Drop bar bike throttle, any ideas?

[-dg]

I'd speccing a front hub roadbike build. The goal is some assist but keeping it as much a bike as possible. The target bike has drop bars which I do not want to change. What do people do for throttles on drop bar bikes. I searched but did not find anything helpful.

So far I have come up with:
- Add an aerobar some similar device and mount a thumb throttle to that. Which would work at least in the sense that it could be built, but it seems like it would be awkward to ride that way.
- Build an Ardiuno/AVR based throttle controlled by buttons on the bar like the Commuter Booster button throttle. Could work, but seems ambitious for a first build when the primary question is likely "how come it doesn't work?" Adding hardware and firmware development to what is already likely a learning experience seems a but much.

Any suggestions?

 

[llile]

3 position switch throttle http://ebikes.ca/store/photos/T-3Switch.jpg Should be able to set it and forget it. Put it where it is handy in case you need to stop quickly. Also, might be a good idea to use an E-Brake option, so when you touch the brakes the controller cuts out.

 

[Stevil_Knevil]

I have had success mounting thumb throttles on these->

http://www.minourausa.com/english/accessory-e/lh50-e.html

You even have the option of dual throttle position/functionality by installing one each on the top bar and the drop, then wire them in parallel.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Use a left handed throttle, and mount it backwards on the drop part of the bar, so large part of the throttle is at the very end of the bar. you maky have to trim the grip to make it fit. Or you should be able to get a normal thumb throttle on there.

 

[neptronix]

I have had success mounting thumb throttles on these->

http://www.minourausa.com/english/accessory-e/lh50-e.html

You even have the option of dual throttle position/functionality by installing one each on the top bar and the drop, then wire them in parallel.

Genius! I have the minoura space grip ( i use it for my gopro mount ) and like it very much as well. +1 for this find.

 

[-dg]

I have had success mounting thumb throttles on these->

http://www.minourausa.com/english/accessory-e/lh50-e.html

You even have the option of dual throttle position/functionality by installing one each on the top bar and the drop, then wire them in parallel.

I was thinking of those as a last resort. How did you orient it and where did you place it on the bar? My bars are kinda crowded with Paul thumbies, interrupter levers, a bell, and the usual brake levers. What hand positions work with that mount for a throttle?

Thanks!

 

[-dg]

3 position switch throttle http://ebikes.ca/store/photos/T-3Switch.jpg Should be able to set it and forget it. Put it where it is handy in case you need to stop quickly. Also, might be a good idea to use an E-Brake option, so when you touch the brakes the controller cuts out.

Just so I understand better, are you proposing that this work with a programmable controlller so that pos 1 can be off, 2, can be slow, and three can be fast? Or am I misunderstanding how this should work? Because that might be enough controll, but how would it be wired?

 

[Stevil_Knevil]

My application was on a recumbent tadpole that had vertical bars and grip shifters, but I imagine that just forward of the lower flat - pointing left - and/or just to the right of the stem - pointing back, down or at 4-5 o'clock (trigger style?) - should work well on road bars.

These mounts are easy to move around, so you can experiment until you find a few comfortable thumb/finger positions. Can you post up pix of your handlebars?