Drop Bars on a "Long" Frame?

[Binky]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Lots to take in and think about.

My plan of action is to get a bike fit with the bike as it is, see how I get on with it but also talk to the fitter about what options I have. Another possibility, and one that's a fairly simple swap, is to try a more conventionally shaped mountain bike bar with bar ends which will give me a couple of hand position options.

[Andyb1]

Often MTB style bars can be cut shorter and I personally find that gives me a better, narrower, position for road use.   One thing to watch out for, a lot of modern MTB bars are for ‘oversized’ clamps.

As PH has said, there are lots of different shapes of handlebar.   The MTB ones I use are 1990s style, almost straight.  The straight bar position can be made to be very similar to using the top of drop bars and if short bar ends are used they can give a position very similar to being on the hoods.  On one bike I use Ergon GP2 grips which have a built in bar end, on another cheapo ebay ergonomic grips and shortened alloy MTB bar ends.

Ergon grips can be bought with a shorter RH grip to accommodate the rohloff shifter, but I guess on a Sherpa you have derailleurs?

[mickeg]

If you change bars, make sure that the straight part where the shifters, brake levers, grip, and any bar ends you add have a long enough straight section to hold all this hardware. 

I bought a used bike years ago that needed new grips from too much weathering and UV exposure, I was surprised that the grips were just a hair too long for all that hardware to fit on the straight section on each side.

Decades ago I put some different bars on one of my Triumph motorcycles.  Bought a used Norton bar to put on.  It was wider than I wanted, but fortunately it had plenty of extra straight section for me to install all the hardware, I think I cut an inch and a half off each side, but that was all that I could cut.