Recommend me: some drop bars

cookiemonster

Right, I've a focus cayo which has Deda Piega bars. Now they're not exactly top of the range items, but to be honest I'd be perfectly happy with them except that they're a bit wide for me (about 45cm); I'm happier with 42cm bars

So, what to replace them with? Typically, as i'm changing something I'll take the opportunity to upgrade it but as I use (or will use, I'm off the bike at the mo' - another story) it just for training, enjoyment, longer rides and assuming all goes well, sportives next year, I really cant justify £100 plus carbon. There's just no need.

I'm looking at the Easton EA70 wing. They're about £50, seem reasonably priced, weighted and stiff from the reviews, and I like the flat wing idea for comfort. But, are there any other recommendations in the mid-range? ITM seem to have some decent kit also. Or has anyone an opinion on the EA70 wing bars?

Cheers

Jon

wildmoustache

in all honesty i think the Newton Shallow OS's are the best bar ever made. So stiff, so well shaped.

I have them on one rig and just for weight reduction have syntace carbon on my other (175g vs 250gish), syntaces soak up more buzz but dedas are better shaped and stiffer. they really are very stiff indeed those dedas and inspire confidence for sprints.

LangerDan

+1 for the Deda Newtons but I've also been impressed with (Shimano) PRO PLT OS with round bend I have on another bike.

Old Tuggo

Deda 215 Anatomic Shallow are a good shape as well as being stiff and light but not many shops seem to stock them.

Old Tuggo

Just realised that they may not be anatomic as they are the traditional rounded drops.

JWSurrey

On the Audaxer I run a pair of ultra-comfy bars.
They may be a bit radical and not light enough for your liking - ITM Marathon.
They have a great swept-back design, which gives me lots of position choices, though they're better for riding on the hoods than on the drops, which are a little uncomfortable due to the sweep-back reducing the drop-positiions where I can reach the levers.
They've received a number of good reviews - I think Ribble still sell them.

They're not an oversized bar though (apologies for not knowing the different diameters), so you may need a stem change - Not sure on the diameter of your current ones.

Personally, for long distance, I'm generally on the hoods.
I may experiment with some shallow drop bars, which would be less of a stretch for long durations.

The other bike's running Deda Newtons - fabulous - Covered in a comfy Fizik tape - Though a little too tactile with suede palm gloves.

speedstersimon

I recently got a set of Race Face Revolutions from CRC for £40. Found to shape to be really comfy (short reach 86mm/deep-ish drop 142mm) and stiff enough. Came in at 214g for a 42cm c-t-c.

cookiemonster

Thanks for this.

I like the look of the itm marathon - comfort is more important than a 50g weight saving, but I dont really want the hassle of fitting a standard bar to oversize stem. The deda 215's are standard size also (looks like they're the standard size version of the newton?).

The newton comes in deep, shallow or anatomic (which is pretty much deep with a straight edge). I realise the newtons are light and stiff which is great for racers, but are they "comfy" enough - any probs with road vibs, etc ?

The race face and Pro bars look fine also, I guess I wouldnt really be able to tell the difference between them and the newtons. I rarely use the drops to be honest (maybe as I've currently got my bars set too low...), so comfort on the hoods is more important than the drops.

jon

il_principe

+2 for the Deda Newton, comes in trad or anatomical. Good enough that I've wacked some on my new Pinarello.

APIII

Another vote for the Newtons.
If you're really concerned about road buzz on longer rides, just get them double taped.

richardjallen

Bontrager make some buzz kill bar end inserts as well. They are a weight suspended in a rubber cage. I think the idea is vibrations cause the weight to bounce around out of phase with the vibrations thus canceling the bumps. They seem to have some effect.

wildmoustache

i tried the buzzkill harmonic dampeners and thought they were a waste of time ... i just couldn't feel any difference no matter how hard i tried to engage the placebo effect

they also add a fair bit of weight. they do look nice though.

eh

Deda 215 Shallow drop here (apparently as used by LA, which if I'd realised at the time would probably of meant I'd have bought something else ).
NB: Deda also do 215s in anatomic and deep drop styles.

Seriously I find it hard to believe that there is any diference in comfort between bars of the same material and diameter. I certainly can't tell between cheap 3T THE bars and Deda 215s.

wildmoustache

eh wrote:

Deda 215 Shallow drop here (apparently as used by LA, which if I'd realised at the time would probably of meant I'd have bought something else ).
NB: Deda also do 215s in anatomic and deep drop styles.

Seriously I find it hard to believe that there is any diference in comfort between bars of the same material and diameter. I certainly can't tell between cheap 3T THE bars and Deda 215s.

wasn't lance on newtons and then bonty's. might be wrong but that's what i've always believed (not many people outside of cycling are interested in this sort of info )

eh

LA used 215s from 2000 through to 2004, then for 2005 was on Bonty's which I assume is because Bonty are owned by Trek.

wildmoustache

eh wrote:

LA used 215s from 2000 through to 2004, then for 2005 was on Bonty's which I assume is because Bonty are owned by Trek.

are you sure. this link suggests newtons. and there are also photos of lance's bike in 2000 and 2001 front-on with the distinctive deda newton logo on the bars.

not that any of this really matters.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/teamtech04.p ... _armstrong

eh

215s in this report from earlier in the same year:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/teamtech04.p ... /usps_trek

Also look at the pic of him climb just in front of Basso about 2/3rds down page, and that looks like the 215 logo, compare with the next photo shows Ullrich clearly on Newtons.

I was just wondering if LA prefered 215s for climbing and Newtons for all round riding? Or maybe he just had different bikes with different handlebars, who knows?

cookiemonster

From what I can tell Newtons are just oversized 215's (or 215's are standard size Newtons); same bar really.

Umm... I'm convinced Deda Netwon it is - in a shallow bend, cause i'll spend no time in a deep drop, even if it is straight edged. Shame really - i thought the ITM wings would be a cool touch

pcd993

If you ride Campag, Deda Newton - Shimano and it is Deda Supernaturale. Make sure you use a Deda stem too.

cookiemonster

hi, I have shimano, but I bought Newtons - I didnt know that there was any correlation between lever make and bar type?

Anyway, the shimanos fit onto the newtons without any problems. My only two issues are, firstly getting the levers in the "correct" position on the bars, and second, adjusting the tilt of the bars in the stem. I guess this is just trial and error, to find a combination thats comfy.

Stem-wise, I've fairly hideous system-ex stem, as I needed 30 degree / 130mm to get the required height and reach (I needed to raise the bars after a back operation, so the drop between saddle top and bars is about 4cm). Cant see an issue in using a non-Deda stem though?

cheers

jon