Surly Corner Bar an interesting idea
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It's interesting! In the vein of "more information is always better", Russ posted a video on this today as well.
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I know $100 is not expensive for a quality handlebar and, as Russ noted, it's a lot cheaper than trying drops with STIs and deciding you don't like it...but it's still quite a bit of money to drop on something just to try it out. The widest model is 540mm, which is much narrower than I tend to prefer. I guess the ergonomics of drop bars are different enough to where a 660-700mm width would be pretty awkward anyway.
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I know $100 is not expensive for a quality handlebar and, as Russ noted, it's a lot cheaper than trying drops with STIs and deciding you don't like it...but it's still quite a bit of money to drop on something just to try it out. The widest model is 540mm, which is much narrower than I tend to prefer. I guess the ergonomics of drop bars are different enough to where a 660-700mm width would be pretty awkward anyway.
While 540mm of the top bar would also be too narrow for my comfort, the wider portion of the drop would be comfortable, BUT would stretch my brakes out requiring extending the brake lines. Then additional weight since this bar is over double the weight of the aluminum bar I have, I have to agree just not worth spending that money on trying out.
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While 540mm of the top bar would also be too narrow for my comfort, the wider portion of the drop would be comfortable, BUT would stretch my brakes out requiring extending the brake lines. Then additional weight since this bar is over double the weight of the aluminum bar I have, I have to agree just not worth spending that money on trying out.
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I'm going to buy one even though it's steel and wrong clamp size. I just switched my bike over to flat bar mainly because I hate drop bar brake levers. Not sure if the extra inch of tubing behind the brake perch clamp is going to irritate me or work fine.
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I see this geared towards the millions of old MTBs out there and converting them into trendy "gravel" bikes" as the 25.4 clamp means you can even run your old stem, as long as it is front loading. Included shims take care of the other stems.
The nub can be trimmed down or extended a bit to suit.
It's good to have so many options these days.
The nub can be trimmed down or extended a bit to suit.
It's good to have so many options these days.
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They're also twice as expensive as flat bar parts.
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Last edited by Darth Lefty; 07-16-21 at 09:33 PM.
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I see this geared towards the millions of old MTBs out there and converting them into trendy "gravel" bikes" as the 25.4 clamp means you can even run your old stem, as long as it is front loading. Included shims take care of the other stems.
The nub can be trimmed down or extended a bit to suit.
It's good to have so many options these days.
The nub can be trimmed down or extended a bit to suit.
It's good to have so many options these days.
As a happy owner of a Moloko bar, this new Corner bar's weight doesn't put me off at all and looks like a great way to experiment and see how well drop bars may suit someone.
I'll definitely give this bar a go, sometime over the next 12 months.
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Running the same stem as the bike started with--when converting a hybrid or old MTB--will probably result in excessive reach and drop. I'd look into a new stem, like a Ergotec-Humpert High Charisma, to get the bars up high enough that you're in a comfortable position while in the drops, where you'll be most of the time, as they don't really have a hoods position.
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Probably better as just "Ergotec High Charisma?" That company was called Humpert for ages, though, and many people recognize the Humpert name, rather than Ergotec. Strange name, but they're basically just the same as the VO Happy Stem, probably from a Taiwanese OEM catalog. They work just fine to get dirt drops up to the right height.
https://www.ergotec.de/en/products/v...isma-25-4.html
https://www.ergotec.de/en/products/v...isma-25-4.html
#18
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You can buy these for 1/2 the price and accomplish the same thing.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ACO5T769&psc=1
711 grams on the Surly corner bar...ouch.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ACO5T769&psc=1
711 grams on the Surly corner bar...ouch.
Last edited by prj71; 07-27-21 at 07:37 AM.
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I like these and they seem a good option for an older MTB that you want to use as a gravel bike. Trekking bars are a lot cheaper and they're comfy for long days in the saddle as well as they give you lots of hand positions. That's how I set up my '92 Trek 950.

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My husband and I saw both those videos, and our fist thought was to get a Jones riser loop bar and flip it upside down. You'd have more bar to hold onto than Surly's nubbins. Lots of others have had the same thought. Here's the $79 version.

#21
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I wish the Corner Bar came in a 42 cm at the pseudo-hoods and in Aluminum (or another lighter weight material). I'm going to notice the weight imbalance on my FX 6.
I wonder how difficult if would be to borrow the design and scale it to my liking in a material meeting my preference?
I'm currently running SQLabs Innerbarends with a 34 cm spread between the hoods.
I wonder how difficult if would be to borrow the design and scale it to my liking in a material meeting my preference?
I'm currently running SQLabs Innerbarends with a 34 cm spread between the hoods.
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Yes; it's not likely that most Surly riders are counting grams. If they were, they probably wouldn't be on Surly bikes to begin with. Their bikes are generally built pretty sturdy, and it looks like this handlebar is built to match the strength and character of their bike frames.
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Complaining about Surly being steel and heavy is not understanding Surly or steel.
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