Originally Posted by
Psimet2001
Aluminum bars still have far too many advantages to ever really consider carbon bars. They are usually lighter, stiffer, and more durable given the same set of circumstances, and with modern hydroforming the number of complex shapes than can be produced is always increasing. Not to mention modern shot peening is making the structures even better performing with less material.....
As for "cool kids" riding carbon - lost me there. I know no one her locally who is serious about riding who uses carbon bars at all. I helped a national champ swap his carbon back to aluminum. When I asked him why he went to carbon to begin with he replied, "well...I got them for free so I figured I would try them. That was dumb and now I know why they were free. never again."
Maybe you can recommend a set of bars? I have carbon bars which have been fine because I haven't been in a wreck since I bought the bike five years ago. The bars are 46 CM Winwood Road Scholars which have a large flat area where I put my hands which I really like. What I would like to have is something that is closer to a compact bar with a shorter reach to the drops and a larger flat area to put my hands. I have been looking but I can't find anything. It probably wouldn't make sense to replace my current bars but I would like to build a second bike and I would put the new bars on my next build.