I can honestly say that I've ridden more bikes than most people will ever try. I've mounted steel, carbon, titanium and aluminum bikes--and, yes, one made of wood. Most of the bikes I've owned are/were high-quality steel ones; the others were aluminum. That said, the only material besides steel (preferably Reynolds, but Columbus, Ishiwata, Vitus and Tange are also fine) I'd consider for one of my "good" bikes--let alone a custom build--is titanium.
For all of the bikes I've ridden, I must say I now realize that the range of handlebar styles I've ridden is fairly narrow. I never rode or owned "ape hanger" or "trekker" bars, and I've had only limited experience with aero or "bullhorn" bars.
I've also never ridden bars like the ones Chris Kulczyki posted on his Velo Orange blog the other day:
I love Chris and VO. In fact, I use several VO products. But, for all of his love for traditional randonneur bikes made by constructeurs, I always suspected he had a secret liking of the bizarre. After all, he and I are about the same age and can recall when being an adult cyclist--let alone one with the sort of tastes we share, at least to some degree--made us minorities, perhaps even geeks.
When I use the later term, I don't mean to be derogatory in any way. I mean simply someone who cares deeply about something that's not considered part of the mainstream. Being transgendered makes me one almost by definition. So does my love of poetry and interest in foreign films. So, some would argue, does the fact that I have been part of the academic world.
Anyway, seeing Chris' latest post got me to type "weird handlebars" in Google. Some of the results are, not surprisingly, interesting and bizarre, even entertaining.
For all of the bikes I've ridden, I must say I now realize that the range of handlebar styles I've ridden is fairly narrow. I never rode or owned "ape hanger" or "trekker" bars, and I've had only limited experience with aero or "bullhorn" bars.
I've also never ridden bars like the ones Chris Kulczyki posted on his Velo Orange blog the other day:
I love Chris and VO. In fact, I use several VO products. But, for all of his love for traditional randonneur bikes made by constructeurs, I always suspected he had a secret liking of the bizarre. After all, he and I are about the same age and can recall when being an adult cyclist--let alone one with the sort of tastes we share, at least to some degree--made us minorities, perhaps even geeks.
When I use the later term, I don't mean to be derogatory in any way. I mean simply someone who cares deeply about something that's not considered part of the mainstream. Being transgendered makes me one almost by definition. So does my love of poetry and interest in foreign films. So, some would argue, does the fact that I have been part of the academic world.
Anyway, seeing Chris' latest post got me to type "weird handlebars" in Google. Some of the results are, not surprisingly, interesting and bizarre, even entertaining.
