Mandrel-bending handle bars

This ain't anywhere as easy as you seem to think it is. Welding very light aluminum tubing is
completely out of the question. As for mandrel bending - you probably can't use a present bar
because it's been relieved.

You can probably get some really light steel tubing and have it bent to your specifications without
too much trouble and with some paint it would look good.

There must be a frame builder in Houston that could help you with the problem.

Good luck. tom

"M Powell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for an elegant solution to what is probably an odd problem

with

Quoted message said:

my bicycle. I'm in Houston, and the bike is a hybrid.

Here's the deal -- I was born without a left hand. I have my wrist, but

the

Quoted message said:

umbilical cord had wrapped around, just outside my wrist, so that part got cut off from blood
flow... Anyway, lately I'm doing the old guy thing & riding for exercise. Now that I'm putting
more miles on, the difference in my reach --about 1.5 to 2 inches-- is being felt in my back.
I need to

make

Quoted message said:

up this difference, so that my shoulders are squared back up. But I don't want a clunky solution
of using tape or a riser block....

So far, I've just mis-aligned (cocked) the bars to favor the left side. That's certainly simple &
elegant, but is looks & feels wrong -- two guys have even offered to show me how to properly align
the handle bars to the front wheel. Sigh.

So, where might I go in Houston to get someone to work with me on mandrel-bending the handlebar,
which I figure would be easier & neater

than

Quoted message said:

cutting & TIG'ing it. I'm assuming the bars is aluminum -- the bike is a Motobecane hybrid,
purchased about a lear ago.

Many Thanks, --M Powell

(I'm cross posting this to Rec.crafts.metalworking)

M Powell said:

So, where might I go in Houston to get someone to work with me on mandrel-bending the handlebar,
which I figure would be easier & neater than cutting & TIG'ing it. I'm assuming the bars is
aluminum -- the bike is a Motobecane hybrid, purchased about a lear ago.

Many Thanks, --M Powell

(I'm cross posting this to Rec.crafts.metalworking)

I know nothing about Houston, but some places come to mind to start asking your question-

motorcycle shops. architectural metal workers- railings, bannisters, etc. medical supply houses
local bicycle frame builders a prosthesis maker or university hospital

Remember- the issue isn't just putting a bend in tubing. I can do that with a conduit bender from
the hardware store or fabricate my own mandrels. Handlebars breaking can be very ugly. You need to
deal with tubing benders who are experienced with what metals can be bent safely, put under loads
like you will be applying, etc.

In the meantime, ignore the 'helpful' people who want to straighten your handlebars.

Just a quick thought... is it possible to use a bar-end? You know, the kind
they use on mountain bikes. I'm thinking that maybe it could slide on the
bar backwards inboard of the shifters and then rotate towards you. If you
can get the position right, you can even mount the brakes and shifter on the
bar end itself. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Here's
just one example:
performancebike.comProfile.cfmOpen ↗

One question comes to mind. Can you use the brake lever on the left side? That's normally for the
front brake (at least in the USA). If not, and as long as you can brace yourself with both arms, you
may consider swapping brake levers since it's probably better to have front-brake only rather than
rear-brake only. Of course, that depends on your skill level, riding conditions... etc.

It's not the typical use of a bar end, but hey, if it let's you ride on.

-Don

"M Powell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for an elegant solution to what is probably an odd problem

with

Quoted message said:

my bicycle. I'm in Houston, and the bike is a hybrid.

Here's the deal -- I was born without a left hand. I have my wrist, but

the

Quoted message said:

umbilical cord had wrapped around, just outside my wrist, so that part got cut off from blood
flow... Anyway, lately I'm doing the old guy thing & riding for exercise. Now that I'm putting
more miles on, the difference in my reach --about 1.5 to 2 inches-- is being felt in my back.
I need to

make

Quoted message said:

up this difference, so that my shoulders are squared back up. But I don't want a clunky solution
of using tape or a riser block....

So far, I've just mis-aligned (cocked) the bars to favor the left side. That's certainly simple &
elegant, but is looks & feels wrong -- two guys have even offered to show me how to properly align
the handle bars to the front wheel. Sigh.

So, where might I go in Houston to get someone to work with me on mandrel-bending the handlebar,
which I figure would be easier & neater

than

Quoted message said:

cutting & TIG'ing it. I'm assuming the bars is aluminum -- the bike is a Motobecane hybrid,
purchased about a lear ago.

Many Thanks, --M Powell

(I'm cross posting this to Rec.crafts.metalworking)

Hmmm.. I'll go to LBS & check this out. Could be on to something.

"Don DeMair" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:JjQSb.39814$6O4.1134408@bgtnsc04-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net...

Quoted message said:

Just a quick thought... is it possible to use a bar-end? You know, the

kind

Quoted message said:

they use on mountain bikes. I'm thinking that maybe it could slide on the bar backwards inboard of
the shifters and then rotate towards you. If you can get the position right, you can even mount
the brakes and shifter on

the

Quoted message said:

bar end itself. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Here's just one example:
performancebike.comProfile.cfmOpen ↗

One question comes to mind. Can you use the brake lever on the left side? That's normally for the
front brake (at least in the USA). If not, and as long as you can brace yourself with both arms,
you may consider swapping brake levers since it's probably better to have front-brake only rather

than

Quoted message said:

rear-brake only. Of course, that depends on your skill level, riding conditions... etc.

It's not the typical use of a bar end, but hey, if it let's you ride on.

-Don

"M Powell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for an elegant solution to what is probably an odd problem

with

Quoted message said:

my bicycle. I'm in Houston, and the bike is a hybrid.

Here's the deal -- I was born without a left hand. I have my wrist, but

the

Quoted message said:

umbilical cord had wrapped around, just outside my wrist, so that part

got

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cut off from blood flow... Anyway, lately I'm doing the old guy thing & riding for exercise. Now
that I'm putting more miles on, the difference

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

my reach --about 1.5 to 2 inches-- is being felt in my back. I need to

make

Quoted message said:

up this difference, so that my shoulders are squared back up. But I

don't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

want a clunky solution of using tape or a riser block....

So far, I've just mis-aligned (cocked) the bars to favor the left side. That's certainly simple
& elegant, but is looks & feels wrong -- two

guys

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have even offered to show me how to properly align the handle bars to

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

front wheel. Sigh.

So, where might I go in Houston to get someone to work with me on mandrel-bending the handlebar,
which I figure would be easier & neater

than

Quoted message said:

cutting & TIG'ing it. I'm assuming the bars is aluminum -- the bike is a Motobecane hybrid,
purchased about a lear ago.

Many Thanks, --M Powell

(I'm cross posting this to Rec.crafts.metalworking)

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by M Powell
I'm looking for an elegant solution to what is probably an odd problem with my bicycle. I'm in
Houston, and the bike is a hybrid.

Here's the deal -- I was born without a left hand. I have my wrist,
<snip>

Interestingly enough, I have nearly the same issue -- I was born without a right hand, and also have a wrist. I've been biking for 40+ years, and now I'm looking to modify my equipment instead of changing my posture, to eliminate back and shoulder pain. I've considered the bar-end idea for my MTB -- just a matter of finding the right size and shape. For my road bike, I was thinking of a custom-made handlebar, because I'd like to keep my Ergopower setup, but that's probably $$$$.

If I find a solution, I'll post it, with pictures.

roadntrail said:

M Powell said:

I'm looking for an elegant solution to what is probably
an odd problem with my bicycle. I'm in Houston, and the
bike is a hybrid. Here's the deal -- I was born without
a left hand. I have my wrist, <snip>

Quoted message said:

Interestingly enough, I have nearly the same issue -- I was
born without a right hand, and also have a wrist. I've been
biking for 40+ years, and now I'm looking to modify my
equipment instead of changing my posture, to eliminate back
and shoulder pain.

Have you considered an internally-geared bicycle with a coaster-
brake and positioning the front brake lever and shifter (I'd
recommend a twist-shift) on your handed side?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Garrison Hillia

Broadntrail said:

M Powell said:

I'm looking for an elegant solution to what is probably
an odd problem with my bicycle. I'm in Houston, and the
bike is a hybrid. Here's the deal -- I was born without
a left hand. I have my wrist, <snip>

Quoted message said:

Interestingly enough, I have nearly the same issue -- I was
born without a right hand, and also have a wrist. I've been
biking for 40+ years, and now I'm looking to modify my
equipment instead of changing my posture, to eliminate back
and shoulder pain.

Have you considered an internally-geared bicycle with a coaster-
brake and positioning the front brake lever and shifter (I'd
recommend a twist-shift) on your handed side? [/B]

Good suggestion, but shifting and braking has never been a problem. The problem I'm trying to solve is more of a fit problem. If I set the bike up to properly fit my left arm, my right arm doesn't reach the handlebar unless I 1) twist my shoulders or 2) bend my left elbow. It wasn't a problem when I was younger, but I'd like to start riding "square".