Mandrel-bending handle bars

01-30-2004, 06:13 AM

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, but the
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
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 (****ed) 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
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)

01-30-2004, 03:05 PM

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" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1wuSb.3330$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthl ink.net...
> 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, but
the
> 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
> 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 (****ed) 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
> 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)
>
>

01-30-2004, 07:52 PM

On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 15:13:01 GMT, "M Powell"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>
>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.

01-31-2004, 07:01 AM

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:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

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" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1wuSb.3330$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthl ink.net...
> 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, but
the
> 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
> 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 (****ed) 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
> 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)
>
>

01-31-2004, 12:34 PM

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

"Don DeMair" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:JjQSb.39814$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].worldnet.att.net...
> Just a quick thought... is it possible to use a bar-end? You know, the
kind
> they use on mountain bikes. I'm thinking that maybe it could slide on the
> bar backwards inboard of the shifters and then rotate towards you. If you
> can get the position right, you can even mount the brakes and shifter on
the
> bar end itself. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Here's
> just one example:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> One question comes to mind. Can you use the brake lever on the left side?
> That's normally for the front brake (at least in the USA). If not, and as
> long as you can brace yourself with both arms, you may consider swapping
> brake levers since it's probably better to have front-brake only rather
than
> rear-brake only. Of course, that depends on your skill level, riding
> conditions... etc.
>
> It's not the typical use of a bar end, but hey, if it let's you ride on.
>
> -Don
>
> "M Powell" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:1wuSb.3330$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].pas.earthl ink.net...
> > 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, but
> the
> > 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
> > 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 (****ed) 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
> > 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)
> >
> >
>
>