Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Handlebar Choices for Long Distance

Looking to finally upgrade my handlebars (my current ones are 38's which I think is too small for me, and they creak). I'm looking at a few different ones (assuming proper fit) anyone have any impressions or recommendations? Looking in the sub 80 dollar range, has to be a 26 clamp, and has to fit into a quill stem, and a 42 c-t-c.

I generally ride long(ish) distance: centuries, double metrics, (hopefully a 300k and a double century in the next two months).

I've been looking at the following:
1) Deda 215
2) Ritchey Pro Logic
3) Ritchey Pro Biomax (I or II not sure of the difference) - I'm leaning pretty heavily towards this one.

Any others I should consider?

I like the Nitto Noodle bars, about $55
http://www.velo-orange.com/ninobar44.html

I like the Noodle a lot, and also the Nitto Randonneur.

FWIW, I hated the Salsa Poco, which is the same as the Richey Biomax.

I like the Salsa Moto-Ace Bell Lap. It's a CX bar, actually; but the ergo drops are really comfortable. It's a short reach, not a really deep drop, and they have a pretty wide flare (12 degrees rather than the Nitto Rando's 4 degree) which I find to be very comfortable.
They're a 26.0 clamp, they'll work in a quill, and you can get them in a 42cm. Just be aware that they're wider than 42 in the drops because of the flaring. I have 46cm Bell Laps and they measure 46 c-t-c at the hoods (top of bend), but they're 53 c-t-c at the ends (measured at the joint between bar and barcon shifter).

I like the Nitto Noodle bars, about $55
http://www.velo-orange.com/ninobar44.html

I was thinking the Noodle bars originally, they are very similar to my SR Customs (the bars that came with the bike), but ever since I installed my brifters, I have trouble finding the right angle in the drops. I do however love Nitto products (I've got the Nitto Deluxe stem) so it isn't off the table yet.


I like the Noodle a lot, and also the Nitto Randonneur.

I like the Randonneur, but I'm using the Nitto shims with my current bars (Also 25.4), and although they work great, I'd like to get away from using them.


I like the Salsa Moto-Ace Bell Lap. It's a CX bar, actually; but the ergo drops are really comfortable. It's a short reach, not a really deep drop, and they have a pretty wide flare (12 degrees rather than the Nitto Rando's 4 degree) which I find to be very comfortable.
They're a 26.0 clamp, they'll work in a quill, and you can get them in a 42cm. Just be aware that they're wider than 42 in the drops because of the flaring. I have 46cm Bell Laps and they measure 46 c-t-c at the hoods (top of bend), but they're 53 c-t-c at the ends (measured at the joint between bar and barcon shifter).

Seems like a really nice bar, and the price is right also! Thank you Valy/Clifton for the Salsa reference, I didn't even think about them beforehand. At the price of the Salsa's, even if they aren't for me I'm not out too much, and I could probably resell them. The Bell Laps are now my top choice, I do a little research over the long weekend.

I went with the Nitto Noodle, but in retrospect prefer ergo bends and would've (should've) gone for the Ritchey Biomax.

I like the Noodle a lot, and also the Nitto Randonneur.

I'm currently trying to decide between the Nitto Noodle and the Nitto Rando bars for a long distance bike. Can you list their pros and cons based on your experiences with them?

I have three bikes with drops; one with Nitto Randonneur bars. The Nitto bars are by far the best, they really are designed for people who like to ride mostly on the drops. They have big full bullhorns that kick out slighty matching exactly the natural position of my wrists. I would highly recommend them and will be using them on all my long distance bikes in the future. The only down side is they have a compartively small top flat section that means it can get a bit tight for space if you like to ride up top and us a computer light bell etc.

A review at bike radar (http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/road/product/randonneur-bars-12662).

I really like the midge bars.They have shallow drop and I find very comforatable

fan of the nitto noodles. 46cm wide. i'm running campy ergo levers so i have a nice flat spot on top to the hoods.

i've tried:

salsa bell lap 46 and 44 - these dropped too much for me but i don't mind them on the fixed gear mixed terrain bike.
fsa compacts - too tight in the hooks
nitto randonneur - to curvy, couldn't get comfy and couldn't find them in 46cm wide
stock 3T's that came on my lemond - they were too narrow and had the 'ergo' bend - something i didn't like.

i prefer the round curve in the drops compared to the ergo or anatomic. much more comfortable with more hand positions.

I've now got Nitto Noodles on all my rando bikes. The (used) Rambouillet that I bought came with them, and I liked them. My Burley Duet (tandem) had bars that are very comfortable, except it seemed like if I went wider, then it'd be a little easier to control the tandem -- some 48cm Noodles did the trick. Then after a year of riding mainly on the Ram and the Duet, when I went to ride my Gunnar Sport with Ritchey WCS handlebars (they look like the Pro Biomax) I just felt "cramped" on those bars. The top of the bar behind the hoods is just too short for my hands. So I bought 46 cm Noodles for that bike and they feel great.

If anyone's interested in buying the used Ritchey handlebars, let me know -- they're just hanging in the bike room for now. I think I bought them in '07, a while before PBP. So they probably have between 5K and 10K miles on them.

Nick

For the update . . .

I ended up with the Nitto Noodles in 44. They cropped up on the local CL (new take off's - 40 bucks) just as I was about to order the Bell Lap. Wow, thank you all for the advice, the Noodles are comfortable as all get out. First bars that I can comfortably ride in both hoods and drops, and shift well in either spot as well. The shape of the bars are great, and couldn't really get an idea (from website photos), until I saw them in person.

http://gallery.a-symmetric.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1105&g2_serialNumber=2

http://gallery.a-symmetric.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1120&g2_serialNumber=2

The crests are awesome . . . Nitto just makes solid stuff.

Hi John,

Bike looks great, congrats!

Michael