Re: [CR]Re: Just what makes a 'randonneur' bar?

(Example: Framebuilders:Norman Taylor)

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 19:12:02 -0400
From: "Joe Bender-Zanoni" <joebz@optonline.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Re: Just what makes a 'randonneur' bar?
To: Jan Heine <heine@mindspring.com>, Tom Sanders <tsan7759142@attbi.com>
References: <006701c308fe$6a4184e0$ead2f50c@C1921978A> <a05010400bacb75a63d33@[66.167.139.90]>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

I would add to Jan's comments that randonneur bars also tend to flare out as they extend forward. Consequently the upper part of the bars are a bit narrow compared to the drops. A Maes bend bar tends to be more "square".

In addition to the GB (and maybe SR on LeTour) bars used by Schwinn there are plenty of SR randonneur bars around but many are very narrow.

Joe Bender-Zanoni Great Notch, NJ Drysdale is together and rather a nice ride on the shakedown cruise.


----- Original Message -----
From: Jan Heine
To: Tom Sanders
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 6:46 PM
Subject: [CR]Re: Just what makes a '' bar?



> 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/~heine/bikesite/bikesite/images/1951.10.1a.jpg
> The Pitard tandem in the top right corner has randonneur bars.
>
> 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