Gentleman
A few months back, I asked a LBS in Delaware about the availability of wider radonnuer bars. He checked his catalogs and stated they were available at 44 and 46 cm widths (23.5 mm and 25.4 at center) for approx. $24. I did not ask the source.
My 1975 Schwinn approved Voyageur II came with 41.1 cm (16 3/16") center to center alloy radoneur bars which I found these to be quite good over the years. There is no name on the bars (only a date code of 4-75), but I believe they are SR as the stem is and the entire bike came from Japan. Also, the 75 & 76 catalog shows the touring Paramount and Sports Tourer (aka Superior) using alloy radonneur bars. Therefore, I do not understand why these models would give the bars a "bad name".
As a comparison, a 1974 Fuji Special Road Racer (1010 lugged frame) came with Nitto Maes type bars which are 38 cm center to center, easily 1 inch narrower than the radonneur bars on my Schwinn.
John Hawrylak Woodstown NJ
PS, I thought by hitting REPLY ALL, the message goes back to the list.
<tsan7759142@attbi.com> Cc: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:12 PM Subject: Re: [CR]Re: Just what makes a 'randonneur' bar?
> 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" <heine@mindspring.com>
> To: "Tom Sanders" <tsan7759142@attbi.com>
> 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/
> > 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