Road Cycling - Suggestions on handlebars

hey guys and gals, it's Dan the Man again. I'm here to learn about handlebar "technology" and what's out there. I have no clue what kind of handlebars to get. Ideally, I'd like for them to be light and comfortable (like everyone else). Any suggestions on a decent bar?

-Dan the Man-

Hi,
it's personal preference. My LBS put a Salsa Poco on my bike, it's a very nice bar. But I'm thinking of trying a different one next year. Saw a brand new carbon bar in my LBS last week. It's a carbon bar with a large flat area on the top of the bar. It's superlight, and super expensive. Take a look at the dream bar at the Rivendell website; that's the one I'm thinking of trying next year.

Easton EC90,Kestrel EMS Pro/SL,Ritchey WCS Road

I have the ems pro on my road bike. So far they are holding up very well. They are pretty stiff for a carbon bar, they have channels for cabling, and (as far as I know) are the only carbon bar manufacturer to approve of clamp on aero-bars (on the pro only, not the sl) on their handlebars. I have heard of some reports of the aero-bars marring the finish of the bars, but I can't speak from experience.

Hope that helps,
Noloft

(edit) Zipp is now making some nice looking carbon bars. You may want to look at them while you are looking.

Not that I would want this, but just a question.

Do they make a combination handlebar that has built-in aerobars??

-Dan the Man-

I use the Bontrager Race bar. I like the shape quite a bit. It has a longer drop than 3TTT or Deda ergo bars, and it is nice and wide and squareish at the top.

Originally posted by ockey53
Not that I would want this, but just a question.

Do they make a combination handlebar that has built-in aerobars??

The Deda Synapsi carbon bar does just that...

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/images/products/full/dedlha1c03.jpg

Originally posted by ockey53
Not that I would want this, but just a question.

Do they make a combination handlebar that has built-in aerobars??

-Dan the Man-
They have integrated bar/stem

Originally posted by peloton
The Deda Synapsi carbon bar does just that...

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/images/products/full/dedlha1c03.jpg

That is F*%$ing SWEET!!!! I love it!!!!!!!!!!! :D

-Dan the Man-

Originally posted by peloton
The Deda Synapsi carbon bar does just that...

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/images/products/full/dedlha1c03.jpg

I'm almost afraid to ask... How much does one of those run??

It looks so good, I wouldn't want to but tape over it.... :thumbup:


-Dan the Man-

Originally posted by ockey53
I'm almost afraid to ask... How much does one of those run??
'Bout $500.

msrp $720 at 390g

Ouch, nevermind....

-Dan the Man-

Take a look at the 3TTT website. They have a wide selectiuon of different styles, in different sizes. They are very good value and reasonably light.

I really like my ritchey bar. I think it is a Ritchey Biomax Pro. On sale at nashbar for like $35, down from like 80.

Iuse the 3T Zepp XL bar and stem combination.
Very light, stiff.
I can't find Integrated bars to fit me. I use a 110mm stem and 44cm bars. Only width in that stem length is 42cm which I can use but feel cramped.
Too expensive for too little weight saving and no increase in stiffness.

Originally posted by Phatman
I really like my ritchey bar. I think it is a Ritchey Biomax Pro. On sale at nashbar for like $35, down from like 80.

Yeah, I'm getting a Ritchey Pro Road (http://www.nashbar.com/profile_moreimages.cfm?category=92&subcategory=1050&sku=8763&brand=) but I'm not sure what size to get it in...?

-Dan the Man-

Originally posted by ockey53
Yeah, I'm getting a Ritchey Pro Road (http://www.nashbar.com/profile_moreimages.cfm?category=92&subcategory=1050&sku=8763&brand=) but I'm not sure what size to get it in...?

Most people will recommend shoulder-width. I like to get a bar that's slightly wider (center-to-center) than my shoulders so what I do is take a bar and try to wear it. I pop the bar around my shoulders and if it fits snuggly then that's the right size for me.

ok, well, that'll be a little bit tougher if I don't go to my LBS.....

-Dan the Man-

Originally posted by ockey53
ok, well, that'll be a little bit tougher if I don't go to my LBS.....

True. Also I forgot to mention that when looking at handlebar widths, remember to pay close attention as to how the manufacturer has measured their bars. Make sure you're comparing capples to apples. Some manufacturers will measure center-to-center of the drops. Others will measure outside-to-outside and others will measure inside-to-inside. Doing the "wear method" gets you a handlebar width which is measured inside-to-inside.

Khuon, check out a couple of my other posts...

Building a 2001 Specialized Allez Sport (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32801&perpage=15&pagenumber=2)

Sizing components (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33270)

-Dan the Man-