Quite a few people have asked me about the handlebars on my Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT). Following are the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions:

1. They’re not stock.
2. They’re made by Nitto and they’re named “North Road”.
3. They can be ordered through any dealer that orders parts from Quality Bicycle Parts.
4. There are two versions, one aluminum alloy, the other CroMo steel. The alloy version usually has a red “heat-treated” sticker at the center knurling, the steel does not.
5. The steel version accepts Shimano bar-end shifters, the alloy does not.
6. They fit the stock LHT stem, but depending upon how upright you want to sit, you may need to change the stem.
7. You’ll need to replace the stock road levers with mountain bike-style levers.
8. They accept mountain bike grips. If you want to use cork grips with bar-end shifters, be ready for some surgery (e-mail me for instructions).
9. They’re supremely comfortable and turn the LHT into a capable city bike.
10. I luv ‘em!

Waaay back in ‘05, my pal Perry over at The Velvet Foghorn wrote a wonderful piece about the Rivendell Albatross bar, also made by Nitto. The Albatross is a close cousin to the North Road, but it has a little less rise and slightly softer bends. If you like the North Road, you’ll probably like the Albatross as well. Check out Perry’s article here.