Looking for handlebar advice

Brixton Cycles put me onto some Nitto Neats - shallow drop and short reach. I hadn't heard of them before, but they're working out nicely enough.

Nitto Neats are reduced in the Planet-X sale at the moment (along with some rando's etc).

I quite like the look of both the On-One midge and mungo bars. Obviously the mungo's are bigger, but I wondered what people thought of them both?

Midge bars.

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They're the ones I'm drawn too for my commuter/hybrid. Problem is I'd probably need to change brakes/levers/shifters I guess (V brakes with MTB shifters/levers). Mini-V's come to mind...

I like drops too and after trying bull horn / aero bars, the only benefit I can see over drops is you have a better hold on the bars when mimicing the hoods possition.

I really needed the hoods position + a brake lever mounted where I can be aero yet spin like buggery. The Bulls did this for me. Drops with standard hoods would have done the same though. Just like having different set-ups on different bikes.

Midge bars.

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The drops are too wide for normal road use IMHO. Brilliant in the snow or off-road though.

They're the ones I'm drawn too for my commuter/hybrid. Problem is I'd probably need to change brakes/levers/shifters I guess (V brakes with MTB shifters/levers). Mini-V's come to mind...

I have midge bars + Tektro RL520 V-brake levers + 9 speed DA bar-end shifters (shifting a 3x9 MTB gearing set-up). Its the ultimate ultility set-up IMHO. The weirdly angled hood position is surprisingly comfy. Those DA shifters are'nt cheap though.

Sounds interesting. Would love to see a few pics if possible :) The bike I'm wanting to change is a Trek 7.5 FX. A bit crap, but it's my winter commute, unless I can raise funds for something else :)

Edit - I take it that's the Mongrel in your profile photos? Looks crazy :)

I wonder what my Deore MTB style shifters would look like on them.

If you like drop bars but just want a bit more room on the tops, why not just traditional 'maes' road drops?
I'm a big fan of drops (mainly for headwinds), I use Cinelli Criteriums but the tops are probably too narrow for what you're looking for..?

Here's some of those Nitto Neats:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nitto-NEAT-M104-Alloy-Road-Bar-Handlebars---38-cm_W0QQitemZ290466491320QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=133563812972&rvr_id=133563812972&cguid=d2c054cb12a0a0aad5955295fffabad9

Look like a steal for twenty sheets.

+1

Midge bars.

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Here's some of those Nitto Neats:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nitto-NEAT-M104-Alloy-Road-Bar-Handlebars---38-cm_W0QQitemZ290466491320QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=133563812972&rvr_id=133563812972&cguid=d2c054cb12a0a0aad5955295fffabad9

Look like a steal for twenty sheets.

nice and cheap, but very narrow. my current bars are 38cm too...

There are a few different shapes of Nitto Neats, those M104s are a good looking bar. The same seller has a 40cm one as well if that's wide enough for you?

yeh, they look nice. thanks!

In my opinion both the noodle and the randonneur look a bit shit. Especially the randonneur which flares out at the ends, yuck. I'd suggest normal road bars which have longer flats at the tops and a smaller diameter first bend, resulting in usable "shoulders" which you can also use as a hand position. I'd also suggest you buy a dropbar with an ergonomic bend, ie a flat part right in the drop section, way more comfortable.

I recommend Compact/Shallow bars, as Hugo and Kerley also suggested.
https://www.lfgss.com/thread40330.html

YouTube- Competitive Cyclist Reviews FSA Compact Handlebars

^ Yes, that **is **a 4 minute review of a pair of handlebars...

I was talking to Scherrit from the Bike Whisperer regarding drop bar, he says that the majority of time we spend on the bar is on the hood as it's the most comfortable position, but the drop are useful when you're says, descending, and it's usually comfortable for at least 15 minutes or so (since that how long a descend usually last).

he strongly recommend me to get those shallow drop bar as riding on the drop will be far more comfortable on an everyday bike, especially when you don't really need the deep drop of those proper drop bar, unless you're seriously thinking of racing.

They're really comfortable, I can actually stay on the drop for half an hour easily without feeling like I'm hurting my neck.

In my opinion both the noodle and the randonneur look a bit shit. Especially the randonneur which flares out at the ends, yuck.

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.

Edit - As far as I'm aware though, they're only available in 31.8mm clamp...

I though it's only for oversized clamp, until I found out you can get shallow/compact drop with 26mm clamp.

The only problem is compact bars look crap :) Except FSA Veros 22 quid on chainreaction :)

I hate Competitive Cyclist. Which Rapha is right for me? Do they ever give a negative review on anything they sell? Di2 rocks, Campy rocks, SRAM rocks.... Bianchi rocks, Pegoretti bad service..

I though it's only for oversized clamp, until I found out you can get shallow/compact drop with 26mm clamp.

Ah I saw them in the sale ages ago and had forgot. I'll edit my edit.

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.

I hadn't tried compact bars until my current road bike which came with 44cm FSA compacts. I find them tremendously comfortable and the drops to be very usable.

@TheFinalHour: I think the Noodle bar is specifically designed to have a usable and flat top section behind the hoods when the drop section is set at a conventional angle. If you set the drops to be horizontal I think the top section would still slope less than a regular Maes-type drop. But yeah, if you don't like the look then you don't like the look. Personally I hate the look of ergo bars.

I didn't go for the randonneur bar because of it's looks.
I went for it because it is a component that works brilliantly, for me.
I like that the drops flair out beyond the bar's shoulder, allowing you to climb in the drops if you want, and the tops fit into the hand wonderfully.
I happen to like the look of them - they are actually a classic design going back to the late fifties - but I didn't buy them for their look.

Anyone who buys a component, indeed judges a component, solely on it's aesthetic properties, is a proper dog's quim.

Anyone who buys a component, indeed judges a component, solely on it's aesthetic properties, is a proper dog's quim.

You have just alienated 80% of the people here, though I agree entirely

Thos aesthetic judgements are for bike porn, not for actual riding.
It also depends on how much the owner rides.
I am guessing anyone who puts looks first considers a 3 mile ride a long day in the saddle and at that distance you can get away with anything. A Micro scooter is good enough for doing 3 miles!

Start riding any distance with components that look great but are bad functionally and the mind may be changed...

Even with a brilliant beige colour match between my bar tape and my saddle. There's no escaping the fact that my new bull bars look shite in comparison with the NOS italian drops I had. But I'm faster, more comfortable, and can desend far safer, so they're keepers.

Anyone who buys a component, indeed judges a component, solely on it's aesthetic properties, is a proper dog's quim.

+1
consider weight first, then looks ;)