Stiff&light handle bars

852Kompol

Yes I know, Light-Stiff-Cheap Pick 2,

I recently noticed(perhaps after my core training) the bars are not that stiff for me to go all out Sprint.

in the drops there are some flex and does have some flex when I yank on them...

My current bars aren't that bad to begin with (Engage Apsis Ergo bars)

but is there any options that are better?
Had anyone try these before and know if they are any good?
https://www.haero-carbon.com/shop/lenke ... er-h380-tr

TIA

amrushton

Take a look at what people like Greipel/Cavendish/Boonen use then if you can still feel flex perhaps you are just 'too strong'

fenix

Aah the old 'I would have sprinted faster but my handlebars were too bendy' routine.... :-)

Griepel rides carbon-fibre Deda M35 bars - that should be good enough for you.

bendertherobot

Deda Zero 100 should be up to it.

Anonymous

Zero100 aren't actually that stiff according to reviews. I have a pair and although I can't complain, I am no gorilla.

"Inevitably, stiffness has been sacrificed during the diet. The Zero 100 felt flexible when cornering or hauling on the drops, and had a low score for stiffness in the lab."

bendertherobot

Who are these behemoths?

fenix

I think reviewers have to say something. I cant imagine a bar flexing when cornering ??

More like they did the lab tests, saw the 'results' and that's tainting their perception.

I've never noticed a floppy handle bar ever.

bendertherobot

Fenix wrote:

I think reviewers have to say something. I cant imagine a bar flexing when cornering ??

More like they did the lab tests, saw the 'results' and that's tainting their perception.

I've never noticed a floppy handle bar ever.

My FSA super light carbon ones were a bit. Never noticed it otherwise.

ugo.santalucia

The stiffest bars will be the ones with the biggest section, so the Deda 35 should be the stiffest, no contest. Weight is pretty much the same... the lightest bars on the market will be 200 grams, the heaviest just over 300, peanuts

jermas

Also check it's not the stem flexing. Some long light stems can flex a fair bit adding to any movement coming from the bars. My old Ritchey wcs stem makes the bars feel very flexy.

debeli

852Kompol wrote:

Yes I know, Light-Stiff-Cheap Pick 2,

I recently noticed(perhaps after my core training) the bars are not that stiff for me to go all out Sprint.

in the drops there are some flex and does have some flex when I yank on them...

My current bars aren't that bad to begin with (Engage Apsis Ergo bars)

but is there any options that are better?
Had anyone try these before and know if they are any good?
https://www.haero-carbon.com/shop/lenke ... er-h380-tr

TIA

I'm not sure I understand the question. The flex was only recently noticed. Had it not been there before or had you not sprinted hard until then?

Your current bars are jolly good and should be up to all sorts of sprinting abuse. You may find lighter ones, but wouldn't notice the difference and you may find stiffer ones but would be hard pressed to notice the difference.

Things do flex and flexing is fine. Your body moves around quite a lot when you cycle, particularly in a hard sprint.

Are you suggesting (it seems you are) that a little core work might have beefed you up so much that you are now bending handlebars which had previously resisted your lateral input?

It is just a bicycle (albeit probably a very lovely one) and you are just a cyclist.

There may be better or stiffer bars out there, but it sounds as if your current set-up is fine. Don't read too much into articles in the press. They are written by people whose salaries are dependent on advertising promoting the next best, stiffest, lightest, fastest thing. Sometimes it turns out to be a bottle of snake oil.

svetty

Debeli wrote:

Things do flex and flexing is fine. Your body moves around quite a lot when you cycle, particularly in a hard sprint.

^ this

852Kompol

Hey Guys, Thanks for the response. I finally found the culprit to this sort of flex...The BARTAPE!

yes, I do normally run thinner tapes(I do prefer slightly rubber-like texture like lizardskin than Cork tape) but I used to run very thin ones(1.8mm). its the recent switch to some Ridea tape(more or less 3mm thick) that make things squishy and not that solid feel when pulling on the drops.

The Stem should be fine (I ran a OS99-FSA 130mm) which should be good enough for me.

Here's a different Question though... I do prefer comfort from the Thicker tapes at the top/hoods but would like a more solid feel to the Drops... Should I go gel inserts or just double wrap the tops beyond the shifters? Thanks folks, sorry about the previous bits.