Charge Slice handlebars?

[Neil]

Saw some of these and thought they'd look comfortable for build.

From the description, the ones I saw, are the right size for MTB stems - however, the rest of the bar diameter is said to be too small for MTB controls?

I have some (NOS) brake levers that may fit (BL-R550) as one-eyed_jim told me previously they're for a road bars, but I'd have issues with shifters.

I have some (NOS) XT STI shifters from around 92 (push-push) that I was hoping to use - is there any way to shim them, if they're too big as is to use with Charge Slice bars?

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Saw some of these and thought they'd look comfortable for build.

From the description, the ones I saw, are the right size for MTB stems - however, the rest of the bar diameter is said to be too small for MTB controls?

Probably too big. Wiggle say:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Charg ... 360033000/

Charge Slice Handlebar

Bullhorn style aluminium track handlebar. Normal standard 25.4mm Mtb stem clamp diameter. 440mm c-to-c wide. Printed Charge logos. Please note these bars require an mtb stem but will only accept road brake levers.

Most road bars are 15/16" (23.8mm) in the main section, while mtb bars are 7/8" (22.2mm). It seems likely that these Charge bars are 23.8mm, so drop-bar controls will fit, but flat-bar controls won't. It would be wise to confirm that before purchase though - I'm just reading between the lines.

I have some (NOS) brake levers that may fit (BL-R550) as one-eyed_jim told me previously they're for a road bars, but I'd have issues with shifters.

No I didn't! I said:

The clue is the "R" in the part number: they're flat-bar levers for a road group.

As I went on to explain, they're designed to work with road caliper brakes, but they're for flat bar use. The clamps are 22.2mm. They won't fit a standard road handlebar.

I have some (NOS) XT STI shifters from around 92 (push-push) that I was hoping to use - is there any way to shim them, if they're too big as is to use with Charge Slice bars?

They'll be too small, not too big.

It's possible you might be able to ream out the clamps, but personally I wouldn't bother. Sell them to someone who needs them for that authentic rebuild, and buy yourself some shifters that are nicer to use.

 

[Neil]

Saw some of these and thought they'd look comfortable for build.

From the description, the ones I saw, are the right size for MTB stems - however, the rest of the bar diameter is said to be too small for MTB controls?

Probably too big. Wiggle say:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Charg ... 360033000/

Charge Slice Handlebar

Bullhorn style aluminium track handlebarNormal standard 25.4mm Mtb stem clamp diameter. 440mm c-to-c wide. Printed Charge logos. Please note these bars require an mtb stem but will only accept road brake levers.

Most road bars are 15/16" (23.8mm) in the main section, while mtb bars are 7/8" (22.2mm). It seems likely that these Charge bars are 23.8mm, so drop-bar controls will fit, but flat-bar controls won't. It would be wise to confirm that before purchase though - I'm just reading between the lines.

I have some (NOS) brake levers that may fit (BL-R550) as one-eyed_jim told me previously they're for a road bars, but I'd have issues with shifters.

No I didn't! I said:

The clue is the "R" in the part number: they're flat-bar levers for a road group.

As I went on to explain, they're designed to work with road caliper brakes, but they're for flat bar use. The clamps are 22.2mm. They won't fit a standard road handlebar.

Sorry if I misquoted / mispresented you, there - I just got the impressiong from reading about the charge bars, that road kit would work with them.

I have some (NOS) XT STI shifters from around 92 (push-push) that I was hoping to use - is there any way to shim them, if they're too big as is to use with Charge Slice bars?

They'll be too small, not too big.

It's possible you might be able to ream out the clamps, but personally I wouldn't bother. Sell them to someone who needs them for that authentic rebuild, and buy yourself some shifters that are nicer to use.

It was ideas on shifters, really, that would work with them (the Charge bars, that is).

The XT STIs I'll always be able to use, probably still for this build - I was only really looking to see if the Charge bars would be in any way usable with the kit I had. I have some MTB flat bars I can use, and I've had no problems with either DX or XT push-push STIs. Later STIs (LX ones from around 95) have often been more unreliable, but these early STIs seem pretty bulletproof. True, they're not quite as ergonomic as the push / trigger STIs that came out later, but they seem to compensate with reliability.

True enough, I would prefer some nice thumbshifters - but these days they seem to go for silly money.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Sorry if I misquoted / mispresented you, there

I forgive you. Don't do it again.

I just got the impression from reading about the charge bars, that road kit would work with them.

That's broadly true, but obviously it's not going to be true of road parts that are designed specifically to work with an mtb-diameter bar - like your BL-R550 brake levers.

It was ideas on shifters, really, that would work with them (the Charge bars, that is).

Bar-end shifters might work, depending on the internal diameter of these bars. Check that with Charge. You might be able to use an early Gripshift* on the end sections, combined with bar-end brake levers. By and large though, you're going to have an easier time with either a flat bar and bar ends, or something like a Scott AT2, which is designed to work with the components you already have. It's retro as well.

* http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0512718872