Black Randonneur Handlebars??
 

Does anyone know if you can get randonneur handlebars in black? After riding on randonneurs for 30 years, I'm finding the handlebars on the new bike too wide and uncomfortable.

I haven't seen anything in black, and if you use handlebar tape it wouldn't matter much would it? Anyway, you might find some interesting choices here:

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/handlebars/index.html

Oh, I forgot to add that my stem is for oversize bars, 31.8. I was hoping to find some black bars that would fit my stem.

See if the Ritchey BioMax is available with a 31.8mm clamp. It's not a true traditional Randonneuring bar, but it has a small flare, flat ramp, shallow drops, short reach and some back sweep. The flare is less than a randonneuring bar and it has an ergo bend in the drops.

You can try what I did, paint the center portion of the bar black. I had the best results when I scuffed up the area to be painted with some fine sandpaper, degreased it, shot a coat of primer, and then finished it off with a couple of light coats of paint. Make sure you let it cure out completely, otherwise it will tend to scratch off easily. Once it had cured, (2-3 days if I recall) I mounted it up and it looked great.

The first attempt was just shooting some paint and mounting it as soon as it was dry. Paint was still somewhat 'delicate', hence the advice to let it cure for a couple of days to fully harden

St4ve W

As I was out riding, I realized that I have an extra randonneur handlebar at home. It's an old one from the 70's so I don't know the diameter right off. Do todays threadless stems fit older handlebars? I know the one I have won't, but maybe I could just get a new stem? And then the paint idea sounds pretty good!

Stem selection is determined by the bar clamp diameter and the steerer tube diameter. Whether old bars will work with any particular stem depends upon the bar clamp diameter. Sometimes, you can shim a larger stem to fit a smaller bar.

Right, I was really asking if anyone knew if the modern threadless stems would fit the older handlebars. I was kind of looking for an answer like:
1. "Nope, no chance." Then I know to go a different direction.
2. "Oh yeah, I did that." Then I know I can too.
3. "I know that the older bars were mostly x in size and threadless stems can handle that." Then I know to pursue it further.

Sorry for the confusion.

So, what say you, everyone??

The answer is still the same. Older bars, depending on the age, can come in several sizes. There are also several sizes of threadless stems.

So, loosely, you can probably find a threadless stem to fit your older bars but not just any threadless stem will fit any older bars.

I have a pair of older Sakae Randonneur bars that I have used with Profile H20, 3t Zepp and Dimension 26.0 threadless stems.

Now we're talking. Thanks!

If your modern threadless stem is 31.8, then nope, no chance.

If your modern threadless stem is 26.0 or 25.4, then yes, pretty good chance.

I think On-One makes a black flared drop handlebar with a 31.8 clamp diameter. Also, the Salsa Bell Lap might come in 31.8.

The Bell Lap does come in 26.0 and 31.8 according to salsacycles.com. I have a Moto Ace Bell Lap (26.0) on my Surly LHT commuter and it is working well for me. It isn't exactly a randonneur bar, but it might suit the OP's purposes. It does have an "anotomic bend" and double cable grooves so it isn't at all old school. Mine flares from 46cm at the hoods to 52cm at the ends of the drops.

I've got a Bell Lap in 46cm/31.8 diameter on my Dean. Great bar. It is comparable, even a little wider than the Nitto Randonneur bar I have. Very comfy.

There sure are: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1