I think I need another bar
 

Guys,

You can see the monstercross build in my other thread in this forum.

I liked my Salsa bell lap bar in the previous build, but it seems to be a little wide and long from top bar to the front of the drops (throwing the hoods too far forward from the top bar), also I would like the top of the hoods to be level with the top bar, with the bell lap they are much lower.
I do like the slight outward flare of the bell lap, I'd like similar or a little more, but not quite as far as the Planet X midge.

What would you suggest?

Moustache bar! Either a compact bar like the Origin 8 Tikki bar or a wide bar like Rivendell's new Nitto Albastache, which is a takeoff of the popular Albatross upright bar.

If you want to use the hoods and you want the hoods to be reasonably high, don't get a flared bar. Get a wide bar with a sharp turn from the tops to the drops.

My two favorite drop bars are the VO Rando bar (26.0 clamp) and the Nitto B132 Rando (25.4 clamp). Both have nice flat ramps with the drops comming back parallel to the ramps. The VO has more drop and reach than the Nitto and is available greater widths.


VO Rando:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7100/...6df9b4d6ae.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5160/...b0a3723361.jpg


Nitto B132:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3825/...130700d2c4.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/...8422646429.jpg

This much, at least, you have control over.

Here are shots of a couple of my bikes with Bell Lap bars:

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/...fdc0afa7_b.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3706/...154bd788_b.jpg

You can put the levers anywhere you like and rotate the bar however you please. Rotating the bars obviously changes the angle of the drops at the "anatomic" bump, but I like it this way.

Thanks,
cant seem to get the same flat top to the shifter from the bar.

Any ones to recommend?

The traditional "rules" for lever setup are that you set the drops level parallel to the ground and have the bottom of the lever even with the bottom of the bar. Start by disregarding these rules.

Next, rotate the Bell Lap bar until the top is level and parallel to the ground. This will probably leave the ends of the bar pointed somewhere in the direction of the rear hub.

Finally, slide the lever up the bar until the top of the hood is even with the top of the bar. I'm guessing this is the step where you are running into trouble. I've had some trouble at point in the past with Shimano levers, but I think I was usually able to work it out pretty close.

The Zipp short and shallow one is nice. FSA compact is nice too, although the drops might curve too sharply if you have big hands. Salsa Short n Shallow might work for you too.

Brifters longer hoods to make room for the mech inside, have spawned a number of short ramp drop bars,

most larger bar bending manufacturers offer one, now. I have no personal favorites .

looking at your assembly, try rotating the bars upwards.. let the drops end point downward..

Thanks guys,

took ok a few measurements too and I have definately bent the bell lapon the LHS, I can go to my LBS and try a few standard bars on bikes but he doesn't have more than a couple of bars in stock so I may have to buy some turned or something for the cheekiness and buy a bar from the tinternet.