Handlebars

I know it's been done to death but I'm deffo gonna get some new bars for Xmas and wanted to try some non-anatomic drops with a cross lever.

I have Deda o/s stem so was thinking about the Deda Elementi Pista bar. The Condor Pista doesn't really fit / allow for a quill stem / NJS style componentry.

Anyone have any thoughts on this and other options? Also would the Newton Pista stem be too extreme a geometry?

"yawns" ;o)

From the bullhorns thread..

 dicki:

i am not a big fan of drops it must be said, and definately drops without hoods are a real pain to ride, drops have 2 positions that are comfortable in my opinion with bull horns you have way more options
most fashionmongers / fakengers have unwrapped chrome drops with no brake thus a lack of positions

Yeah, I'm on drops without brake hoods now and it takes some getting used to.
The brake hoods act to stop your hands sliding around the curve of the drop, so when they are gone it gets awkward.
Curvy track drops makes this 'falling forward' feeling worse.

i considered the Newton Pista bars, and also wondered if it'll be too extreme. plus of course, i still want to keep hoods..i guess the only way you'll find out is to try them out. I'd be interested to know what track bars are like with brake levers and hoods in the conventional style, though.

Could be interesting. They might look/feel odd as the bars curve down rather than flatten near the hoods. So, the hoods won't 'extend' the top part of the bar like they would on road bars. Also, the track bars curve away at the close edges (don't wanna be knocking knees) which might not leave as much room for your hands. Depends on bar width though I suppose.

I know I know...I'm sold on giving it a go - as you say Jim I'm never gonna know until I try it out.

I guess I want to know what the best options are out there for a non anatomic drop given the Pista geometry (very nice BTW) and the Deda O/S stem.

No doubt when I come off arse over tit because I can't feather the front brake while turning I'll be back on the hoods quick smart. But I need to make it to Polo just one time and the shame of having a Condor, anatomic drops and hoods (plus a non ironic mud-guard) would be too much ;o)

Polo? Good God Sir, that's for the starving East End urchins, not for the likes of us, sir. We go to God's Richmond Park, Sir, and always have.

deda newton non anatomic shallow drop oversize. like smits

maybe they do a deep drop too

ITM make some conventional shapes and all

nimhbus i considered the Newton Pista bars, and also wondered if it'll be too extreme. plus of course, i still want to keep hoods..i guess the only way you'll find out is to try them out. I'd be interested to know what track bars are like with brake levers and hoods in the conventional style, though.

NO

and anyway, oversize stem you have. most OS track bars stay fat right into the curves, you might not even get road levers to go up them. and hippy has already hinted at the dodgy angle your hoods might get at.

they are designed for track riding

the condor pista is not a track bike, it's a road singlespeed/fixed. you ride it on the road, you have brakes. you should use road handlebars.

Now, the pair of you stop acting like tarts and get the fuck out of the cab

just get normal drops.

cinelli criteriums might work nicely too, if you are considering going with a cross lever.

RPM = funny. :)

specialised make a cross lever for fat drops as well

edit: fat as in oversized

edit: fat as in hippy oversized

the pista stem is an insane angle and is for the track only, the deda non-anatomic bars are nice, if you don't want a real low drop position (like on track bars) then get the shallow italian drop dedas (it's what i have)
they do a deep drop belgian style if you prefer.

Can anyone tell me what the other figure is when you see handlebar sizes?

I'm talking 64 40 where 40 is the c to c measurement - what is the 64 (the figure is made up for reference purposes by the way)

Cheers
Anthony

clamp section diameter?

i think it's the number of miles you can ride before the bar snaps in half...

As in Cinelli mod 65-40? 65 refers to the model number. i.e. criterium bars

Mod 64-40 would be Giro d'Italia bars 40cm wide...

trampsparadise As in Cinelli mod 65-40? 65 refers to the model number. i.e. criterium bars

trampsparadise Mod 64-40 would be Giro d'Italia bars 40cm wide...

Thanks very much tramps, yeah, funny enough they were Cinellis I was looking at.

Am in the process of converting an old 'mountain' bike. It's closer to road than mountain - has reasonably thin / hard tyres, and a steel frame.

Anyway - I need some new handlebars.

I've admired the charge/bullhorn style of bars on other people's bikes, and I've also seen people using really really narrow, flat bars.

What are the options/recommendations these days? Any good outlets / suppliers?

One of my favourate threads.
I think I have a handlebar fetish.
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread16416.html

Just looking at the on-one site, and they're selling bamboo bars now. No pic though :(

@Cope. The options are near endless, so you will need to narrow it down.

What sort of riding you are doing?
Are you riding alot in traffic?
What are your favourate hand positions?
How high do you like your hands?
etc..

What sort of riding you are doing?

Good question - actually for this, it'll mostly be training rides on fairly quiet roads, not sure it'll be used in town so much.

Are you riding alot in traffic?

Probably not very very much, no.

What are your favourate hand positions?

I tend to ride with my hands either on the brakes on drops, or just in front, but on the rounded, curvy bit near the brakes. Occasionally use the straight bit, rarely down low on the actual drop bit.

How high do you like your hands?
etc..

Not sure! Not too high - sort of natural I think - not v.low or sit-up-and-beg.