Bars

This novice seems to be doing okay with non-'track' drops. We'll never know if he would've done any better with 'proper' uncomfortably sloping tops…

Yeah I tend to get a bit obsessed when I get into things and I'm like a sponge wanting more and more information. Sadly with cycling and many other things I keep expecting my online banking page to greet me with a white flag

Most people use road drops for general purpose track riding, which is what you'll be starting with. So there's no need to feel that you have to use bars that are marketed as "track" bars.
As you progress you will decide if you prefer a sprint orientated bar and perhaps adapt to a lower riding position.

But track drops look nice. Dont you know nuffin? ANd if you bike looks nice, you ride nice.

Nice!

Depends on the eye of the beholder. I prefer sprint bikes but JC and pals like the 6-day look.

That's true they do look nice. Ok, maybe I'll put off the track bars for now. That way I can keep my eye out for some 38cm nitto123 or even some of those ec90 second hand

What about the old cinelli pista bars I have? They have 68 stamped on the side, they're in good condition. I just took them off a mate because he didn't want them but are they any better than just using modern road bars?

Depends on the eye of the beholder. I prefer sprint bikes but JC and pals like the 6-day look.

Yeah, that's probably a pretty good point. I think bars are probably the most expressive part of a track bike. If you want to be Chris Hoy -get some deep drop narrow bars with rubber grips. If you want to be Iljo Keisse then road bars taped up to the stem. And if you want to be Cameron Mayer...

By the way, teome, what are your track cycling intentions?

Them bars shouldn't be allowed imo. Use the drops of HTFU (unless it's a madison of course)

Been riding the track for over 20 years now and always thought I had narrow bars to get through really small gaps!

ugly

What about these for those Scatto type admirers, Scatto delayed until summer apparently

bling!

Yeah, that's probably a pretty good point. I think bars are probably the most expressive part of a track bike. If you want to be Chris Hoy -get some deep drop narrow bars with rubber grips. If you want to be Iljo Keisse then road bars taped up to the stem. And if you want to be Cameron Mayer...

By the way, teome, what are your track cycling intentions?

Sorry JC missed your question there. My intentions are to be all I can be...bloody advertising. I immediately thought that, I'm sure it's on some advert. I want to compete as soon as possible really but I'm not that near any tracks at the moment. I'm a late starter so I don't have visions of grandeur but i want to take it seriously and so get as far as I can

Sadly i need to undo months of shockingly poor lifestyle

Although I wish the UCI would ban that hand position

I instinctively kind of agree with you, but on the other hand, it is a comfortable position to ride longer races with and think I would benefit from if I was that bothered about changing my already comfortable riding opsition.

Is it a particularly dangerous way to ride or is it just the way it looks? I dont see why it would effect handling too much.

Any danger would come from novices doing it in the middle of a bunch racing or training and causing a stack because they lost control when something required a positive movement and they either slip or react too slowly.

The pros seem to only use it when out on a break or in situations where they can get away without using a safe grip on the bars.

What are the rules when it comes to resting ones arms on the tops of the bars, like invisible aero bars? Is that illegal?

Perhaps RPM's disapproval for things like this stem* from parents berating him when he ate with his elbows on the table as a child.

*bonus wordplay

Perhaps RPM's disapproval for things like this stem* from parents berating him when he ate with his elbows on the table as a child.

Didn't all parents do this?

Not Cameron Meyer's.

The fucking heathens.

*bonus wordplay

well I said 'on the other hand '

hahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahah etc

Oh and ignore my daft question about resting elbows on the bars.

The fucking heathens.

Australians, what do you expect?

New from Nitto OS B123 SSB in steel and alloy

Whats the general view of alloy v cromolly on the nittos?

Also how similar are they to the eastons ( apart from cost)?

I used to have alloy B123's, but found the drop too deep for me. Switched to cromo B125's last season, and the difference in stiffness was amazing. really noticable.... and i'm only small, so i would imagine it would make an even bigger difference for a larger rider.
they are far from light though.... not that it really matters on the track.

Anyone know where you can get these in the uk??

yes