Handlebars: Maes bend or Ergonomic?
 

Hello there,

I am looking for new pair of mostly basic aluminum handlebars. I am currently using a pair of cinelli criterium bars with aero levers that are a aren't all that comfortable in the bends on the top. I've been thinking of going for either the classic Nitto 115s or a pair of the Noodle bars. I also plan on switching to a pair of 8-speed STI shifters. Are the Noodle bars way more comfortable than the standard drops? Would an ergonomic bar offer more comfort with the STI levers? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Bars are like saddles. It's all personal preference. What someone thinks as being comfortable is not to others.

Ergo bars are crap every which way. Even the cool roadie kids are over them. It sounds like you need to trade your Cinelli 65's for 64's. That said, there is a reason that there are about 12,768 models of bars made.

Get to the LBS or check out your buddies' handlebars. So many choices.

I've tried many, many bars, ergo and not.
The only ergo I really like are cheap, too, 3TTT Forma, just hard to find.

I keep coming back to Cinelli 66's and 64's, and the B115 has never done me wrong on a century.

Nitto RANDNNEUR.

Nitto Randos are the bee's knees. I bought a set a few weeks ago. They are heaven. I imagine noodles are close. The caveat being

Noodles=26.0 clamp
Randos=25.4 clamp

Otherwise they are pretty close.

For me, Noodles have the best of all worlds.

- the nice flat ramps (the spot behind the brake lever) of a ergo bar. This is priority #1 for me 'cause I spend alot of time here.
- a tiny bit of sweepback on the tops to match your wrist angle on the tops, like a rando bar, but without being really narrow or having a flare at the ends
- really damn wide if you want it (mine are 48cm) like an ergo bar
- comfy and flexible drops like a traditional bar
- old-school polished look with an engraved crest like a traditional bar
- pretty light (for the Soba) or really strong (the Noodle)

I wanted flat ramps and traditional drops and the Noodle/Soba was the only bar I could find. I went with a 48cm on a whim 'cause I'm all about wide bars on all my bikes (except dirt jumpers) and am stoked.

Now I want another Noodle for my touring bike, a Soba for my race bike, and...


Edit: Oh, I use 8-sp DA STI, and switched from Cinelli 66's which are nice, but don't have the flat ramp.

Noodles are nice. I get wrist "interference" when in the drops though. The sweepback tops/flat "ramp" make for this problem. Makes the tops of the bars more useable at the expense of the drops.

There's nothing "ergonomic" about "ergonomic" bars. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Those stupid bumps/bends make the drops nearly unusable for long periods.

My favorite? "Compact" bend FSA bars, either the Omega or the Wing. Absolutely brilliant bars, shallow, gently curved drops, zero wrist interference...the most revolutionary thing I've done to my bike since Brooks saddles.

Of course, they only come in 31.8 clamp...not really C&V friendly. On my vintage ride, I use Noodles with the 26.0 quill stem. I like the Noodle...nice bar.

If you are using STI/Ergo, it does make a difference. With STI/Ergo you usually ride the hoods while with traditional pre-aero brake levers you ride the ramps so you are a few centimeters more forward with STI/Ergo. If you look at typical anatomic or ergo (or whatever) bars, the ramps are short and they bend sharply into the drop. If I were going to ride a traditional style bar with STI/Ergo I would probably want a shorter stem. The best compromise I've found is Deda anatomic bend. Even with those though the horizontal part of the flats is too short for my large hands and angled part of the bend causes too severe and a bend in my wrist that is uncomfortable for longer distances in the drops. I swear if I knew someone who made custome bars it would be worth the cost to have a few sets made to my specifications.

+1. Beg, borrow or steal them (OK maybe not steal them) but try before you buy. A bar in the hand is worth more than a bushel of opinions (pun intended). :D

Everyone's body geometry is different. For example, I don't get the interference on a noodle bar noted by Banzai. I have long arms, wide shoulders and big hands so I need wide bars like the 48cm noodle or the 45 cm Nitto Rando bar. A normal sized 42 cm drop bar and my chest is constricted.

If your Cinelli bars are traditional, they have 26.4 mm clamp diameter. The stems that best fit this clamp are the traditional Cinelli stems. Its a very tight fit in nearly any 26.0 mm stem, like a Nitto, and some would argue that it won't be safe if you do force it in. So if you have a Cinelli stem, you are pretty much stuck with a Cinelli replacement bar, either the 66 or 64. The 66 has a very deep drop, but it is a Maes bend. The 64 is what's now called a Giro d'Italia or traditional Italian bend, with less drop. I haven't tried either one with Ergos, which are my preferred shifter.

I do like Noodles with Ergolevers, but those have 26.0 mm clamp diameters. I use Nitto stems with those. I've tried it with my Cinelli stems, but its not a good fit. I've had comfortable rides with B115 bars as well, but the Noodles are better.

Road Fan