So: how does the Albatross do: 1. in heavy headwinds? Where do you hold on when bucking a steady 25 mph wind?
I LOVE my albatross bars on my long haul trucker. They are my favorite city bars and they bring you up nice and high. But with a strong wind the upright stance can really be annoying. You can tuck in and grab the front of the bar, but drops really are the best bet for getting out of the wind. I wouldn't hesitate to tour on albatross bars, they are very comfortable, but I'd still rather go drops for long distance. 2. On steep, dirt drop-offs? Where do you hold so that you keep yourself secure while still being able to brake? I would not recommend albatross bars if you are hitting dirt. Their flex, which is great while totting around, is not favorable on dirt. And the hand position tends to have your hands slip forward, which is no bueno when hitting the downhills. Look at a swept back flatbar (i.e. Jitensha studio flat bar) if you want a bit more control. Once again, I love my albatross bars, but for dirt and wind, they are not optimal. Also, I understand a lot of people ride Rivendells on the dirt, but there is really no comparison to a real mountain bike. I'm going to get a lot of trouble for saying this, but a purpose-built 29er will shred the trail with much more gusto than even the Bombadil. Consider having one Riv for roads and light dirt, and a real mountain bike on the side, with - dare I say it? - front suspension! Just a thought to consider. Albatross bars are insanely comfortable and you should give them a try. Just don't expect full confidence in the dirt. -Chris Berkeley, CA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en-US. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
