On Saddles And Handlebars

In the comments section of my post on the new Long Haul Trucker some inquired about Brooks saddles and my choice of handlebars. Let me illuminate.

Back when I opted to go for custom bikes instead of “off the shelf” varieties, I snooped around the internets and talked with those I felt had good information to offer. I’d read and heard the “hype” regarding Brooks saddles. I’d wondered if they lived up to all they been built up to be. So, I tried a B-17 on my Cross Check commuter.

I was so pleased that since then I’ve put a Brooks on my fixie, my Big Dummy (in this case a Brooks Flyer) and now the Long Haul Trucker. Now, I’m no authority on bike saddles. I know what works for me. I haven’t tried everything that’s out there. However, I’ve found something that works, and super-duper well I might add, and I’m sticking with it.

Specifically, the B-17 seems very well suited for the size and shape of my ass. Yes, there is a break-in period. But even that is not anywhere close to unbearable.

As far as Trekking bars go, I very much like them for longer rides. When I’d originally built up the Big Dummy I’d intended it to be a grocery getter but also my touring bike. And, it was. I took it on the San Juan Hut to Hut ride. I rode it bike camping. I did no less than seven (7) rides of one hundred (100) miles or more in that first season of ownership. Speaking of which, for some STUPID reason, bikers call rides of one hundred (100) miles, or more, centuries. To me, a century is a unit of time, not length. I will NOT call them that. But that’s just me and I digress. Four (4) of the seven (7) one hundred (100) mile rides that summer were training rides of one hundred fifty (150) to one hundred sixty (160) miles. I rode the Big Dummy on the Highway 212 Gut Check.

I loved the different hand positions trekking bars gave. There are the obvious hand positions you might gather from observation. In addition, individuals adapt a variety of unique hand positions over long hauls. Given how comfortable those bars were on long rides with the Big Dummy, I knew they’d be perfect on the Long Haul Trucker.

There you have it. Those are my reasons for picking a Brooks saddle and trekking bars for my touring bike. For the long haul jaunts, comfort is where it’s at. Each affords me the comfort I desire.

Now, trekking bars are not the best for everything. I've been riding the Long Haul Trucker to work this week to get things adjusted and get a feel for it. Depending on which hand position I use on my commute, it might not be the position where the brakes and shifters are. In emergency situations, I can see where it would take additional time to brake if I had to move my hands first, and then squeeze the levers.

These bars are perfect (for me) for the open road. Get your gear picked, go to your happy place in your mind, set your hands, and turn the cranks. That's what I'm talking about!


Ride On.