TallRider

I just finished building up a very large Schwinn frame into a fixed-gear bike. 62cm top tube, 100mm quill stem. I've got steel "randoneer"-bend drop bars (42cm ctc width of drops, 37cm ctc width at brake hoods) on the bike right now. They're the ones that originally came with the bike, and they're pretty and shiny (which won't matter once I wrap with bar tape) and also quite heavy.
Now, I'm 6'5" and weigh around 180# and could torque on the bars a bit when standing to climb in this bike's 40/15 gear. I'd like to replace the bar with an alloy bar (Nitto, B115, 42cm ctc width, also a 25.4mm clamp diameter) that I've got sitting around. But I'm wondering if I'm better off with the steel bar, for the sake of strength. Any thoughts? The Nitto does have ea steel sleeve which reinforces the clamp area.

My bike as it currently stands is detailed in this thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/173482-tim-s-giant-schwinn-comes-age.html

Btw, I've read a couple of steel-or-aluminum-bars threads in the SS/Fixed forum, and it's lots of "I like this" and "steel is real" and "aluminum is light!" sorts of posts. Some stuff worthwhile in those threads, but I'd like to get y'all's reasoned opinions on this. Thanks.

DocRay

The aluminum bars will be more than strong enough.
where can you even buy steel bars any more?

Rev.Chuck

Steel is good for looks and "rightness"
Alluminum bars are good for (typically) better hand postions and more choice in drop and width. I like the flatter top of alloy bars. My fixed had track drop on it and I couldn't keep my hands on the flats long because they sloped away so quick and kept my wrists at an odd angle.

Strength wise, there are a lot of guys more powerful than most people here racing on alloy bars. Tho the light ones all reccomend replacement every season or two.


As big as you are, do you have narrow shoulders? I would think a wider bar, than 42, would be more comfortable and let you breathe better.

cuda2k

I have those same bars, they were the right side for my skinny shoulders, but for you, I'd go with the wider bars. As stated, the Alum is strong enough for you. I like the bend to the steel bars though, found that they were great for long distances and if I could find a Cinelli bar with the same bend I'd buy a pair in a second for my 'Cuda.

Not to thread-jack, but anyone ever seen a 25.4 to 26.4 handlebar shim? or 26.0 to 26.4? I've seen the 25.4 to 26.0 but not much else. (PM me if you know a source, as to keep this thread on topic. )

TallRider

I've got a 46cm bar on my good road bike, and love it. But I'd be fine going a bit narrower for this bike - the drops at 42 are wide enough, and I do climbing out-of-the-saddle in the drops too. Plus I'm limited to 25.4mm bars, and the selection ain't that wide. And, I don't wanna spend a lot of money on this conversion, at least not for the time being. Eventually I'll get a good seatpost, and a wider Nitto B115 bar, I think.

TallRider

Harris Cyclery has the Nitto Randoneer-bend aluminum bars. I think it's what you're looking for.

Here's the link.