drop bar recommendations
 

I currently ride Nitto B123s and Nitto Noodle bars. The track drops are quite comfortable when in the drops (perhaps a bit too low), but I have less hand positions and riding on the tops and shoulders with these bars is barely adequate. I also love the Noodle bars because of the excellent hand positioning at the top/shoulders, but the drops are not quite low enough. Basically, I'd like some sort of hybrid between the two -- wide tops, plenty of shoulders, and track-style drops.

Anyone know of such a beast? I have read that the old Cinelli Criteriums might be the solution, but I have never ridden these. What other bars are out there that are an excellent compromise between road and track bars?

thanks.

Well, if you like the Noodle bars except for where the drops fall, you could try lowering your stem or, if you have a threadless stem, try a new stem with an angle closer to horizontal.

If you like the tops and the slight flare of the Noodle bar drops, Nitto also makes a traditional "randonneur" handlebar (B-135) with more sweep on the tops and more flare to the drops. But these bars have a very shallow drop so you might be back to fiddling with the stem anyway. The B-135 bars come in two widths - 42 cm and 45 cm. The 42 cm bars are quite narrow on top (about 39 cm) and not for everyone. The wider bars make for good climbing on single-speed and fixed gear bikes - lots of leverage when out of the saddle. They don't look at all like track bars or road bars though so they might not be for you. See Ben's Cycles: http://tinyurl.com/6prco9

The good ol' fashion Nitto b115 road drops will meet all your needs. They give you so many hand positions, I love mine.

Have you tried wider 123s? Or how about a Cinelli crit (65) in a little wider size. Maybe 40.
edit: I just read that you heard about the crits. I love my 65-38s that are wrapped all the way.

do you have a picture of yours?

I could go with wider 123s, but the shape just is not there on the tops/shoulders even if they were wider. I am going to look around for a deal on the cinelli - I'd like to find one without the cable grooves but only the 26.4 sizing seems to be without the grooves. Of course, I'd rather use my 26mm stem rather than buying a vintage stem.

i went from nitto b123aa to deda pista and i like the change

No I don't but here is what they look like.

http://www.benscycle.net/bmz_cache/4...ge.700x524.jpg

how is the shoulder on the nitto 125s? Would this be a decent compromise?

the shoulder on the 125 is rideable... but you could slip off of em if the conditions were right. 125 does give you more flat area and a good drop though.

Hey,

I swapped to an Nitto B125. You are right, you only have one position ... drop part. I think you should try a short stem to get the short-flat-bar position. Also, I feel the curvy shoulders are more bullhorn-like when it is closer to your body. (Just for a record, B123 has deeper drop than B125.)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...i/KC280141.jpg

I was gonna switch back to the classic road drop (like B115), but I am pretty happy with a short stem.

T

P.S. this stem is 40mm.

yo i have 46" nitto track drops and i think there the greatest :thumb::thumb: plenty of room on top and a good drop! i also have really wide shoulders.

Try a classic bend road bar like the Deda Newton (Belgian Deep) or a shallower version from Deda or my 3t Rotundo bars as seen in my sig.

I have a set of Soma 456 drops that I swap in from time to time (I have like 4 bars that I rotate between).