Looking for handlebar advice

Fit and comfort first, then cost and weight
Appearance comes last for me
I find a beauty in functionality

I find a beauty in functionality

+1

nothing is more pleasing to the eye than a product perfectly engineered for it's intended purpose.

Should also add durability is on the list for me. This tends to stop me going down the weight weenie route as I am a stupid lump and inclined to destroy things. Hence why it's the stainless steel speedplay pedals on my road bike, they are much kinder on my knees, better adjustment for fit purposes, and last longer than the heavier chromo and lighter titanium ones.

Sorry to derail the bar thread and to mention a geared road bike

So Lucy and I have probably angered all the hipster fixie skidder purists today.

Spot on in your last two posts, James.

what my stupidity and lumpen state? could not agree more - statements of fact

the rest is personal preference so of course subjective

As long as it looks good though.... Just sayin'

No, I do agree. Whilst I like bike parts that look pretty, if it doesn't perform it's function well I'm not interested. I don't have the money to be replacing shiny fragile things on a regular basis.

In my opinion both the noodle and the randonneur look a bit shit...

.... I'd also suggest you buy a dropbar with an ergonomic bend, ie a flat part right in the drop section, way more comfortable.

...they may look shit, but they're design like that for comfort rather than satisfied the aesthetic need of the hippity hoppity brigade of clerkenwell road.

Sure if you're given the choice between an ugly component that works or a beautiful component that doesn't, I'd go with the ugly one. But if it's possible to have a part that combines aesthetic beauty with function, there's no point in going with an ugly part other than showing how anti and rebellious you are.

Obviously this is the internet you do have a right to voice your opinion, but WFT?

The noodles and randos don't look shit. There are better looking bars, but they're not ugly. Whereas Ergo bars are fucking hidious!

I wasn't sure about the way compacts looked, but they've grown on me, and for more modern bikes they're perfect. Either way, the smooth curves win over ergos

Also I don't think the flats in the drops of ergos are that great iether. The curves of the compacts are a much more natural fit in the parms of your hands.

Just to carify, I do like the look of the noodle/randos handlebar.

ergos are hideous, but damn comfortable and can see why some of the pro rode with them.

Well, you're nearly there sumo, just a few more inches off your pink bar.

my bars go slightly wider than my shoulders thank you very much.