1. What are some affordable quality silver/chrome 31.8 clamp bars aside from the Deda Velocitas and Nitto B123 SSBs?

2. I'm pretty much only going to be riding on the top of these bars and I'm worried that the bars with handlebar tape might be too thick for my average sized hands. I'm making the transition from 26.0 clamp bars.

3. I'm also going to be running a front brake. What clamp size should I be looking for?

I've done some research on my own but I just want to get some BF members' opinions on this

2) Going from 26mm to a 31.8mm clamp diameter is only a difference in circumference of 18mm. Less than 2cms.

I don't think it should be a problem unless your hands are barely wrapping around the bars as they are now.


Edit: That's not taking into consideration the fact that, as I understand, the 31.8 bars are only bigger at the clamp...the rest of the bars are identical at something like 23.8mm diameters.

Edit pt Deux: I think that answers your 3rd question indirectly: Same size brakes for 26 and 31.8.

Well some bars are tapered from the oversized clamp.

You can still use your 26.0mm or even 25.4mm bars with your new oversized stem with shims.

https://www.glorycycles.com/riclcuha.html

if you use any bartape, then you might notice that it will give approximately the same diameter as the clamp size when wrapped up on the 24mm OD portions.

all drop bars, be it 31.8mm, 26.4mm, 26.0mm or 25.4mm have 23.8~24.0mm OD where you put your hands. It's pretty universal.

now, for a silver drop bar, that could get hard, depending on what you want, as there are many many different bends.
I hear using oven cleaner on black bars will strip the black stuff right off.

And you won't go bullhorn/flatbar, why?

Well for two reasons: Aesthetics (my pista looks nice with drops) and because I've gotten pretty used to riding on the top of the bars. However, I have been considering bullhorns.

I have a lurking feeling that carleton is gonna call me out on this (once again)

+1

Man, just get some standard road bars. They can be found locally at any shop from $25 on up. They are all wide and flat on the top. Track bars are not. Track bars slope down quickly making them uncomfortable to ride in the tops. You will have to grip near the middle.

If you get some road bars, you can tilt them up slightly and use the forward reach area as a mini bullhorn. This will tilt the drops at an unusual angle, but it doesn't matter since you aren't into using the drops.

By the way, THANKS for turning me on to the Nitto B123 SSB handlebar! I had no idea it existed. I like Nitto bars, but hated the fact that they didn't come in 31.8. I'm gonna see about getting some for my race bike.

1. used. unless you want the track bar shape, in which case https://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CCMQ8wIwAg#

2. if you want to ride on the tops, don't get track drops. get these: https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/202...p=195%20RITLP0

3. if you get 31.8 cross top levers you can use a shim to position them where you want them, on any bar.

I recently bought one of these: https://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesom...uct/7/32/41925

The "dark metal" is the color of polished nickel.

Shenanigans!