TransAm
Well-Known Member
So I swapped the stock bar for a Surly Truck Stop Bar on my V20. The Surly is similar to the Salsa Cowbell bar that I have on both of my DF road bikes, but with 30mm rise, and it comes in a 48cm width. I wanted the rise for better over the boom visibility, and more stomach clearance when sitting up. Here's a comparison shot of the new bar vs. the stock bar:
Note that the Truck Stop drops are slightly wider, but flare is less, so the bar ends are narrower than the stock bar (which has 20mm bar end extenders under the grips in this photo). Also note the pad covering the bar clamp to reduce stomach pain!
Here's the finished install rider view (with the 20mm bar end extenders under the grips):
I was able to shorten the boom length 20mm, which improved over the boom visibility right in front of the wheel (to better see what you are trying not to hit). I moved the computer mount off to the side to take advantage of this. The rise also gives me enough extra stomach clearance to ditch the bar clamp pad I retrofitted to the stock bar.
The extra drop width also gave me a bit more leg clearance to the thumb shifter on the right-hand drop. I'm not running brifters, but if I did, I think they would look better aligned with the slipstream on this bar.
Even with the bar end extenders, I would like a lower hand position, so I will need to get longer chain stays. I think I may also get a piece of pipe and increase the flare slightly, but not nearly as much as the stock bar.
Here's what the bike looks like now:
Note that the Truck Stop drops are slightly wider, but flare is less, so the bar ends are narrower than the stock bar (which has 20mm bar end extenders under the grips in this photo). Also note the pad covering the bar clamp to reduce stomach pain!
Here's the finished install rider view (with the 20mm bar end extenders under the grips):
I was able to shorten the boom length 20mm, which improved over the boom visibility right in front of the wheel (to better see what you are trying not to hit). I moved the computer mount off to the side to take advantage of this. The rise also gives me enough extra stomach clearance to ditch the bar clamp pad I retrofitted to the stock bar.
The extra drop width also gave me a bit more leg clearance to the thumb shifter on the right-hand drop. I'm not running brifters, but if I did, I think they would look better aligned with the slipstream on this bar.
Even with the bar end extenders, I would like a lower hand position, so I will need to get longer chain stays. I think I may also get a piece of pipe and increase the flare slightly, but not nearly as much as the stock bar.
Here's what the bike looks like now:
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