dnfcx

How are you supposed to set the bars? Should the flat top be level to the ground? Slight tilt forward backward?

Seems if I tilt the bars so the top is flat - then the drops are out too far.

If I se the drops so they are perfect - the top is angled.

AngryScientist 

there is no magic formula for this. experiment and see what is most comfortable for you. everyone likes their bars sllightly differently. here's my set-up, which is fairly anti-typical, but works perfectly for me...

you may very well work better with a different angle, but all of my bikes are set up just like this. those are fsa omega compacts btw.

merlinextraligh

^ whatever works for you. But do you really want the drops pointing up? You could rotate the bars up a bit, and slide the hoods down, keeping the same relative position for the hoods, and avoid having the bars turn up.

But again if it works for you.

Camilo

What I did was position the flat part of the drops to be comfortable to me, and then set the levers so that they were comfortable when riding on the hoods. Turned out that when set that way, the brake levers were too far away for me to reach when I was riding in the hooks. So I installed some Specialized Slim Shims to overcome that.

lpolliard

ITM K-Sword is very similar to the K-Wing. I like the ups flat. With this I am not fighting gravity and not losing hand positions. If the ups were angled down it would be difficult to hold the bends and the position just forward of the bend as it would be at a steep angle to your arms with nothing to stop your hand position from sliding forward but your grip. With the ups flat the drops look to be in the correct position as well. With my bars this way I get five comfortable hand positions, drops, high on the hoods, hoods, just behind the hoods, bends (my new favorite with these bars), and ups.

Bottom line, each to their own.

Yaniel

I have ergonovas and I'm starting to hate them. If I have the drops flat then the drops are very comfortable but the hoods aren't. If i have the top flat then the hoods are very comofortable but the drops aren't, I feel like I have to hold my self up with a firm grip to not slide down them.

383

It was like that on the ergonovas I used in the past. really crazy to try to get it to work. I use a classic bend now.

JaceK

From the FSA setup guide....

bmw5nkj

Yup, I had that problem too. That was the reason I sold my Ergonovas which was a pity because I really liked the flat tops. If only you can adjust the angle of the tops separately.

Yaniel

what did you go with?

dnfcx

That describes my problem exactly! but the flat tops feel awesome.

bmw5nkj

I went back to my stock ergo bend bars, but looking for a replacement. I've been meaning to try out classic bend bars to see if they are for me.

Val23708

My ergonovas are fine for me... my tops are more perpendicular to the top tube of my Soloist more so than perpendicular to the ground

Mekrob

Umm, I think you meant parallel? Otherwise, you're comparing some creative axes..

Anyway, I was falling out of love with my ergonovas, the hoods had been giving me a hot spot in the web between my thumb and index finger. Rotating the bars slightly so the hoods/tops were horizontal (from slightly downhill) made all the difference. No more hot spot, and the hands aren't even getting numb after 1.5 hours.

AEO

classical bends don't have parallel tops and drops either.
closest ones are maes bend/classical deep/belgian bend, which have a slight 5 degree-ish difference between tops and drops.

on second thought, how are drop bars made?
If I didn't care about my teeth or face, I'd just fill the bars with sand, plug the ends and go at it with a pipe bender.

jrobe

Maybe you should try the 3T Ergosums. As I recall, they have more bend so you can get both the tops and drops pretty level. The FSA Omega Compact bars are like this also.

frankum

Axis?

Anyways, you'd be better off getting used to having a farther reach(being more flexible) than have the flats angled.

helmut

I just got the FSA Wing Pro Compact bars and I'm experimenting with fit. Right now, the top section are about parallel, but I'm going to angle them slightly up to put the hoods slightly closer. I could move the shifters, but I've already wrapped the tape and don't want to ruin my new Microtex. I think the drops will still be in a decent position.

Mekrob

Plural of axis.

I've found that having the flats/hoods horizontal or slightly inclined is the way to go (like 5 degrees or less.. nothing crazy). A downward cant to the bars ends up increasing the reach and makes it painful on the hands for me.

Val23708

oops. i guess i was pretty tired when i wrote that. yes parallel.

my bar end is pointing slightly above my rear skewer if that helps anyone visualize

Loose Chain

The bottoms are normally parallel to the ground or top bar.

AEO

makes the drops, especially on classical bars really nice to use and the tops might be comfortable, but it's all preference.

adriano 

i started to rethink my ergonova angle recently. i have mine set up with the tops angled slightly down, but almost everyone has them flat or even up.



i suppose the downward way reduces reach in the drops the most, but makes the hoods deeper and farther out. is that the correct causal relationship?

does anyone have side on picture of their setups?

Yaniel

i know this thread is older already but I wanted to add this pic incase anybody brings it up in a search. I spent a while trying to get a flat transition to my shimano shifters but was never completely happy. I decided to give up and put the bars the way 3t shows them in the pic on top of this post and now I'm much happier. The hoods feel good, the drops feel fantastic, and the tops are comfortable.

kneed2wrydemore

FSA Omega Compacts have a round top section.......