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Old 04-23-18 | 11:31 PM
  #6  
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RiddleOfSteel
Master Parts Rearranger
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Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR

Bikes: 1987 Woodrup Competition - 2025 Trek Checkpoint SL 6 Gen 3 - 1987 Lotus Legend - 2024 Trek Emonda ALR Rim Brake - 1980 Trek 510 - 1988 Cannondale SR500 - 1985 Trek 670 - 1982 Trek 730

I have a pair of Cinelli Criterium bars, which I really like. The immediate bend right after the brake levers allows the hands to be angled as if they were on STIs/Ergos, instead of the wrist-kicked-out hand position of traditional drop bars.

As for riding-on-the-tops comfort....ehhhh, not so much? Not super fun on the wrists unless you're right by the stem clamp where it's the flattest. The trade-off is as mentioned, riding on the hoods (of decent late-'80s or newer brake levers) being quite nice. Riding in the drops is the same as anything else vintage.

Make sure the drop, if it matters, isn't more than less aggressive bars. My Criteriums put my hands 0.5-0.75" lower than they'd normally be, compared to something like Cinelli 64s (Giro D'Italia). It's why I went to the 64s on my 62cm Paramount. I normally ride 63.5cm frames and that missing 1.5cm in height is noticeable for me.

I'd keep the bars. They have their merits and are pretty cool/rare, at least in road circles (not track).
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