Better dropbars
#2
Firm but gentle

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 697
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From: Oregon
Bikes: Custom Ti Quiring 29Plus, 2005 Litespeed Tuscany, Carver Gnarvester, Soma Pescadero, Jamis Hybrid
Maybe you have already found the best - for you. Just like saddles, my favorite bar may feel un-natural for you.
#4
Senior Member



Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Jacksonville, FL
Bikes: Trek Checkmate, Lynskey Elysium, Trek FX 5 Sport
Never been a fan of Ritchey stuff, but that is me, I have a FSA bar on my one of my bikes that fit my hands perfectly, but as Venuri95 said, it is a very personal thing.
#5
Firm but gentle

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 697
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From: Oregon
Bikes: Custom Ti Quiring 29Plus, 2005 Litespeed Tuscany, Carver Gnarvester, Soma Pescadero, Jamis Hybrid
#6
Over the hill

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 24,618
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: Pinarello Nytro, Momentum Transend
Bars are personal, and one manufacturer can make a bunch of different variations. Find out the specifications of the bar you like so much: reach, drop, flare (if applicable), and the shape of the bend.
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#7
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
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From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
The ones that fit you the best are of course the best. What those bars are for you nobody here knows.
For me personally I do like my Zipp Service Corse SL-70 Ergo bars for drop bars. I think they are worth trying but you might find you want something different.
For me personally I do like my Zipp Service Corse SL-70 Ergo bars for drop bars. I think they are worth trying but you might find you want something different.
#8
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"More ergonomic" is not a thing. "Ergonomic" means designed to fit the user .... so if those bars have a width, drop, and reach which suit you, write down those numbers. Same bars might be terrible for anyone else, but they fit you, so you win.
#9
Senior Member


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From: Portland, OR
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Like others have said, it's totally personal. I don't like ergo bars. My hands love the old "V" shaped TTT bars (Superleggero is one) and never really liked any of the old Cinellis. I got lucky in that several Japanese manufactures copied the TTTs nearly exactly and made billions for production bikes.
#10
Over the hill

Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: Pinarello Nytro, Momentum Transend
That's my favorite too. I chose them because they were similar in drop and reach to the Ritchey Comp Curve I liked, but lighter. I wonder which model the OP has.
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#11
IME: Ax-Lightness 4200 ergo just feel right & proper in my hands. Transverse fibers that resist clamping forces nicely. Short, 65mm reach & shallow drop with no flare & a few degrees of sweep on the flattened tops for a nice natural (elbows down) arm position.
FSA/Vision K-Force on the other hand are flexy noodles with tops that are just wrong to my palm & an 80mm reach with a curvature from the tops to the hoods that just ain't right. Not impressed.
Soma Highway Ones are reasonably nice for aluminum. Sort of basic but get the job done on a budget.
Get what feels nice.
FSA/Vision K-Force on the other hand are flexy noodles with tops that are just wrong to my palm & an 80mm reach with a curvature from the tops to the hoods that just ain't right. Not impressed.
Soma Highway Ones are reasonably nice for aluminum. Sort of basic but get the job done on a budget.
Get what feels nice.
Last edited by base2; 02-17-23 at 08:09 AM.
#12
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Mich
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Bont & FSA labeled stuff seems to work for me when it comes to bars & seats.
like mentioned, you've probably found your "go-to" bar with your one bicycle.
like mentioned, you've probably found your "go-to" bar with your one bicycle.
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-YMMV
-YMMV
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Denver area (Ken Caryl Valley)
Bikes: 2022 Moots RCS, 2014 BMC SLR01 DA Mech, 2020 Santa Cruz Stigmata, Ibis Ripmo, Trek Top Fuel, Specialized Epic Pro, Pivot Les Fat
I like flat-top, short-reach and shallow-drop usually. I have being using Zipp Aero, Ritchey Street, and even the now-discontinued Specialized flat-top riser drop bars. II liked them all but my new favorite is the FSA K-Wing. The flat spot in front of the hoods is brilliant for me. The top is flat and slightly angled- very comfy. Plus, the 46 cm is 45cm which is perfect since my usual 44s feel just a touch too narrow.
#14
Senior Member


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From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
100% personal, me I like Nitto Noodles
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#16
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?




Joined: May 2007
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From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
I have the same Zipp bars mentioned above, and I like them. But I LOVE the Soma Highway Ones I have on several other bikes. And the thing is, they're very similar! Similar reach and drop, but the curve of the drops is just a little different.
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#17
Thread Killer

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From: Ann Arbor, MI
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#18
Senior Member



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From: Jacksonville, FL
Bikes: Trek Checkmate, Lynskey Elysium, Trek FX 5 Sport
#19
Thread Killer

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From: Ann Arbor, MI
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#21
Senior Member


Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Sussex County, Delaware
I have one bike that still has a traditional, compact handlebar. I have 2 bikes that have been switched to the Ritchey Beacon bar. I like this handlebar right away, but was not sure I liked the 36 deg. flare. Now, with time and miles, I have become a bit surprised at how much I like them. The short reach, 65mm, and the very shallow drop, 80, really work for me, along with the overall shape of the bar. I stuck with the comp version, 300gr, with the WCS version being 30 grs. lighter at almost twice the cost.
#22
Old guy & bikes
Joined: Feb 2022
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From: Upstate New York
Bikes: Rans V-Rex, Raleigh International, Rans Sequoia, GT Timberline, Double Vision tandem, Optima Baron, old Raleighs.
North Roads for me. Remember your old English three speed? Natural wrist positioning, and a number of companies make them in alloy at a modest cost. I haven’t walked away from drop bars altogether, but I have very little use for the lot of them.
#23
Senior Member

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From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Totally personal, but coincidentally my favorite bars are Ritchey WCS. They’re aero on top and the drops are traditional round shape. Best of both worlds.
#24
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2009
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So I figured it out. The dropbars that I am referring to as improved simply have a shorter distance at the section that goes towards the dropbar shifters. I think that is the reach? Or some other term. This is important because when I go into the drops, this keeps my wrists from hitting the top part of the handlebar. With the longer "reach" part of the bar part of my arm is hitting the handlebar when I go into the bottom position.
Other bike of course is also shorter overall and so it's easier to reach the shifters. I ordered a shorter stem but likely will switch out the drop bar too.,
Other bike of course is also shorter overall and so it's easier to reach the shifters. I ordered a shorter stem but likely will switch out the drop bar too.,
#25
Over the hill

Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: Pinarello Nytro, Momentum Transend
Yes, it does sound like you prefer a shorter reach. However, your explanation makes me a little concerned. Are you keeping your elbows bent slightly? Locking your elbows will cause a handful of comfort problems, plus it’s not as aero. Fixing that might clear the bar better. Also, your arms touching the bar shouldn’t necessarily be the determining factor for your final reach (such as the shorter stem). You already ordered it, so it won’t hurt to give it a try, but pay attention to your comfort to determine if it makes things better or worse.
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