Hey, I was wondering if any of the bigger riders out there are using carbon handlebars with success and without problems. I weight about 230, but don't do much standing climbing or sprinting. I'm looking specifically at the FSA K-wing, and its still a hefty bar--only 30g less than my current FSA Wing Pro bar. I'd love to hear feedback from any big riders using cf bars!! Thanks in advance.

I have the FSA CF k-wing and I love it-it is very comfortable. But all is not perfect, as I definately feel flex on the drops-I got used to it real quickly-but you should know it is there.

At this point, I don't find myself in the drops too much at all, mostly on the hoods and bar tops (trying to get back in shape and regain that flexability). One of my riding buddies recently bought some cf bars, and thinks they have helped a lot to reduce road vibrations, and that got me thinking it may help me too from a comfort standpoint. Thanks for the info!!

You could try some gel tape like the Specialize Bar Phat to reduce vibrations also. It would be a lot less expensive option than carbon bars.

I'm at about 260 pounds and have been using the S-Works Carbon Bars. So far I've had no problems whatsoever and have not noticed any flex. I do think they help a lot in dampening the road vibrations though.

walnuts

The REALLY big guys, track sprinters, use steel bars

No problems in drops or in my aero bars...

That would work too, I'm sure. But carbon bars are really nice to look at as well.... (I know I'm overweight and not that fast, but I still want a good looking bike!!) Also, I'm not sure if I want my bar to be any wider/thicker than it is now. The gel tapes and gel pads I've seen for bars look as if they would add at least 1-2mm all the way around the bar (with the gel pads adding even more but just to the bar tops)--not sure that I want to make the bar larger overall.

If I were that big and fast, don't know that I'd care about some carbon bars--I'd still be able to ride away from eveyone on a four year olds tricycle!!!

hell yea... u see the thighs on those mofo? damn! i wonder what they have to do to get that that big? leg presses?

they do the lot: leg presses, squats...

also, carbon bars are a bad bad bad idea on the track. the last thing you want is something snapping at speed on one of those. also, their crashes are spectacular...

that said, i'm about 200# right now, and i have the fsa carbon bars on my ride. i don't notice any flex on the bar at all. the crank, however, is another story. that thing has quite a bit of flex on it. i didn't really notice it until i got my track bike with steel crank arms... now i can't help but notice

I also sent the question to FSA to see what they had to say, and I received this response:

"We do not have any rider weight limits on any of our products...

We believe carbon fiber as a material is as strong as, if not stronger, than aluminum..."

I'm curious why carbon Record cranks stop at 175mm, but alu go to 180mm

Because italians are very small

Isn't a lot of the flex coming from the carbon steerer (assuming one has it) rather than the bars itself?

That would depend more on where the flex is felt, I'd think??

Well, I broke down and ordered the FSA K-wings. Hope they work out well!! BTW, anyone have suggestions on the internal cable routing? I'd prefer not to have to buy a new set of cables if I don't have to (just put these on about a week or so ago). Thanks again to everyone for all their input so far!!

I weigh about 220lbs and I use the Deda Alanera bar/stem set-up, and that is stiffer than the Deda Newton setup I have on my other bike.
With regards to the Track off-shoot, in the last Olympics many riders were using the new Easton Carbon Track drop bars, including many sprinters.

Wrong.

French national team sprinters are all on carbon bars. Much stronger and stiffer than steel.


https://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...id=greg/mg7789

Problems with durabilty and fabrication at longer lengths.

How many times has a bike shop guy told us that when we were buying a jersey, when he should've said:"you're just too fat"

if you are not doing any hard sprinting you should be fine with CF, but some good tape and gloves you be the cheapest way.

https://www.racycles.com/eq/catalog/e...ar_3809387.htm saw some of these at the Wrolds in carson.these are suppoe to be stronger and stiffer than steel, But given the price, steel will do for many. In track people do run carbon bars but depends on the event. I also heard that many sprinters today are not doing much weight training. Jamie staff has been riding with a weighted vest though...thats awsome. Maybe that messengers bag of mine is a blessing.

What brand cranks are they, Mr Ballistic.......if that is your real name?

I have the FSA CF wings and theya re as strong and as stiff as the aluminum bars that I took off to use them. The real benifits in these are the molded in comfort grip areas. I am a heavier guy at areound 195 lbs. I feel no flex but do really love the way the bike feels across things like chip seal and marbled concrete. The designs of the cables being routed through the handle bars gives it a clean finished look. The only thing that was need was a larger size dia stem and I found out that the aluminum Cannondale model was lighter.
Velocity