Duke of Earl

Oh man. There are so many options out there for handlebars, I just don't know where to start. For a number of years I have ridden an older set of Bontrager Race Lite bars with the ergonomic type bend to them. Now, I am building up my new Giant ISP frame and want to put a much nicer bar on. I see everything from Eastons EC90 wing bar, which has the ergo shape and a flattish top, to the newer Bontrager handlebar with its VR radius shape, more of a traditional round drop.

What are all of you riding, the funky ergonomic bend or the traditional round shape? I am looking for comfort on the long haul and not looking to spend a fortune trying to determine what I need. I wasn't real thrilled with the bar I had been using...

Thanks!

Surferbruce

for long haul comfort check out FsA's Alloy Wing Pro Compact.

Camilo

I just switched from a "full size" ergo bar to a shallow drop "classic" bar (Deda 215 shallow). I switched because I never could get the ergos positioned right for use in the drops - the ergo bend didn't work for me at all, I couldn't reach the levers well in the drops, the end was too short to feel secure, even for my small hand, and I thought the drops were too deep.

Haven't put a lot of miles on the 215 shallows to tweak the position, but on the trainer they felt a lot better. There's several other bars with what looks like identical shape - the Ritchey WCS classic being one. The only bars that appeal to me right now as an alternative are the FSA Omega and the Bontrager VR since they are even a tad shallower. I might try a flat top bar sometime if I can "steal" one from ebay, but haven't had a problem with round tops so far. If/when I really fall in love with a bar, I might go carbon, but I tend to be a carbon skeptic and a cheap SOB.

grahny

I'll put in yet another plug for Nitto Noodles (177's). Not the lightest bar out there, but they've got a nice classic (begium?) bend and the tops curve back - the finish & detail is nice too.

EDIT: oh yeah, they're like $55
https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/handl...handlebarsdrop

AnthonyG

I'm a fan of classic curve bars and I think they still have a lot to offer for most riders. Many in the Pro peleton are still using them as well. They have an easier reach to the brake levers and allow you to adjust your hand position to find where you like rather than a one position fits all approach. Some will like ergo bars better but I think that classic curve bars are better all rounders. Having said that I'm currently using some Ritchey Biomax bars although the way I'm using them they are very shallow, very tight classic curve bars with a reverse curve extension below which I don't really use.

Regards, Anthony

Frunkin

+1 for the bontrager VR bend bars.

FrankBattle 

+2 for Nitto Noodle bars (I have 2 of them). Love them. Even have one on my weight weenie bike *shrug*

The classic bend just looks, you know, good.

Triguy

I just got the Easton EA70 pro bend bars. They are a classic drop, and I really like them. They were $40, and weigh 220 grams. Deda's are typically much heavier than advertised, not that weight is a big factor in speed but when companies lie about weight it irks me.

I think there are varying shapes in handlebars, classic and ergo is only the tip of the ice berg.
There is now the very shallow round bars that sweep back farther than the stem clamp (FSA makes one, 3t ergosum is another).

There is the very circular bar where the bar is flat going into the shifter, and has a flat drop but is round inbetween (they look tits with campy shifters, Oval r701 is a good example).

There are bars where they drop down to the shifter and after the clamp area in a circular fashion, probably the most traditional "classic" bar (Easton EA70, Ritchey Classic, Deda Classic)

Then there are ergo bars which are much like the second classic bar but more squared. Again, a flat top makes a good transition to the shifter, however, they are just more squared. Much like the traditional version they are to me an aesthetically pleasing bar. Deda Newton 215, and maybe Easton SLX3 are examples.

Finally, I'd say there is the more squared off and a lot of times wierd drop shape with a bump or something. Bars include the Salsa Poco, Oval R700, and so forth.

(my picks below)
my pick for bar under $150 = https://www.ebikestop.com/oval_r900_c...8mm-HB7031.php
bar under $100 = https://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesom...uct/7/32/22744
bar under $50 = https://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,...Handlebar.html

Camilo

A big ++. My Deda 215's, (classic curve, shallow) which supposedly weigh 215 grams were actually 230. Not that big of a deal percentage-wise, but definitely consistent with Triguy's experience. If you check Weight weenies, you'll see that consistently with Deda products. I still like my 215 bars, the weight is fine (plus I knew it would be over before I ordered - weightweenies!) and they were $55 delivered from Probike kit, which is a pretty good price considering shipping costs to where I live.

My biggest gripe is my Bontrager XXX Lite carbon seat post, supposedly 140, which weighed at 198. That is BS, a 40% difference. I still don't understand how it could be that far off.

Plow13

i have the easton ea70 wing bars...i love having the flat top...sooo comfy..it's nice for the long climbs so you are forced not to squeezed the bar...also, i found that on long straight aways i like to get into a "tt" postition by resting my forearms on the flat tops of my bars...i couldnt imagine doing this for long with rounded bars...the flat section spreads out the pressure when im down in that position

yogi13

Specialized pro bend, which is a fairly shallow ergo. I'm going to be putting a deda newton ergo on my new build, which are very similar in shape to the specialized. I don't like the flat top ones like the FSA wing models, prefer ergo bends slightly to the old style curved ones.

slvoid

Specialized barmac. Gives me the perfect position in the drops plus the tops are so fat that I can rest my forearms there and ride TT style easily.

Mr. Fly

+3 on the Nitto Noodle bars, or in my case the slightly-lighter-but-same-shape Nitto Soba bars.

I have them on almost all my road bikes, including the weight-weenie-ish Seven Axiom that used to have a carbon Easton. The Nitto has that nice of a shape!