Here's another photo from the bars in post #19, above. They didn't 'flex' when they gave, either. Just sagged down suddenly, and because I had so little weight on that side of the bar, didn't snap off all the way until I rode a bit further, bouncing down the gravel road with one hand on the left bar, and the other on the stem.

These are labeled "Belleri Made in France St Etienne" and are single-thickness, no sleeve. They seem pretty light. Almost certainly stock, as the other Trek I had of that vintage had the same bars. The little dark grey area is where the failure started, and so looks like the crack had been there long enough to oxidize a bit.



Almost home: