Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Bullhorns supposed to flex?

When I really "go for it", my bullhorns flex. It's obvious just by looking at them, you can actually watch them move a bit. I'm thinking that's probably not supposed to happen (ideally)?
It's not the end of the world and I don't want to throw a bunch of money at the "problem" but would something like this be better/stiffer?
http://www.retro-gression.com/product/fyxation-rodeo-pursuit-handlebar

I just feel like I lose a little acceleration due to the energy lost in the flex. Plus it makes my bike feel cheap.

PS- the bullhorns on there now are stock and are made from a very soft alloy I think? Same cheapy material the stem was made from, which I replaced.

All bars flex to some extent. I'm a big guy (6'2", 220) ride both casually and race track (if that matters at all). IMO if you are just riding around casually or for fitness I wouldn't worry too much about bar flex robbing you of any power transfer. But if you have the upgrade bug spend the $40 and get new bars. Realistically if you are concerned about power transfer, then switching to a clipless pedal setup would be better investment than new bars at this point in time.

Judging by the bars you linked, you have a 25.4mm bar and stem currently. That's part of your problem. Switch to 31.8mm bar/stem and they should be noticeably stiffer. Something with nice, comfortable flats would be a nice upgrade. These are rad:

http://www.profile-design.com/profile-design/products/base-bars/aluminum-base-bars/t2-wing.html (http://www.profile-design.com/profile-design/products/base-bars/aluminum-base-bars/t2-wing.html)

And if you have a quill stem/threaded headset, get a threadless stem and a nice quill adapter:

http://www.liverydesigngruppe.com/product/livery-1-quill-adapter

Right on.
I have 1-1/8" threadless setup.
But yeah if it doesn't matter that they flex, then I'm cool with it. I didn't know if that was a big no-no or what. Sounds like it isn't unless I'm racing or trying to qualify for the olympics or something...

You will be perfectly safe. Most bullhorns flex. A round thin metal tube is not very strong, and being so far away from the folcrum(the stem) it does not take a whole lot of force to move it.

If you still end wanting to upgrade, I just purchased the bullhorns you linked a few weeks ago and have been putting them through their paces. They are great and do not flex nearly as much as i first thought they would as they have a 25.4 clamp. They barely flex at all even when putting a lot of force on them. They are not as stiff as the nitto pursuit bars, but they are almost comparable.

My bullhorns do not flex, but they are Nitto and I weigh 115 lbs.

I used to have the same horns you have, and they flexed like hell. Then again, I'm 215 on a good day.

Nitto RB-021, the only times i've seem them move is when i got hit a couple months back.... i've tried to bend them back just for funsies... zomg talk about stiff

@jpsawyer - thanks man, good to know
@jimmy/misskaz - right on, sounds like a replacement may be in order, perhaps Nitto but those fyxation rodeo pursuit bars are slightly more affordable and slightly less likely to piss me off if they get stolen, heh.

I rode a pair of 21's back when I was at my heaviest. Like 215 on a good day. They don't move. Ever.

Sold! haha
I just gotta wait a week or so but I'll be getting the silver ones and a set of black lizard skins from scrod. Just wondering about size. I'm 6'4" with very wide shoulders so I guess 42cm? I ride a 61cm frame and the stock horns seem fairly wide to me. How do you measure those (from where to where)?

Oh I'll have to order a new stem as well since they don't come in 25.4

Some companies measure their bar width from the outside edges, others from the center points in the bar. There's no real standard, so Nitto's 40 might be Fyxation's 42 (or something, I don't know).

Here's some info: http://www.2009tourdefrancenews.com/article/0,6610,s1-5-28-1056-1,00.html

I never have problems with flex, but wouldn't a stiffer handlebar require more padding to be as comfortable?

everything flexes when you put it to it
btw stiffest bullhorns I ever owned were made by DEDA and were oversized I believe they were called akros

but I am 6'1" and 250#

I never have problems with flex, but wouldn't a stiffer handlebar require more padding to be as comfortable?

I'm riding B123-AA SSB's right now. They are aluminum, and are oversized. As stiff as it gets. I'm using Fizik Microtex. The stuff is as thin as bartape can get.

I love it.

I never have problems with flex, but wouldn't a stiffer handlebar require more padding to be as comfortable?

bar flex isn't going to improve anything, just make the bike feel mushy when you push hard

I think if you pull up any harder on those stock bullhorns, they'll break and then you'll break.

Some companies measure their bar width from the outside edges, others from the center points in the bar. There's no real standard, so Nitto's 40 might be Fyxation's 42 (or something, I don't know).

Here's some info: http://www.2009tourdefrancenews.com/article/0,6610,s1-5-28-1056-1,00.html

Both Nitto and Fyxation measure from center to center.

@PinkBullet - that's what I'm worried about, I don't think it would actually happen but it's a decent excuse to get some nice bars
@Scrod- thanks for the sizing info

well... Gary Busey is seriously ****ing proud of me right now. :thumb:

well... Gary Busey is seriously ****ing proud of me right now. :thumb:


I was disappointed when I didn't get to see that, because I made a special order, and paid through a paypal invoice.


sad me.

http://media.blurt-online.com/f8DUCW419QFT_m.jpg

Found some new images, eh?

That one disturbs the **** out of me. What IS that?

It's Nagrom being sad.