I'm quite taken with the shape of vintage Philippe professionel handlebars. I like the idea of long, flat ramps and drops, but they seem to command a mint on the 'bay. Anyone know of other bars with a similar profile? I know Compass makes a copy and the VO classic round bend is similar, but I'd like something vintage if possible.

I'm thinking something like on this Peugeot:

I'll have to compare the shapes of some of the bars in my stash. The bar on my '59 Allegro is a Philippe like the one in your picture.



I am under the impression this is the most common type of drop bar, technically called a Maes bend handlebar.

Unusual thing about Philippe Professionels is that they do not have the usual reinforcing sleeve at the stem clamp area like most bars do, and seems to to be a constant diameter all the way through. Don't really know what it results in..... Possibly a harder time threading the bar through the stem clamp?? The bend of the bar remind me of a Cinelli Campione del Mondo, when viewed from the sides.....

Some of those bars were "internally reinforced"... Don't know whether that meant they were internally sleeved or butted in the center. Phillipe made bars for Milremo too.

Those French bars were usually 25mm rather than 25.4mm.

Many of them up through the late 70s, early 80s had the long reach with a short drop. I think that I may have some of the longer reach French bars. I'll have to check my stash.

Nitto makes some bars with with a long reach - Models 105 & 115. They have 25.4mm and 26mm centers.

I like uber short reach bars because I ride on the hoods a lot and use shorter stems.

verktyg

Chas.

Yeah, those bars do look good, and wow, that Peugeot is just gorgeous!

Sorry, that's all I have...

Everyone please quit swooning on these bars as I eventually want to get one of these too!
We don't want it shooting up higher in price like what happened to he Suntour Cyclone Mk 2 Derailleurs!
Very good condition used ones (Some very close to new) still pop up at eBay once in a while at reasonable prices...
Hopefully the French component hyper pricers aren't reading these.....

Something like this?


Grand Cru Course Handlebar- Classic Round Bend - Handlebars - Components

That one is on my short list if I can find something vintage.

Wow that is nice !

I just bought ( awaiting delivery ) its scruffy cousin here in New Zealand :-)

I agree. They are nice looking bends. And a little long in the reach. Notice how far up I have the levers placed.
But that's mostly because the bike is too large for me.