I need to get some wider bars for my back up road bike. The standard ones that came with it are 40cm, and I need 44 cm.

Another problem with the current bars is the "reach" which is extremely long. In other words, to go from the bars to the hoods, you need to really lay yourself out, which is something I do not want to do with my 65 yo body and neck.

My Lemond BA standard bars have excellent "reach" in that I do not have to go forward too much from the bars to the hoods, and they are very comfortable for me.

However, when I look at catalogs, I find little or no mention of "reach" and just a picture, leaving me with a wild guess.

I went to my local LBS today to see if they have any take-off 44cm bars, and they had one Ritchie, which seemed OK as far as reach, but it had a little jiggle thingie in the drops which seemed a bit strange to me. However, I hardly ever use the drops.

Cost IS a consideration - this is a back-up and trainer bike, which I paid $290 brand new on EBay (Windsor Leeds/Sora) and I really do not want to put much $$ into it. They would let me have the Ritchie's for about $15.00. Weight is NOT a consideration. This is a utility steel bike, which was not designed to be a 2.5 pound frame.

Any thoughts on any of the above? Bar experts, show your mettle!

You're not just talking about the position of the levers on the bars? 'Coz you can move them right up
towards you.

As far as the distance from the top (straight) part of the bars to the front of the drops, I don't
think there's much difference.

If you don't like going down on the drops, you might wanna consider a shallow drop
which would make it easier.

Yeah there is.

Perhaps you could tell him how much.

No, not the position of the levers.

If I were to lay the bars from my Lemond next to the bars from the Winsdor, there would be a marked difference in where the curve for the drops starts, with the Winsdor at least an inch or more of tubing.

I have tried adjusting the levers closer, but the angle is not good for resting your hands against the hoods. It appears that the levers (hoods) need to be just a bit on the curve to give a good angle/place for my hands, and with the Windsor bars, that curve is WAY out there. The LBS guy also verified a notable difference in the construction of the two bars.

Go to the manufacturer's or distributor's website. They will frequently give you the measurement you are looking for.

Thanks

I think that I know what you are talking about with regards to how fast the drop starts. I seem to remember some Cinelli bars a few years ago that curved down dramatically as compaired to others.

The "thinkies" that you are speaking of on the Ritchey bars is an ergo "lump". Some love it, others hate it. I go back and forth. The Ritchey bars come in three categories, basically. The WCS are the top of the line and very good bars. The Pro are a little less light. The Comp or bottom level bar are still good, but not as light. There may be less sculpting inside them as well.

Yes, these are Ritchie Pros that I was looking at.

Thanks for the insight that some folks don't like them, as I wouldn't want to go to all the effort of changing bars and then hate them!

I am trying, without success, to find a Ritchey manufacturer's website. All I can find are distributors, which seem to lack the info on "reach" which I am seeking.

Any links?

3TTT do lots of different shapes and a wide variety of sizes. Their website has geometry charts.

Thanks - I wish the other manufacturers would do the same thing! They only have it for a few, though!

http://www.3ttt.com/ing/fr_attacchi.htm

http://www.ritcheylogic.com/bars.htm
has link to pdf w/specs including drop and reach.

Just put on a set of Ritchey Pros in 44. Like the width, but not sure about the ergo part.


Dave

Thanks! :D