Shallow drop bar
#1
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Shallow drop bar
I'm looking for a shallow drop bar. Seems like a lot of drop bars are for the racer folks. Also I have no interest in the splayed out bars. I ride on the top corners most of the time. Picture and measurement would help.
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
#2
Sunshine
Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Soma Hwy1 is a 0degree flare compact drop bar with multiple mount diameters.
Salsa Cowbell is another really popular compact drop in 31.8mm size. It has a few degree of flare, but that isnt the splay that you dislike.
Google for pics and measurements- both have them listed on the company sites. Both are full C bend, or very close to a full C. Neither are ergo bends.
Salsa Cowbell is another really popular compact drop in 31.8mm size. It has a few degree of flare, but that isnt the splay that you dislike.
Google for pics and measurements- both have them listed on the company sites. Both are full C bend, or very close to a full C. Neither are ergo bends.
#3
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From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
Have you gone to a large bike shop and looked at their collection?
#4
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: South NJ
Bikes: YT Izzo, Privateer 161, Carbonda 696, Mason InSearchOf, cheap SC High Ball knock off
These work for me
Specialized Hover Bar ($50), shallow drop, a fairly short reach,comes in 3 widths... 15mm of rise, that works for me. Im more leg than arm I guess... the drop from the seat to the grip on most bars looked like something you would find on a velodrome bike. the exact specs are on line

#5
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From: Montreal Canada
I recommend the various salsa models, and would suggest finding a store that has them all in store, so you can hold them and see how they feel. Personally, I went with the cowbell, a shallow drop bar that has just a bit of outward angle. Hardly notice it even looking at it, but it gives a nice riding feel and leverage in the drops.
Shallow top to drop distance, and short top area to hood area distance also makes them nice to ride, and of course, your specific bike fork steerer and stem lenght and angle can allow you to have drop bars easily at seat level or slightly higher, which can be nice for touring.
Shallow top to drop distance, and short top area to hood area distance also makes them nice to ride, and of course, your specific bike fork steerer and stem lenght and angle can allow you to have drop bars easily at seat level or slightly higher, which can be nice for touring.
#6
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: South NJ
Bikes: YT Izzo, Privateer 161, Carbonda 696, Mason InSearchOf, cheap SC High Ball knock off
Soma Condor bars
Pretty weird but again they work great
very shallow drop, really short reach, again some rise with a tiny bit of flare (the rear shot of the bars makes the flare on the drops look drastic but its the ultra wide lens making it look that way)... tuff part for you might be the extreme bend from the hoods to the "flats" if you ride that bend. I use a short stem with rise and am always in the drops on these, except in rest or site seeing mode.

very shallow drop, really short reach, again some rise with a tiny bit of flare (the rear shot of the bars makes the flare on the drops look drastic but its the ultra wide lens making it look that way)... tuff part for you might be the extreme bend from the hoods to the "flats" if you ride that bend. I use a short stem with rise and am always in the drops on these, except in rest or site seeing mode.
#7
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Joined: Oct 2015
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From: San Diego, California
Bikes: Velo Orange Piolet
FSA Wing Compact bar is nice. Normal compact bat shape, lots of sizes and the top is flattened a bit for comfort. (It was my favorite before I discovered flared dirt drops.)
#9
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From: Sydney
Bikes: Co-Motion Mocha Co-pilot, Habanero custom commuter, Seven Axiom SL, Seven Axiom SLX, Blom Track
We have 3T Ergonova bars on all our bikes. I'm a bit of a clydesdale so I have the Pro aluminium bar on my road bikes and our touring tandem. My better half uses the LTD carbon bar which is way to light for touring
#11
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Montreal Canada
Jim, quickly a few points. First is that dropbars for racer folks really depends on how a bike is setup frame wise, ie is the headtube area much lower than the seat, ie for racing, ie to get your head out of the wind in an aggressive position. Touring bikes tend to have higher up front ends, so its not the bar that is the diff, but the headtube, fork steerer length, stem used etc. If a given bar has a good shape, it doesnt matter wht bike its on, it can still work on diff bikes.
then about carbon bars, lowering weight is always nice, but dont forget, carbon handlebars cant be used with handlebar bags because of the mounts clamping on etc. so unfortunately are not suggested for touring bikes.
then about carbon bars, lowering weight is always nice, but dont forget, carbon handlebars cant be used with handlebar bags because of the mounts clamping on etc. so unfortunately are not suggested for touring bikes.
#13
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
#15
I dont know nothing
I never tried them
¿Why did you post a link?
Maybe I will look at this when I need some bars, but can not remember what kind I like the picture of
Condor Handlebar | SOMA Fabrications
Here is a link to flyxii and some afordable carbon
https://www.flyxii.com/en/products/handlebar.html
I never tried them
¿Why did you post a link?
Maybe I will look at this when I need some bars, but can not remember what kind I like the picture of
Condor Handlebar | SOMA Fabrications
Here is a link to flyxii and some afordable carbon
https://www.flyxii.com/en/products/handlebar.html
Last edited by chrisx; 10-16-17 at 04:02 PM.
#16
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From: WA
#17
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From: Montreal Canada
absolutely, just be aware of the handlebar bag issue, with clamping or wire type attchment of mounts. I figure the weight saving of a cf vs alu cant be that much, compared to all the other stuff, but the main thing is to be aware of this aspect, and then you decide.
#18
Sunshine
Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Thats 1.75oz costing $130.
I genuinely cant imagine caring that much about equipment weight ust to tour at such a financial cost.
I get it- lots of different ways to tour, but man i dont have the desire to buy ounces at that cost.
#19
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From: Montreal Canada
i just looked up some carbon compact bars- fsa k force. They are only 50g lighter than the aluminum zipp service course sl bars, but over twice as expensive at $130 more than the zipps.
Thats 1.75oz costing $130.
I genuinely cant imagine caring that much about equipment weight ust to tour at such a financial cost.
I get it- lots of different ways to tour, but man i dont have the desire to buy ounces at that cost.
Thats 1.75oz costing $130.
I genuinely cant imagine caring that much about equipment weight ust to tour at such a financial cost.
I get it- lots of different ways to tour, but man i dont have the desire to buy ounces at that cost.
these cf bars weigh 201g and cost $313 can. I bought my cowbell 3's at about 70bucks can. so I would have nearly 250 dollars can. to put towards a really light tent, or a really light sleeping bag , or whatever, that will save a heck of a lot more weight.
or simply to buy a nice seat bag, bikepacking style, or a handlebar bag, or a handlebar roll container type system....
as always, its about balancing money to value to what you get for what you want to do.
#20
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Joined: Jul 2001
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This is about as short and shallow as they come. Drop is only 125mm and reach is only 70mm.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Titan-Lite-.../112597654556?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Titan-Lite-.../112597654556?
#21
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Thailand..........currently Nakhon Ricefield, moving to the beach soon.
Bikes: inferior steel....alas....noodly aluminium assploded
you should head over to whiteblahs.net!
those thru-hikers are super smart, and can
really teach us luddite bikers a thing or three.
#25
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,760
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From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
i just looked up some carbon compact bars- fsa k force. They are only 50g lighter than the aluminum zipp service course sl bars, but over twice as expensive at $130 more than the zipps.
Thats 1.75oz costing $130.
I genuinely cant imagine caring that much about equipment weight ust to tour at such a financial cost.
I get it- lots of different ways to tour, but man i dont have the desire to buy ounces at that cost.
Thats 1.75oz costing $130.
I genuinely cant imagine caring that much about equipment weight ust to tour at such a financial cost.
I get it- lots of different ways to tour, but man i dont have the desire to buy ounces at that cost.
and 120g heavier than cowbell 3 (320g), which cost you yanks about 50 bucks, the cowbell 2 are about 70 maybe and weigh 280g.
these cf bars weigh 201g and cost $313 can. I bought my cowbell 3's at about 70bucks can. so I would have nearly 250 dollars can. to put towards a really light tent, or a really light sleeping bag , or whatever, that will save a heck of a lot more weight.
or simply to buy a nice seat bag, bikepacking style, or a handlebar bag, or a handlebar roll container type system....
as always, its about balancing money to value to what you get for what you want to do.
these cf bars weigh 201g and cost $313 can. I bought my cowbell 3's at about 70bucks can. so I would have nearly 250 dollars can. to put towards a really light tent, or a really light sleeping bag , or whatever, that will save a heck of a lot more weight.
or simply to buy a nice seat bag, bikepacking style, or a handlebar bag, or a handlebar roll container type system....
as always, its about balancing money to value to what you get for what you want to do.
***
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