bars do. Older Schwinns sometimes were equipped with these bars, so they have a bit of a bad name in the U.S.
Currently, I think only Nitto makes them. If your bike dealer has trouble finding them, I am sure there are dealers on this newsgroup who can help.
The only OK photo I could find so quickly - on my web site - is at
http://www.mindspring.com/
Jan Heine, Seattle
>I'm a little confused over just what this type of bar is. I've
>looked in several catalogs, thinking to see them shown with other
>bars, and haven't had much luck. It was me, of course, who started
>the current thread on moustache bars, and they have had such mixed
>reviews that I am hesitant to make any great changes on my tourer.
>Thanks,
>Tom Sanders
>Lansing, Mi