Felt's alternative road bars?
06-20-08, 11:30 PM
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Felt's alternative road bars?
Are they considered a compact ergo bar or what? All I know is that my hands are super cramped in them. It sucks to be in the drops because of the pain and a long reach to the brakes. Being in the hoods is comfy though.
I need to do a little bar shopping, but I am unsure if this small of a bar is a common thing, and if there is a type I need to stay away from.
The bars that come on the F series look way more comfy and I can pick up a set for $25 or so on eBay.
I am turning my relaxed road bike into a traditional road bike with every upgrade it seems
Last edited by monkeyevil; 06-20-08 at 11:52 PM.
06-20-08, 11:42 PM
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Just to help myself visualize I overlayed the compact framed z series bars over the traditional framed f series bars...
Seems like the bar shape that come on the F series would fit me better on paper... off to the LBS to decide I guess.
Seems like the bar shape that come on the F series would fit me better on paper... off to the LBS to decide I guess.
06-20-08, 11:47 PM
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I swapped the bars that came on my F3 for a set of Ritchey WCS carbon evolution bars; I'm very happy with them.
06-20-08, 11:54 PM
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Not out of the question. I also have an older Ultravega that is to small for me so I can't decide if I don't like traditional bars because of the design, or the small bike. I would have to ride for a few miles on the right size bike to know for sure... Everything feels good at first.
06-21-08, 02:08 AM
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I got a compact ergo bar on my new Giant - short reach, short drop. I upgraded(?) to a standard ergo bar on my old Trek, normal reach and drop. And I've got an old set of Cinelli 65 bars, with traditional bend, on my singlespeed.
I love the traditional bend the most. I see why some team (can't remember who) asked FSA to do a bar with that bend. It provides a lot more comfortable position while riding in drops.
I brake from the hoods anyway, so the ergo feature (or do they call it anatomic?) is almost totally lost on me.
I love the traditional bend the most. I see why some team (can't remember who) asked FSA to do a bar with that bend. It provides a lot more comfortable position while riding in drops.
I brake from the hoods anyway, so the ergo feature (or do they call it anatomic?) is almost totally lost on me.
06-21-08, 07:47 AM
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The stock bars on my Felt F4C weighed a ton... and they were comfortable in the hoods as you mentioned, but no where else. I replaced them with a ITM Wing shape bar... which is comfortable but much smaller.. shoulda got a 44... at any rate, make sure you get handlebars you are comfortable with and then get the correct stem length... the reach on my new bars is WAY shorter than the stock bars I had and now my Ritchey 4-axis stem may be too short...
06-21-08, 08:13 AM
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+1 on replacing the boat anchor bars on the felt. I just replaced my bars on my F80. I went with a pair of FSA Omega Compacts.
I was never able to find a comfortable position in the drops on the stock bars. The difference with the FSA's is night and day, the bike seems much more controlled, espeshilly when out of the saddle in the drops. Ooh and the hoods are more comfortable as well.
Good luck with your search, I think the rounded bars are more comfortable than anything with the harsh bends of ergos... even if they are not true classic bends.
I was never able to find a comfortable position in the drops on the stock bars. The difference with the FSA's is night and day, the bike seems much more controlled, espeshilly when out of the saddle in the drops. Ooh and the hoods are more comfortable as well.
Good luck with your search, I think the rounded bars are more comfortable than anything with the harsh bends of ergos... even if they are not true classic bends.
06-21-08, 11:22 AM
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+1 on the new FSA compacts (Energies, Omegas, Wing Pros, etc...) if they work for you, they'll likely be the best upgrade you'll find for under $100.
