Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Love the B123 drops on street.

Finally after a year of comtemplating of getting the nitto b123's I finally did. I had standard road drops before, and I did not notice any discomfort with the 123's. In fact I loved the feeling of riding in the drops, I really like being low like that, I was hauling some serious arse on some flats. Another thing I found was no lose of hand positions, personally they feel the same up top as standard road drops.

Grant it I only did two 20 mile rides on the weekend so time will tell, but overall I am extremely happy with the bars for street riding. Just proves a point of what doesn't work for some will do for others, especially not taking full advice on the internet until one physically tries it themselves.

Why ride track drops on the street if not solely for fashion? Road drops are so very similar but with better flats and the possibility of a hood position. Sounds like placebo affect to me.

If you enjoy it though, rock on.

what width did you get? Im about to pick some up used for a good price. Any pics?

I agree, I like B123's too. They are great and I felt faster. I used them on the street for a while too.

I stopped using them because my neck starting hurting from riding in the drops all the time and not being able to see what was coming ahead as well as a more upright position.

I'd like to try 123's or 125's someday. Just waiting to get a deal on these.
I remember a member on here that rode chopped/flipped 123's. I'd like to try those
sometime too...

what width did you get? Im about to pick some up used for a good price. Any pics?

I got 42cm, I am 5'11" with somewhat wide shoulders. I found a sweet deal off ebay for buy now at $40,used once by owner.

Why ride track drops on the street if not solely for fashion? Road drops are so very similar but with better flats and the possibility of a hood position. Sounds like placebo affect to me.

If you enjoy it though, rock on.


+1

Nitto noodles will give you more hand positions, can get you just a low and still give you the Nitto bling/quality factor. I have a pair of alloy b123s that rock but they are useless for long road rides as you effectively have only 2 real hand positions. b123s are purty though.

Why ride track drops on the street if not solely for fashion? Road drops are so very similar but with better flats and the possibility of a hood position. Sounds like placebo affect to me.

If you enjoy it though, rock on.


I am going to be extremely honest and say yes I love the way they look on a bike. I had my doubts on comfort but personally for me I see zero difference on riding the flats between 123's and standard road drops, but like I said humans are wired differently.

You can't get any of the following hand positions on any track drops (by design actually). All three are vital for road riding and/or longer rides. Sure you can grab the "flat" (relative) of the b123 but that puts your hands facing down and is far from an optimal ergonomic position, not to mention generating power.


http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w55/noseley/100_1334Medium.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w55/noseley/100_1337Medium.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w55/noseley/100_1335Medium.jpg

nitto noodles + hoods rule.
that's what I use.
way more comfortable than track drops.
I wont ever go back to them on the streets
especially since the noodles are just so comfortable in every position.

nitto noodles + hoods rule.
that's what I use.
way more comfortable than track drops.
I wont ever go back to them on the streets
especially since the noodles are just so comfortable in every position.

+1

You don't even need hoods with noodles (though they rock more with hoods).

From somebody who rides b123's on the street, they are a foolish choice to use for that purpose. I am stupid for using them. Get some noodles or rando bars. Your wrists and back will thank you.

I used a set of b123's on the road for a while and enjoyed them. Beasting with them was much easier than any other bar I ever used. I actually just took them off this past weekend. If anyone is interested in them, shoot me a pm.

That wonderful feeling you have right now about these bars will surely fade away with time like it did to most of us who used them. They are heavy and are in no way comfortable on long rides, the flat part is too close to the stem which makes you put your arms so close together that it affects how you pedal as well as your breathing. Enjoy them, they'll soon be on CL or eBay as "Only used once BUY IT NOW FOR $40" :D

hey, you know what you all forgot?
preference.

also, hand positions are what you make of them. also, you do not ride a track bike the way you would ride a road bike.

also, you do not ride a track bike the way you would ride a road bike.

I disagree with this. Some people do in fact use their track bikes enough that they're spending more than a half hour per day in the saddle. At this point, different hand positions do in fact come in handy, as well as all those times you find yourself needing more than just a hand position for sprinting (which is really all you get with track drops).

If you're actually a cyclist (ie, someone who actually rides their bike) you pretty much do treat your track bike like a road bike. Long hours in the saddle, climbing, resting, etc are all things a road bike is designed for. The fact that you're on a fixed drive train doesn't amount to much of a difference

hey, you know what you all forgot?
preference.
also, hand positions are what you make of them. also, you do not ride a track bike the way you would ride a road bike.

so, if I prefer to ride with no handlebars or stem and simply make turns by leaning over and pulling on the fork, that would not be impractical because it's my preference and thus above any criticism?

Someone is selling a these on my local CL. I was thinking about picking them up, but I don't know.

hey, you know what you all forgot?
preference.

also, hand positions are what you make of them. also, you do not ride a track bike the way you would ride a road bike.

That is only true in a velodrome which the OP says he's riding this bike in the street so it doesn't apply. perhaps you think there's a difference because you maybe only ride your bike 2 minutes at a time while the rest of us go for much longer than that.

From somebody who rides b123's on the street, they are a foolish choice to use for that purpose. I am stupid for using them. Get some noodles or rando bars. Your wrists and back will thank you.

+1

Riding 123s on the street is like driving in a full carbon rigid racing car seat. It's awesome for what it's designed to do, but uncomfortable for anything else.

To the OP: I'm glad that you dig them. And yes it's all about preference.

To everyone else: Drop bars come in different drop depths and different widths for a reason. That's why Nitto makes 123s, 125s, Noodles, etc... Find the one that fits your body and riding style.

Also, NJS DOES NOT mean it's better. Actually it just means that it's old technology. Because Keirin is a gambling sport about the riders and not the equipment, the equipment standard was set in the 70s or 80s (not sure). That's why all of the bikes are "old school". Technology has come a long way since then.

track drops are good for speed. Keep in mind that most of the discomfort that people get from track drops comes from how they're positioned on them. It's natural to want to stick your arms out straight in the drops, but once you learn to bend your elbows, and arch your back a bit they can be comfortable.

But for all day comfort, they suck.

hey, you know what you all forgot?
preference.

also, hand positions are what you make of them. also, you do not ride a track bike the way you would ride a road bike.

Really? So as a roadie who primarily trains on and rides a fixed road bike I'm doing something wrong? Hmmm.

hey, you know what you all forgot?
preference.

also, hand positions are what you make of them. also, you do not ride a track bike the way you would ride a road bike.

Let's see...

Street fixed riding vs Road riding

Pedal for locomotion [check][check]
Sprint [check][check]
Ride long distance [check][check]
Climb hills [check][check]
Descend [check][check]
Cruise [check][check]


I'm not sure you are right. Fixed or free gearing doesn't have much to do with what types of riding is taking place. Fixed rides may be shorter, but it's still your butt in the saddle, feet on the pedals, hands on the bars and the same road in front of you.



You ever use the stationary bike at the gym for more than 10 minutes? Ever switch hand positions?


...I thought so.

Guys, you're missing the point. The OP is saying he's comfortable and likes the bars- i've ridden them and i liked them as well, so essentially you're telling us we're wrong for something we FEEL. Do you know how senseless it is to argue with that? Ever heard of the problem of Qualia? So what if your road bars work for you- good, you found a fit you like, don't bash someone for trying a handlebar you dislike and enjoying it though. Just because there's a trend going around doesn't mean there is a lack of validity behind it for some people.

And as far as my track vs road bike comment, maybe i should have said 'fixed gear'. I don't know how you guys ride them both the same though, maybe we use our bikes differently. I like to skid, i waste tires, i enjoy it- and to do all that, i bend my body certain ways and torque myself on the bike, i lean on or pull the bars different ways, a round bend can me more forgiving sometimes, that's not the original intent of the bar though- it's just found some comfort applied in other ways. But that's all my preference, why? Because i don't like the straight angle of the road bars. Should you care? Probably not, but seemingly its a big deal to everyone for somebody to be 'right'.

what's your average riding distance?

one's bars should fit the application. it is not a matter of being "right" -- whatever that means.
it's a matter of placing practicality first. if you ride a dozen or more miles at a time regularly or appreciate multiple hand positions (i.e. more than just 1.5 positions), a track bar just wont cut it. and some of us over the years have realized this.

I spend many hours in the saddle and rando bars with hoods (and at least one brake) are best for me... my hybrid has cross bars which I don't mind either.

Track drops would kill me.

So far I've got 5mi on my Bianchi Pista stock bars.

I love them, but we'll see.

what's your average riding distance?

one's bars should fit the application. it is not a matter of being "right" -- whatever that means.
it's a matter of placing practicality first. if you ride a dozen or more miles at a time regularly or appreciate multiple hand positions (i.e. more than just 1.5 positions), a track bar just wont cut it. and some of us over the years have realized this.

My riding distance varies, and I certainly switch different bars for different applications. I don't see the point in telling him otherwise if he's comfortable. You can say he's using them wrong and that he needs the ideal road bars with hoods for his application- but hey, he's fine where he's at and he's having fun(what was biking about again?). Until he's on here complaining about wrist/hand issues i don't know why you guys need to be so hard about it. "hey, cool- if you get wrist problems you might want to try different bars, cause those lack lots of positions" probably would have worked instead of 2 pages of *****ing back and forth(myself included of course).

These ARE great handlebars. I got them in the 40cm size, even though 42cm is technically my size. I use mine in a different way, instead of the bottom flat part of the drops being parallel to the ground, I have the top parallel parts parallel to the ground. I am strange, yes, but I've seen Keirin riders do it too, so it's gotta be a legit way.

Example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25484700@N08/2422509638/

Give it a shot, it gives you the "bullhorn" position while riding, perfect for skidding. And your knees don't hit the drops. :P

Wow I talked a lot. But yes, I LOVE LOVE LOVE these bars too. Rock on, man.

+1

Riding 123s on the street is like driving in a full carbon rigid racing car seat. It's awesome for what it's designed to do, but uncomfortable for anything else.

To the OP: I'm glad that you dig them. And yes it's all about preference.

To everyone else: Drop bars come in different drop depths and different widths for a reason. That's why Nitto makes 123s, 125s, Noodles, etc... Find the one that fits your body and riding style.

Also, NJS DOES NOT mean it's better. Actually it just means that it's old technology. Because Keirin is a gambling sport about the riders and not the equipment, the equipment standard was set in the 70s or 80s (not sure). That's why all of the bikes are "old school". Technology has come a long way since then.


What are you talking about? Keirin standards always change.

That wonderful feeling you have right now about these bars will surely fade away with time like it did to most of us who used them. They are heavy and are in no way comfortable on long rides, the flat part is too close to the stem which makes you put your arms so close together that it affects how you pedal as well as your breathing. Enjoy them, they'll soon be on CL or eBay as "Only used once BUY IT NOW FOR $40" :D


I used to road race when I was 16 - 21 years old and, and just used to do a tons of riding in general on a geared bike and my most natural hand postion is close to the stem, so 123's are perfect for me. This has never effected my pedaling ability and honestly, this a huge myth about having your hands close will inhibit your lung compacity and pedaling technique, don't listen to everything Lance says :)

I atually like riding on the slope or hoods of 123's as well, I turn my wrist upside down and keep my thumb down the slope, extremely comfortable. Btw my bars are completely wrapped so I can do that.

And the end of the day it's only bike, I am having fun.

These ARE great handlebars. I got them in the 40cm size, even though 42cm is technically my size. I use mine in a different way, instead of the bottom flat part of the drops being parallel to the ground, I have the top parallel parts parallel to the ground. I am strange, yes, but I've seen Keirin riders do it too, so it's gotta be a legit way.

Example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25484700@N08/2422509638/

Give it a shot, it gives you the "bullhorn" position while riding, perfect for skidding. And your knees don't hit the drops. :P

Wow I talked a lot. But yes, I LOVE LOVE LOVE these bars too. Rock on, man.


Funny because that is exactly how I set mine up.

Funny because that is exactly how I set mine up.

High Five, homes.

When you're in the drops with our setup, you feel more forward, I feel so cramped when I ride them in the "default" setting.