ManBearPig

I picked up a pair of the aluminum version of these bars today:

https://www.profile-design.com/produc...bar/index.html

I was hoping I could get a flat section into the hoods. After partially installing them, I realize that won't happen, so I'm trying to decide whether they are worth keeping for any other reason. Are these bars designed mainly for people who want to put the aero-bar attachment on (which I emphatically do not)? Is there some practical advantage to the flat tops other than aero?

Thanks

nitropowered

They feel better on your hands on the tops. I want to pick up a set of K-wings when I get the money

martin_j001

The flat tops are for more comfort when you have your hands on the bar tops--not much to do with aerodynamics, and no one makes an aero bar attachment that mounts out on the flat sections either. Usually to get a flat section leading into the hoods you have to go with a carbon bar--see the "sexy bars" thread for some of those. I don't recall seeing an aluminum bar that stays flat all the way into the hoods yet, but someone may make some.

Edit: K-wings are sweet, and the flat section leads into the hoods very nicely.

RiDE

You're going to have to go with those fancy carbon bars or the generic carbon ones if you want the flat section by the hoods.

ManBearPig

Yeah, I went to a large chainstore because my bike was in pieces and I wanted a fix before tomorrow's ride. A salesguy was showing me some Carbon bars (I forget the name) that have the flats molded in right before the hoods. He wanted $350 for em, despite their showing telltale signs of previously having been installed on another rig. Those bars are sweet. Those flats feel so good. However, reality set in, and I didn't want to spend as much on bars as a good set of wheels. So, I think/hope I made a wise choice.

After perusing the inventory bin, I found some Ritchey Pros. Nothing fancy about em, but they are bent so that you can get a nice flat section between bars and hoods, which is roughly parallel to the ground if you rotate the drops about 15 degrees from horizontal. I think they come OEM on alot of their bikes, I suspect for comfort's sake.