Bullhorn Handlebars

[fireman7875]

Does anybody use these? Why do you use them instead of drop bars? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Do standard road shifters work on them or do they require a special shifter?

Thanks,
Brian

[Feltski]

they are generally for tri/tt bikes. they dont have a drop bc your aerobars replace the need for them

[geerfree]

For me I felt a quite a loss of bike control while riding with Bullhorn bars, but I can see the benefits on short races. Best to go for the aerobar attatchment on your standard drop bar so you can alternate between them.

[Feltski]

I agree with the above post. for technical tri's or TTs ill usually opt for my road bike with clip-ons over my TT bike. Ive been on a road bike for probably close to 10 years, but only have about a year on a TT bike. I dont know if its the different geometry, different hadlebars, or just lack of saddle time, but i definately feel more stable on the road bike

[fireman7875]

I agree with the above post. for technical tri's or TTs ill usually opt for my road bike with clip-ons over my TT bike. Ive been on a road bike for probably close to 10 years, but only have about a year on a TT bike. I dont know if its the different geometry, different hadlebars, or just lack of saddle time, but i definately feel more stable on the road bike

Is "TT" a time trial bike? Not familiar with the abreviation. Thanks for all the help so far!

[alienator]

Is "TT" a time trial bike? Not familiar with the abreviation. Thanks for all the help so far!

Yup.

[Denny418]

I agree with the above post. for technical tri's or TTs ill usually opt for my road bike with clip-ons over my TT bike. Ive been on a road bike for probably close to 10 years, but only have about a year on a TT bike. I dont know if its the different geometry, different hadlebars, or just lack of saddle time, but i definately feel more stable on the road bike

No question about it - a good TT bike will feel "squirrely" compared to a road bike. In engineering, the qualities that conduce to speed are generally antagonistic to those that conduce to stability. The world is perverse that way. You just cannot get too many good things in one package.

[alfeng]

Does anybody use these? Why do you use them instead of drop bars? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Do standard road shifters work on them or do they require a special shifter?

FWIW. I don't know if Bullhorn handlebars have any advantages over drop bars other than a small weight savings ...

Nonetheless, I think Bullhorn handlebars are a good alternative to Flat bars for urban riders who do not intend to use the drops on their handlebars or for whom Moustache handlebars are neither aesthetically pleasing nor economically realistic.

You CAN use integrated road shifters with Bullhorn handlebars ... some work (i.e., "fit") better than others -- Shimano STI will work & (dare I say it?) SRAM shifters are probably "okay" ... whereas, Campagnolo's thumb shifters will be awkward ...

Brake cable routing is the biggest hassle ... depending on where, precisely, you mount the levers will affect the bend in the cable housing by varying amounts.

With Shimano STI shifters, the derailleur cable is (obviously) not impacted by the type of handlebar used.

BTW. I did try mounting a pair of Campagnolo levers with the left lever on the right side & the right lever on the left side so that the brake handles were facing forward ... that more-or-less works.