Hi Guys,

I got a fit today from someone I trust. However, as he no longer owns his shop (he does things outside the bike shop world now), I'm on my own for sourcing parts.

Currently I have a Madone 5.2 with a 90MM stem, and a 42CM Bontrager Race VR-C handlebar (compact Handle bar, 125mm drop, 85mm reach).

Basically, the break hoods are too far from me, causing "the curve" in my back that causes upper back / neck pain. Also, the drops are also a little far from me for comfort. However, the stem itself is right for me as the flats are wear they should be.

Based on the above, I've been recommended to look at FSA's products, but I see their compact specs are 125mm drop, 80mm reach. Not sure if this reach means the drops are further away than my Bontrager, or closer to me.

The goal is to get a handle bar that allows the breakhoods to be closer to me, and to allow the drops to be closer to me so that I am not stretched out as much. I need everything to be about 1.5cm closer.

One thing I noticed on FSA's site: Note that the ends flare outward. This means that the measurement at the bends will be considerably shorter than the bar’s actual measurement.

That being said, everything else has been dialed in correctly, saddle tilt / and fore/aft adjusted, and shims for cleats and shoes provided. Once I obtain the proper handle bar, he will finish the fit and final adjustments.

Advice please

Reach is exactly that, how far out the reach is.

But where is the reach measuring to, what point? The farthest point on the drops / curves?

I see 3T has some "ultra-shallow" products, 123mm/77mm. As well, it has a broader / flat top.

Can't go wrong with FSA Wing Pro Compact's. Only bars I use nowadays.

Origin 8 makes 2 pairs of bars with 70mm of reach, 1.5cm less than your current bars at 85mm. They have slightly less drop at 120mm, but that really shouldn't be a problem.

Pro fit compact 26.0 clamp size




Pro Fit Road alloy 31.8mm clamp size


If your LBS has a J&B account, or better yet if they have origin8 products in stock, they can get you these bars.

yep pretty awesome bar. esp for aggressive riding position.

to the op you can shorten reach by tilting the bars either way and re positioning the brifters. is your bike to big?

Either that or he is a trex

Bike size is perfect

Why would a fitter who makes no extra money on installing new handlebars or on the sale of different handle bars make that suggestion if it were as "Easy" as tilting the handle bars

Wouldn't tilting the bars had an adverse affect with the drops?

because he doesn't think outside the box.

yes. so what, your kind of limited with bar options anyways. Not all bars and brifters have to look like they do in the pictures. You realize they just do that to make them look better, which usually means they are out as far as they can reach.

fsa k wing compact might give you some more leeway. they have a curved profile that works in many bar angle and brifter positions and the drops angled out is very winning.

+1 Here.

I've been using FSA compact bars for a few years and love them. My new build will have the 3T compacts, just because they were on sale. Get some bars from somewhere like Performance. Then you can just return them if you don't like them.

How do the 3T's size up compared to Bontrager. The 42 width of my Bontrager is the correct width; would I want 42 in 3T, or a different size....