Handlebars?

gabriel959

Seeing as Xmas is approaching fast I have been thinking what to upgrade on my ti bike and thought that the handlebars could do with an upgrade as they are really bottom of the range (although comfy and quite stiff).

They are these ones and as you can see quite traditionally shaped.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... ight-32259

What do you guys recommend? I hear that 3T make some great bars, what about other brands and in particular which models? I am looking at some of the more ergonomical bars instead of the traditional shaped ones.

dennisn

FWIW. If your present bars are "comfy and stiff" I'm not sure what you expect or think this "upgrade" will do for you????? I have a set of Ritchey bars with an "ergo" bump
in them for the palms of your hands. It's OK but nothing I would actually search for or
list as "must have" if I was going to buy new ones. If you're looking to upgrade looks wise, well, the sky is the limit.

gabriel959

Hehehe, Dennis, you have a point!

They are reasonably comfy but I am looking at bars that are even comfier as I am looking at quite long sportives and events for next year and in the few rides I have done with those I didn’t feel completely comfortable on the drops. Looks wise I really don’t care much although it they are shinny I will not complain!

I plan to re-use these bars on my winter/commuting bike though as the ones that came with it are absolute junk.

dennisn

gabriel959 wrote:

Hehehe, Dennis, you have a point!

They are reasonably comfy but I am looking at bars that are even comfier as I am looking at quite long sportives and events for next year and in the few rides I have done with those I didn’t feel completely comfortable on the drops. Looks wise I really don’t care much although it they are shinny I will not complain!

I plan to re-use these bars on my winter/commuting bike though as the ones that came with it are absolute junk.

I'm sort of the opinion that "comfy" bars are like "comfy" saddles. To each his own.
Not really sure how many people are all that comfortable riding in the drops for long periods of time, so can't really comment on that. For myself, I ride mostly on top of the bars and hoods(I don't race anymore). It's more comfortable and I'm old.

Nuggs

I love my Deda Newton Shallows: http://www.parker-international.co.uk/1 ... -Bars.html

Light, stiff and (with Fizik gel pads) very comfy too.

hopper1

I have these.
Available here.

prawny

I hear good hings about FSA Omega compact drops. Comfort wise.

Still using the ritchey comp ones that came on my Boardman, they're ok but could do with a bit more extention after the drop.

gkerr4

i have the cinelli neo morphe bars and they are the best addition I have made to the bike.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Cinel ... 360033756/

not the lightest bars you can buy (but certainly not heavy!) the moulding and added hand grip points make such a difference I can't describe it.

not cheap but really really good.

gabriel959

All good options, but a tad too expensive and carbon, I would prefer aluminium as my stem is alu and is pretty good as it stands. I don't want to faff about with tightening the screws too much.

I think I am going to let my wife know that I really like the Deda Newtons!!!

Thanks!

huuregeil

Gabriel,

The first question you've got to ask yourself is why, and in which ways, are your current bars uncomfortable? Is the drop or the reach too large? Can you reach the levers with ease? Is the shape of the curve not right? What is the shape of the current curve? How big are your hands? How far down the curve do you want your hoods? In other words, is it the shape of the bar that is causing discomfort, or the position it puts your body in when in the drops?

Something like the deda shallow only really works if you've got smaller hands. The compact shape has a really nice curve but shallow drop and they can put the levers quite far away, so no good if you have short fingers. Anatomics are all well and good if they suit your hand, but annoying/uncomfortable if they don't. And, assuming you get the dimensions right, classic bends have a lot going for them.

I think for comfort cruising, the compact shape is getting on for ideal, because they're very comfortable to hold in different positions and the hood-to-drop variation in body position is less extreme. The only negatives are: the typically short reach and flat transition to the hoods deprives you of an true up-and-back position when slogging up a hill (i.e. when you hold the horizontal bit of the bar near the stem and slide back in the saddle); the shallow drop isn't so good for sprinting; short fingers can be a problem. Otherwise great! I have 3T Ergonovas and like them a lot. But it's not a perfect bar for me by all means - my current object of lust is a Pro Vibe 7S Round, which looks like it might tick all my boxes!

hopper1

gabriel959 wrote:

All good options, but a tad too expensive and carbon, I would prefer aluminium as my stem is alu and is pretty good as it stands. I don't want to faff about with tightening the screws too much.

I think I am going to let my wife know that I really like the Deda Newtons!!!

Thanks!

:shock: Surely you should be telling Santa...? :roll: