Help finding handlebars for my Vado.

[BurroBabe]

First, apologies for disappearing after all you guys' help finding my perfect ebike. I really only rode it about three times and didn't really have much news to share.
So now I'm asking for help finding handlebars to accommodate my now fused right wrist. A wrist fusion places the hand in a position turned a bit outward with little ability to angle the wrist straight. I need a backsweep now so that my hand can grip at this angle and work the shifters. I read someone else's solution (for a shoulder issue) replacing it with the WHISKY Winston Carbon Handlebar. That's just too expensive an option for me.

Looking at the headset, the way the Vado handlebars attach, and their taper, makes me think that the design/size might be different from most conventional bikes. I also don't know how to measure sweep, and most parts lists don't give a # or degrees to describe them anyway. I really hate a lack of standardization in manufacturing! I can say that the handlebars on my older Trek 200 hybrid has handlebars with about the right sweep (a bit too upright but the right angle for my wrists. Can someone please explain how to "measure" sweep and rise and how to determine what handlebars will work on the Vado? I already visited the Specialized website and see that they carry nothing but flat, straight, or drop handlebars!

All suggestions welcome!

 

[stompandgo]

Do a search for "alt bars" here on the forum. This topic was recently discussed.

 

[Nvreloader]

BB
Try this site, you can pull up an image of a HB shape, then choose another to superimpose over the first one, if you don't like the choice choose another, the built in scale will help with the measurements:

WhatBars — The Bicycle Handlebar Database

The internets guide to help you compare comfort / alt bicycle handlebars online.

whatbars.com

It helped me find the H B I wanted. ymmv
Tia

 

[BurroBabe]

The problem I have with their database is that it doesn't include the handlebars that are stock on bikes like the Vado for comparison. Nor do they have the SQ Lab handlebars. The SQ Lab website has great fit tools, and their suggested HBs have a slight downturn after the sweep that positions the bars more naturally for my fused wrist as well. Doesn't look like WhatBars has anything like that either. Trouble is, for $100, I would like to try them in a shop and the closest one is more than 150 mi away!

 

[Catalyzt]

It is hard to imagine your precise injury and what position would work for you.

I was stunned to discover that drop bars with my hands on the hoods are the most comfortable position for moderate to severe arthritis in the metatarsal joint.

It's not a perfect solution; for hard breaking, I have to get on the drops for full grip power on the brakes = quite manageable, but not exactly comfortable!

But I had no idea this would work as well as it did. Knowing what I know now, I would go to an LBS and just try a bunch of different bars sitting on bikes without moving. You may have already tried this!

Sorry I can't be more helpful r.e. the Vado.

 

[Extreme1]

Go to your LBS and try some of their bars, or bars mounted on other bikes, to see what feels best.

My hands go numb after riding for a while so I bought some Zipp CF bars with a large flat area for my hands to rest on. It seems to help a little.

 

[macp]

Do a search for "alt bars" here on the forum. This topic was recently discussed.

Recommend me handlebars with back sweep

Seriously man you wouldnt believe the difference they make. I did something similar when I first got my Vado SL went for the On one OG bars and found them much more comfortable than the more mtb straight bars. 4 years later still have them on.

forums.electricbikereview.com

Yes it was and helped me enormously.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Innerbarends 411 2.0

Innerbarends 411 2.0 BLK

www.sq-lab.com

Do miracles with ergonomics. No handlebar replacement needed.

 

[BurroBabe]

Innerbarends 411 2.0

Innerbarends 411 2.0 BLK

www.sq-lab.com

Do miracles with ergonomics. No handlebar replacement needed.

Hi Stefan,
Thanks for the suggestion. I did see these on sq-lab and thought that they would be a good addition to whatever HBs I get. I always used bar ends on my mountain bikes for a "rest" position.
However, I do definitely need HBs with sweep. At my last Occupational Therapy visit, while the therapist was measuring my hand for improvements in range of motion I had her also measure some angles that would help me estimate what angles I might need in HBs to achieve a neutral position.
When a surgeon fuses a wrist they set the hand at an angle outward which they say gives more strength and functionality for normal activities.
Now, my right hand has a 25° ulnar deviation. In addition, 45° of supination is where my hand most naturally rests falling from the forearm with elbow bent for riding position.
SQ lab's recommendation for me was the 302 3.0 with 24° of back sweep and 15° down sweep. Damn close to what the OT measured. As far as I can see, none of the HBs on WhatBars database have any down sweep. Is SQ lab the only company that manufactures bars with down sweep to the grips?
If so, it might be my only option.

 

[BurroBabe]

Go to your LBS and try some of their bars, or bars mounted on other bikes, to see what feels best.

I don't have an LBS that I can get to. And anyway, how do bars on "other bikes" tell me anything since geometry is different on every bike?

 

[BurroBabe]

Update on the search for handlebars.

First, thanks to everyone who made suggestions. Even if I didn't answer every one of them, I did follow all the links and mentions and spent hours working through the online tool on Whatbars.

I was just about to order the SQ Lab 321 3.0 bars with 70mm rise, 35° back sweep and 20° down sweep. (Someone mentioned SQ lab on one of the threads re: alt bars). The only thing holding me back is that they are $110 and it's still less sweep than I measured on the cruiser bars I put on my Trek 520 Touring Bike when my hands started bothering me. They have a sweep of 60°, and were put on an adjustable stem. It is true, however, that I can stab myself with the bar-end shifters in a tight turn! I was liking the fact that SQ adds a down sweep to the grips that eases tension on the shoulders as well. I thought that would also help the hand position with the lesser sweep.

Those On One bars that Macp put on his bike look great and I like the 45° sweep but the rise is much less than the original bars, which my (non)LBS told me is 50mm on the Vado. I would have to then add a riser stem, so maybe it's not worth going cheaper on the bars.
Damned if all the high rise big sweep cruiser bars that are perfect dimensions for me are the wrong clamp width!!!

Anyway, in both my talk with the LBS 50 miles away from whom I did not buy my Vado, and the shop closest to me that carries SQ lab bars (more than 200 mi away) , and explaining my surgical changes to my hand and wrist to them, gave me a plurality of opinions on fit. They both thought that the 321 bars would probably work best for me so, I guess I'm ordering.


My next post will be with pictures of the new set-up!

Well, unsure again. I'm also posting in the Macp's thread "Recommend me handlebars with back sweep" in the general forum and found the
Fairdale Archer v2 handlebar with 50mm rise and 45° backsweep. I think I'm going to wait until the dealer in Binghamton gets it in and try that one out first. For under $40, it's worth a try.