Need New Handlebars Due to Accident

[Paul Heckmann]

I bought a X-Treme Trailmaker E-Bike last year and rode the heck out of it. Moved back to Dallas and rode the Sante Fe Trail to White Rock Lake/Trail, doing 12-16 miles 4-5 times a week.

Aug 20th that stopped. I was transitioning from the trail to the asphalt road and hit some kind of pothole. Sudden halt at 20mph. Crushed my right elbow. 18 screws, 3 rods. A week in the trauma unit at Baylor.

Now I'm well into my therapy and am looking at what I need to do to get back on the bike. I found that I cannot quite extend my arm, cannot lock it out, and its considerably weaker than the other. Its also a bit shorter as they had to cut off some of the bone.

The mountain bike handlebars are going to be a couple or more inches too far away. Thinking that something with a bigger 'riser type bar might work okay.

Suggestions?

 

[tommie]

I know what you mean, those mtb bars usually lock your arms out straight and probably the cause of shattering the bones. I had to replace mine with `North Road` bars plus a riser to give a more comfortable position.

Check out Amazon.

 

[Paul Heckmann]

I know what you mean, those mtb bars usually lock your arms out straight and probably the cause of shattering the bones. I had to replace mine with `North Road` bars plus a riser to give a more comfortable position.

Check out Amazon.

Interesting. Did you only replace the handlebars only - or the stem too? I'm looking at a 3 1/2 and a 5 1/2 riser bars. The ones that came on the bike are almost straight - a very small rise

 

[Paul Heckmann]

Wondering if a new stem might also be a solution.

 

[tommie]

I replaced both the bars and this adjustable Riser ---> https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-parts/headsets-stems/system-ex-adjustable-stem

you may just get away with bars only, but as i like an upright position so save the shoulders and back these two items did the trick

 

[Paul Heckmann]

I replaced both the bars and this adjustable Riser ---> https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-parts/headsets-stems/system-ex-adjustable-stem

you may just get away with bars only, but as i like an upright position so save the shoulders and back these two items did the trick

I like that. Theres not much you can adjust on my bike as to the current handlebars

 

[KirstinS]

Plenty of options on bars with some sweep. I ended up answer pro taper with 40mm rise and I think 9 degree backsweep

One one mary bars I still have on my 29er which is far more relaxed , upright ride that my 26er

do stay away from cheap Chinese carbon , internet has plenty horror stories on these.!


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[Paul Heckmann]

Plenty of options on bars with some sweep. I ended up answer pro taper with 40mm rise and I think 9 degree backsweep

One one mary bars I still have on my 29er which is far more relaxed , upright ride that my 26er

do stay away from cheap Chinese carbon , internet has plenty horror stories on these.!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

any problems steering? ( with the thought that I cannot straighten out my right arm )

 

[KirstinS]

Another thought is how wide are your bars. Super wide is very on trend but I find you need to stretch out those arms.!

By going for narrower bars you need less arm movement to achieve same steer angle. Some argue this makes the bike more "twitchy" . Horses for courses I guess

Does that make sense ?


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[Paul Heckmann]

Another thought is how wide are your bars. Super wide is very on trend but I find you need to stretch out those arms.!

By going for narrower bars you need less arm movement to achieve same steer angle. Some argue this makes the bike more "twitchy" . Horses for courses I guess

Does that make sense ?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, it does. I'm pretty broad shouldered so I may have to try a few out.
Thanks

 

[tommie]

I would def go for the adjustable riser and the bars.
With the bars there`s only so much adjustment you can get. With both i`m sure you can get it to a point where it is comfortable for you.

 

[Paul Heckmann]

I would def go for the adjustable riser and the bars.
With the bars there`s only so much adjustment you can get. With both i`m sure you can get it to a point where it is comfortable for you.

thanks to both of you. Gonna head over to a rather big bike store tomorrow and see what I can find. Paul

 

[JPGiant]

Riser type may be the answer, but have you thought of asking a pipe-bending company to to look into heating and reshaping the RH side of a set of handlebars to bring it nearer to you gradually from rise section.
We personalise our bikes to suite our bodies, this may be a way forward for your predicament.

 

[Andy-Mat]

I bought a X-Treme Trailmaker E-Bike last year and rode the heck out of it. Moved back to Dallas and rode the Sante Fe Trail to White Rock Lake/Trail, doing 12-16 miles 4-5 times a week.

Aug 20th that stopped. I was transitioning from the trail to the asphalt road and hit some kind of pothole. Sudden halt at 20mph. Crushed my right elbow. 18 screws, 3 rods. A week in the trauma unit at Baylor.

Now I'm well into my therapy and am looking at what I need to do to get back on the bike. I found that I cannot quite extend my arm, cannot lock it out, and its considerably weaker than the other. Its also a bit shorter as they had to cut off some of the bone.

The mountain bike handlebars are going to be a couple or more inches too far away. Thinking that something with a bigger 'riser type bar might work okay.

Suggestions?

Might these handlebars help? Or simply reverse the position of that "bit" between the top part of the forks and the handlebar, so that it points backward? I hope these ideas help further. Regards, Andy

 

[Paul Heckmann]

Might these handlebars help? Or simply reverse the position of that "bit" between the top part of the forks and the handlebar, so that it points backward? I hope these ideas help further. Regards, Andy
View attachment 27538

Looks great. Good suggestion - I went out and tried it. Unfortunately at the point above the main stem, it starts to slant upward - which means when you turn it around, it slants downward. Would probably make riding near impossible

 

[Paul Heckmann]

Looks great. Good suggestion - I went out and tried it. Unfortunately at the point above the main stem, it starts to slant upward - which means when you turn it around, it slants downward. Would probably make riding near impossible

Handlebars like yours would probably do the trick. Will try those at the bike shop

 

[Paul Heckmann]

Riser type may be the answer, but have you thought of asking a pipe-bending company to to look into heating and reshaping the RH side of a set of handlebars to bring it nearer to you gradually from rise section.
We personalise our bikes to suite our bodies, this may be a way forward for your predicament.

interesting. Let me check out what the bike company has to say once I drop it over there. They are gonna have to tweak a few things anyway, lots of scraped metal and so forth.

 

[tommie]

This is mine just before i fitted that adjustable riser (it`s a fixed one in the pic), you can see the gripping point is way above where the straight mtb was - make for much more comfort to the wrists, shoulders back etc..

 

[Paul Heckmann]

This is mine just before i fitted that adjustable riser (it`s a fixed one in the pic), you can see the gripping point is way above where the straight mtb was - make for much more comfort to the wrists, shoulders back etc..

View attachment 27540

makes sense.

Cant wait to get back on the horse!

 

[Gringo]

You have my sympathy, my left arm/elbow was reconstructed back in 95, now 1" shorter and it doesn't fully straighten. Hey ho, we overcome.

I use the shortest stem available, similar to these.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cycling-Bicycle-Aluminium-Alloy-MTB-Mountain-Bike-Handlebar-Stem-31-8mm-WAKE-UK/123010761694?hash=item1ca40343de:m:mTldD1bp8U4YkQgoUuGFgSw&var=423448862766
And a nice high handlebar like these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Atomlab-Pimplite-Riser-Bars-Black/dp/B0112UMEHS
I have also used these trekking bars that have a better back sweep but are a little lower than the pimplite's

Don't forget to check the handlebar matches the stem clamp diameter