CEE

So, I've been looking for bars that fit my liking as well as fit the shape of force shifters. I've been through a couple bars but none that I really like, so I'm asking for your help.

Bar #1 FSA Energy T - drop 135mm, reach 90mm


I love the classic bend and the amount of drop, but the angle of the bend where the shifters go won't correctly fit the flat Force shifters. The bars would have to be like so...

but then the drops will be weird. Problem 2, the 90mm reach is too far.




Bar #2 Specialized Comp (came stock on my old bike) - drop 145mm, reach 75mm

These bars show how the placement of Force shiftersshould look. I love the transition from tops to hoods, and I like the placement of the hoods, but I HATE the ergo bend. It creates a awkward angle on my wrists, and just doesn't feel right at all. The reach of these are 75mm which is just right.




Bar #3 FSA Wing Pro shallow drop - drop 125mm, reach 80mm

Now I haven't tried these with the force shifters yet, but I have them on my old bike. I don't have my old bike with me right now, so I can't tell if they will have that flat section for the shifters (like the Specialized bars). The reach is okay, but again, I haven't tried these with the new bike - 80mm seems about right, though. What I didn't like about these bars is that the drop is a little too shallow. That's being picky, but we'll see if there is anything better.

In summary:

What I'm looking for in bars:
- Flat section for a smooth transition into the flat Force shifters
- Short reach (70-80mm)
- Moderately deep drop (135mm)

What I don't want:
- Ergo bars

* The problem with what I want/don't want is that the trend of bars with a flat shifter section seems to only come with ergo bars.

JBS103

I've seen a few people running the (now discontinued) Reynolds Pro bar with SRAM. The bars came in a round and an anatomic option. I'm not sure of the numbers, size wise, for the bars that are still available (you should be able to get your hands on something), but I know you can find them with a little looking. Just an idea. I'm fond of their shape.

ExMachina

i'm at the same impasse--i want flat shifter position but also want a non-ergo bar (and just wasted some money on some shallow deda newtons )

briscoelab

Ritchey classic, Easton SLX3, Deda Newton....basically anything that fits campy well.

CEE

Deda and Ritchey don't have the smooth transition into the force shifters. The Easton SLX3 looks promising... a little out of my price range though. Is there anything like the SLX3 at a cheaper price?

https://www.eastonbike.com/images/P-b...LX3_levers.gif
This is basically what I was looking for when I say 'smooth transition'

briscoelab

I guess I don't understand what you are talking about with no smooth transitions. Those bars can be setup with a smooth transition.... many people day they define smooth transitions if setup properly. You need to play with the angle of the bars and location of the shifters a little more.

UmneyDurak

I have FSA K-Wing Pro with my Force shifters. Very comfortable.

DScott

The Deda Newtons in the deep (Belgium) bend come off the top almost completely flat. They fail in teh "deep bend" part, though.




As compared to the shallow bars:





Still, the difference in drop is only 10mm, or about 3/8"...



I run Campy with the shallow bend bars, and think they are pretty nice. I don't mind the small angle to the hoods. The shallow bend doesn't allow a whole lot of hand room in the drops, and I'm considering the deep drop bars just for more room when descending in the drops.

CEE

The problem with the Deda and Ritchey bars is this:

I want the shifters parallel with the ground, but with these two bars, it can't happen without ruining the shape of the drop.

... When I say "smooth transition" I want my Force shifters flush with the bars like this:

or like this:



briscoelab, I can adjust my shifters 'flat' like it want them. If I roll the bars up to make my shifters flat, then the drops will also be rotated which messes with the shape.

Cdy291

I'd say the Bontrager Race Lite VR is your answer. They have a flat top, round bend, and cost $89. Here is pic of them on a bike.

CEE

oh wow, I'll look into that. Thanks

edit: the classic VR bend has a 85mm reach. boo

jc808

Nitto Noodles have the shape you're looking for.

kleng

... When I say "smooth transition" I want my Force shifters flush with the bars like this:



+1 on the earlier post, the Reynolds Ouzo Pro round carbon bar has a similiar shape to the diagrams above, it may suit.

Patriot

My personal favorite set. CF integrated bar/stem. I have two of them. They're a good deal at $175.

CEE

The Reynolds had a 85mm reach, and no ergo bends for me.

Anyone have the nitto website?

briscoelab

Here is a photo of a Campy lever on a Ritchey Classic bend. I think it is pretty flat in transition.

Jynx

Try the Reynolds Ouzo Comp Al Road bar.

Reach is 84mm. Just get a 1cm shorter stem if that is a big deal. They will do what you need. There not an ergo bend. For $9.98 I would definately try them.

https://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm...98&hprice=9.98

If not try the FSA Omega Compact.

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro..._28_TRUE_.html

CEE

briscoelab, yeah those do look right. I'll take a look at them in person.

Jynx, I already have a 100mm stem, so no going smaller. I already have the Wing Pro version of the FSA bars. I haven't tried them with the Force shifters, but I will soon. The only small problem I have with those is that it is really shallow

jc808

Nitto Noodles can be found here:

https://www.rivbike.com/products/list...product=16-111

They also make the Soba which is a lighter version of the Noodle. It's on that site as well.

littledjahn

Bingo

UT_Dude

My Red shifters (and old Force ones) go flat with my Ritchey WCS's (albeit, the anatomic drops), but they're very comfortable, and fine in the drops. I don't know what the big problem is.

briscoelab

Yea, it's all in just playing around with the angles until you get it just the way you want. At first glance, I didn't think i was going to get them flat with that bar either (at least with the drops being somewhat horizontal with the ground). But, after playing with the hood position a bit and the bar angle just a little, I was pretty happy with the result. Plus, the Ritchey bars are easy to find and affordable. (Light too!) I also have some Deda Newton shallow drops that I have a similar position on. Good luck in the search.