Hey everyone, I want to upgrade the "cockpit" of my road bike (bars, stem and seat post). Right now I"m using the stock seat post and bars with a profile designs h20 stem. I was going to go with a full 3T pro setup, but I can get Bontrager components at a discount with a team deal. However, should I go with carbon or aluminum? I was thinking about going with carbon in order to smooth out some of the road buzz from my aluminum frame. However, I don't know if it will be too risky to race with carbon bars, stem and seat post next year when I start racing. Also, aluminum will be cheaper. My main purpose for upgrading is to decrease weight and increase stiffness. In addition, the seat post I'm using now is horrid in terms of finite adjustment, so I will definitely be upgrading that. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

Carbon stem, aluminum bars.

i don't know much about the bar arguement. but carbon stems (((( EDIT: i mean seatpost, not stem :O ))) all the way. they are an integral part of road feedback, and make a big difference. you don't have to worry about corrosion or lube either. just carbon on carbon. if you have an aluminum frame, then i'm not entirely sure what you have to treat it with but still the ride will be better, and your bike will be lighter

you want to damp out some road vibration and increase stiffness as well? and how do you intend to accomplish that?

Classic BF.

Save your $600. Carbon components don't have any noticable effect on road buzz, weight, and if anything, will be less stiff than aluminum.

3T Pro is nice. Go for it.

Aluminum stem and aluminum bars. Cheap, light and does the job.

Seatpost and stem, Thomson. Handlebars, 3T Pro.

Thomson stem. 3T Rotundo Pro aluminum bars. Inexpensive, comfy, more than light enough, stiff as hell. I'm a traditionalist on this one; carbon bars and stem are a waste of money.

Also, bikes don't have cockpits.

I have full carbon which I hesitated getting but it came as an Easton package. It's not as fragile as I first thought it would be.

That said I have a travel bike which I ship a lot and that has full aluminium. I would not feel comfortable handinn my carbon component bike over to a baggage handle unless it's in a hard case.

If you do get carbon, get a good torque wrench.

If you keep things too loose (don't use carbon paste) then you ride over a bump and the bars slip in the stem clamp it will sound like you've broken something.

Race what you've got the way it is set up now.
After your first top 3 placing start thinking of upgrading.

But how can he be top 3 if he doesn't have the best equipment?

I like profile design aluminum stuff. It is light and cheep, but I probably don't know what I'm talking about

My bike came with a Bontrager carbon wrapped aluminum seatpost, aluminum stem, and a contoured carbon handlebar. I enjoyed this set-up for a year and a half. Very comfortable. I took a spill a couple of weeks ago and cracked the carbon handlebar. If the handlebar was aluminum it would have just been bent a little. I replace with a carbon wrapped aluminum handlebar. I would think a carbon stem and seatpost would be OK. I do not think I would go with a carbon handlebar again unless I had a spare following in a support vehicle. Carbon wrapped aluminum may be heavier than aluminum.

I've seen a couple sets of snapped carbon bars in crashes now (during races); not sure if that's any indication of how they all perform during said activity, but I will say that I probably won't be going the carbon route when the time for new bars rolls around.

Anything but carbon wrapped aluminium

Funny, that's what 3T itself referred to "it" as in an e-mail exchange I had with them several months ago:

"Hello Keith,

Unfortunately, the production of the PALLADIO will be delayed until further notice.

Why? We have received new valuable feedback from Slipstream, Cervelo TestTeam, and our own test engineers. During testing they found that a small percentage of riders had an issue with inside leg rub on the clamp.

From internal discussions we have decided to not release the initial design of the PALLADIO clamp, but to rather invest the additional time into building an even better product. As you can appreciate, this is not an easy decision, but as we are a no compromise company, we only want to deliver the best product we can, for our customers to ride.

Updates on the development and production release will be released on our website.

Good news is that later this month we will be release information on a new ultra light seat post that we have been working on that has 25mm offset that will be ready in June. Hopefully this will help you complete your 3T cockpit.

Thanks for your support and understanding.

Sam

Sam Monardo
3T Cycling Srl

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https://www.thenew3t.com/content.aspx?m=About&i=News&t=Newsletter"

So?

Forget the carbon, alu is the better choice for stem and bars, 3T pro is good stuff, Thomson (alu) is the best seatpost.

Carbon won't have any effect at the stem or seatpost. Most carbon bars are actually stiffer than aluminum. Go ally, put your money into better wheels and tires -that will have a real effect if the concern is road buzz.

Not to mention the price difference for a few grams.

I switched from aluminum Deda 215 bars/Newton stem to FSA K-Wing carbon bars/stem last year. I'm considering switching back to Deda. No significant improvement with vibration, but most importantly, if you go down or your bike falls, there's the fear that your carbon bars are cracked under the tape.

Thomson seatpost, hands down. Haven't touched it in years.

get alloy bars, seen a carbon bar break falling over at starbucks

Ok, seems as if the vast majority say to go with aluminum. I would go with 3T, however, the team I'm planning on racing with next year is sponsored by Bontrager. I am new to the team and the racing scene in general. Should I go with 3T (which I prefer) or Bontrager (cheaper, representing sponsors)? Would the bontrager alu stuff be a big upgrade over my "fuji alloy components"?

mike go back a few months ago in velo news and see alloy bar test they did, i have a bontrager with a 3T stem the bar is as stiff as the deda newton it replaced