Flexy handlebar replacement. Standard or Oversize?

daveydave43
daveydave43 Posts: 200
edited May 2010 in Road buying advice
Hi. I got a secondhand Cannondale caad4 R500 for a birthday present, and whilst im delighted with the bike as a whole, I can detect some flexing in the handlebars when sprinting and climbing on the drops.

the bars in question are Deda 310 anatomic standard size.

Has anyone experienced standard size bars flexing, and is it normal

Furthermore, i'm looking to change the bars anyway, so should i go for some with an oversized clamp zone with a new stem, and would this provide the extra stiffness, or can i get some stiff bars for around £30 in the standard size?

Any help would be appreciated
Cheers :D:D
Go for the break
Create a chaingang
Make sure you don't break your chain

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    OS is the standard these days - availability of 26mm stuff is getting increasingly hard unless shopping for bargains / ebay. If you're looking for a stiffer set-up, OS will provide a noticable improvement.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • daveydave43
    daveydave43 Posts: 200
    so whatever standard bar i could choose. i should always expect to have this flex?
    Go for the break
    Create a chaingang
    Make sure you don't break your chain
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I've never noticed flexing in my bars - And the OS stuff is only OS in the centre anyway - so I cant see that it would make that much of a difference. Upgrade them if you want to - but its a new stem and bars you'd need so it gets pricey for a small perceived benefit ?

    I do think its more marketing led than anything else the switch to OS.

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