Compact bars - opinions

sandbag

I like the anatomical design in the drops, it comfier for me. Without able to ride test. I wondering, if compacts would be better and comfier overall.

What benefits do you get with compact bars?

Is it possible to get the anatomical design with a compact?

Thanks.

hopper1

I believe that compacts offer a shorter reach.
And yes, you can get compact anatomic bars...


I have these, but not anatomic... Very nice.

sandbag

Very nice, but your's are anatomic as well, they have the flat piece in the drops, straighten those ends out abit and they be same(joke). I find i can really get a good hold and produce more power.

Like these.

sandbag

The shape of the drop may be a simple, traditional curve, or it can have a flat spot (straight section) which some riders find to be more comfortable for their hands. These bars may be described as ergo or anatomic.

FSA’s compact handlebars offer riders a new ergonomic choice. The compact
handlebar is versatile in use and is widely appreciated by all types of riders from
professional sprinters to weekend warriors.

In choosing a compact handlebar, one should be familiar with its differences from
traditional bend bars.

Traditional bend handlebars are measured by the distance between the drop bends—
generally from the center of the tube to the center of the tube

FSA’s compact handlebars are designed to provide a more comfortable hand position
in the drops for riders who have smaller hands, reach too far or have problems with
the forearms hitting the bar-tops while sprinting.

In choosing a new compact bar, consider that FSA’s compact bars are measured from
the center of the bar ends

Note that the drops flare outward. This means that the measurement at the bends will
be considerably shorter than the bar’s actual measurement.

sandbag

I see, so you can reach easier with compacts.

This flaring outwards of the drops, Is it very noticeable?

sandbag

Compacts

sandbag

Surprisingly, FSA doesn't have compacts with anatomic design in alloy or carbon.

http://road.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx ... ut=product
http://road.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx ... ut=product

rake

theyre good for ungloved hands with rubber covers on the brake lever. easier to reach. :idea:

sandbag

Hey hopper1 those handlebars you mentioned are these.

FSA K-Wing Anatomic Compact Road Bar 2009.They not on the site because they so last year.

It even mentions there anatomic in the title lol. Compact as well but they look alittle bigger to conventional compact. Seems new models are not anatomic, interesting.

In white

hopper1

I was using the picture as a rough idea... I said I have those but not anatomic version.

These are the same as mine.


How do you mean, 'so last year'?

sandbag

rake wrote:

theyre good for ungloved hands with rubber covers on the brake lever. easier to reach. :idea:

When you go out in really cold weather you appreciate. The weather is snow at moment but is quite mild compared to Nov,Dec last. Now that i got modem 105 glossy sti levers on new bike, i find the comfort is much better, smoother. It made of a different material perhaps.

sandbag

@hopper1

Sorry the way you worded it, i thought you meant the one in picture is not anatomic, but you meant yours. Cheers.

You showed a 2009 model (not yours) and they not doing that design in 2010 it would appear. All the models on the FSA website are mainly compacts especially the one's in carbon. I presume those are the 2010 models, as most sites list the most current range and archive the older models. I thought they be at least one anatomic design in the compact as well. So they seem to be pushing the compact design more. Looks like i have to buy a 2009 model or a different make, if i want what i want

PS. Those bars you suggested are £179 and out of my budget...

Crankmeister

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=com ... EWM0KTdCOY

Maybe this could help?

redddraggon

is sandbag = Giantsasquatch?

hopper1

redddraggon wrote:

is sandbag = Giantsasquatch?

He does spend a lot of time contributing to his own thread.... :roll:

sandbag

I was just bumping my own thread for once, as i wanted a early answer. I am talking about compact handlebars, not compact gears. Maybe i want compact everything lol. :P. Sorry to disappoint.

I might get some recent compact handlebars and forsake the anatomic bit just to try compact. Ones like you got hopper1. They look very compact as well.

I like to hold onto the drops while standing, going uphill.

Is the top bar comfier than your traditional types?

sandbag

@Crankmeister

Thanks, that is helpful, Sounds like the design of compact does away with the need for anatomic, as long as you fit in the requirements of needing a compact. I like the extra reach, so i give them a go.

Cheers.

sandbag

Read the review on the K-Wing. Said the flatter top bar can be less comfortable due to not being able to wrap your hands around properly.

Crankmeister

Sandbag im glad that was of a help to you.i think those bars maybe on my list.i will be considering 3T shallow drop bars also.

mattsccm

correct me if I am wrong but what compacts do is bring the lower drops up and maybe the fronts back. Fair enough. The latter can also be achieved surely with a shorter stem?
What compacts don't do (so I am told, and often the reason why people ask about compacts) is bring the brake levers closer to the hands when on the drops. what we need is a bar which has a recess for the levers to be mounted in. I need about 10mm for the levers to be near enough. Or longer fingers. And this is with the levers set as close as they can be.
Ideas?

skyd0g

mattsccm wrote:

correct me if I am wrong but what compacts do is bring the lower drops up and maybe the fronts back. Fair enough. The latter can also be achieved surely with a shorter stem?
What compacts don't do (so I am told, and often the reason why people ask about compacts) is bring the brake levers closer to the hands when on the drops. what we need is a bar which has a recess for the levers to be mounted in. I need about 10mm for the levers to be near enough. Or longer fingers. And this is with the levers set as close as they can be.
Ideas?

Position the brake levers on the bar prior to wrapping with bar tape and test it out. A small difference in the position of the levers on the curve of the bar can make a big difference in the amount of reach.

FWIW I changed from Ritchey Ergo bars to FSA Omega compacts and found it to be a massive improvement in my comfort especially on the drops.

sandbag

The shallow 125mm drop on the Omega makes the transition from hoods to drops less pronounced than a standard 140-160mm drop anatomic bar, and FSA have been generous, providing a longer-than-average section on the drops.

The design also has a shorter forward reach than most anatomic bars, providing a slightly more upright riding position when your hands are on the hoods.

sandbag

I thought they be more opinions, that's why i went digging.

Aero shift/brake levers changed the cyclist’s cockpit moving the main position for braking and shifting to the hoods from the hooks / downtube. It also moved the postion forward out past the hooks as the brifter grew into a full handlebar extension. This required riders to lower their bars relative to their saddle to maintain the same riding position. Manufacturers responded with an ultra shallow bar with a short reach that raises the drops and moves the in the hoods position back. Clearance for the arms with a 125mm drop is maintained by having a shallow bend out of the hook and extending the drop farther back then with traditional bars. The trade off is less variation of position between hand positions. An advantage to some a deal killer for others. FSA, Deda, 3T and most manufacturers have compact versions of their most popular bars.

Source: Road Bar geometry
http://ruedatropical.wordpress.com/2009 ... -geometry/

sandbag

Many of us despise anatomic drop handlebars. Deda, Oval Concepts, and Ritchey all responded to this call by making various iterations of shallow and deep handlebars. These bars vary in drop and reach, but they all share one common trait: They have round drops, not the despicable anatomic drops. FSA is the latest company to join this trend. By "compact" handlebars, FSA means shallow drop handlebars.

sandbag

If you use the drops alot, compacts will benefit you.

redddraggon

I can't see past classic shaped shallow bars. The champions choice. Probably a reason why that shape is one of the most popular in the peloton.

sandbag

Peleton riders are more flexible and they can tolerate discomfort more. The compact gives them more reach but at same time, keeps them bent over well for aggresive riding. They are stretched out but still have bent arms on the hoods.

Compact handlebars have a 80mm reach and a 135mm drop. Some don't say they are.

redddraggon

Defo Giantsasquatch.

sandbag

redddraggon wrote:

I can't see past classic shaped shallow bars. The champions choice. Probably a reason why that shape is one of the most popular in the peloton.

Shallow / Italian Classic: The 138mm drop of the classic ’shallow’ drop bar is actualy quite large compared to today’s compact bars. Classic examples include the Cinelli model 64 Giro D’Italia (138mm drop) and 3TTT TdF bend (138mm drop). Modern Italian classic bars include the Deda Newton / 215 shallow (135 mm drop) and and the 3T Rotundo (139 mm drop).

With traditional bars, riders tend to move the brakes up higher and point the bars down slightly. The trouble is they are harder to use when in the drops. I don't know but using 'compact' could alleviate this.

redddraggon

Don't know about that, my 3T Rotundos are far better in the drops than the FSA Omegas

sandbag

You have compact on the brain.

Do us a favour, change that awful avatar . No need. I forget i can block it with Admucher .