Short Reach Road bars based on actual lever mount?

[SolidSnake03]

Hi everyone!

I just built up a new bike and there seems to be a good bit too much reach for me. I can feel my arms/shoulders stretch/pull a bit across the back. For me, drop has never been a problem, I'm very flexible and comfortable riding low but too much reach always causes problems. I am currently current Zipp short and shallow with Campy Chorus 2013 levers, the Zipps have ~85mm reach.

What I'm wondering about is what bars I should look at that have less reach. The reason I'm asking here however, is that I have noticed a significant difference in how much reach there is based on where the levers mount on a given bar vs. what the manufacturer has listed as the reach.

A couple I'm looking at the seem to have a smaller amount of reach based on level position are:
Easton EA70
3T Rotundo *position dependent*
Ritchey WCS Classic

Here are a few pictures to illustrate what I'm trying to describe
Ritchey WCS Classic
http://i44.tinypic.com/dqgaap.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/14bqgew.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/wji429.jpg
3T Rotundo
http://i40.tinypic.com/2wrdjqf.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/1jkoyv.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/315kf4m.jpg
Easton EA70
http://i41.tinypic.com/2mfyov5.jpg

[vav]

NIce pics :p

[SolidSnake03]

Thanks, fixed the pictures now

[buldogge]

Might want to check out the Deda Newtons and Pro PLT or Vibes as well.

I have both of those, plus the Ritchey WCS Classics for 31.8 bars on various bikes.

I just posted a pic of the Look 585 I built with Chorus 11 and the Ritchey bars a couple days ago...

-Mark in St. Louis

[vav]

PRO PLT
http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697863812&stc=1&d=1373394662

[BCS]

Try the Zipp SSR (super short reach).. IIRC reach is 70 mm

[SolidSnake03]

The Pro's do look to have a very short reach which might be perfect. What I'm most interested in though is if something like the Ritchey WCS Classic with some of the set ups pictured would actually be less reach based on where the levers are mounted?

All the photo's of the WCS bars look to have very short reach just eyeballing the hood to the end of the bar compared to my Zipps. The Zipps technically only have ~3mm or so longer reach yet looking at them with the current lever set up it looks quite a bit more than the WCS's reach.


The Rotundo not so much for the short reach especially that first pic...

[Steve530]

Maybe this webpage (http://ruedatropical.com/2009/03/road-drop-bar-geometry/) will be useful.

[John H.]

Zipp csl or Ritchey evo.

[uber]

Deda makes several bars with 75 mm reach. I believe Enve is 78.

[SolidSnake03]

Maybe this webpage (http://ruedatropical.com/2009/03/road-drop-bar-geometry/) will be useful.

Thanks for the website however, on it the mounting points for the classic shaped bars *3T and Ritchey WCS Classic* seem to be comparable to the Rotundo pictures in that they are mounted quite a bit lower (farther out) than the first photo's of the WCS's.

This is where I'm a bit confused, I know how far the reach is from the middle mounting area but I'm not sure how short it would be from the higher and closer points shown in the Ritchey WCS Classic photo's. I was wondering if anyone has some personal experience with this/able to compare this aspect.

The PRO Plt Compact II seem to have the shortest listed reach from the manufacturer but again I'm wondering if the WCS with higher mounted hoods might actually be less or even to it since the reach would be measured differently than the website shows

[Pyramor]

Take a look at the FSA Compact Wing Pro and the Omegas. Same reach I think. I really like the Wing Pro for the flat tops.

[John H.]

Be careful- actual lever mount is what counts.
Many compact bars have short reach (on paper) but the lever mounts in the furthest away spot on the bar.
In my experience Easton Slx3, Zipp csl, and Ritchey Evo (the 73mm one) allow for levers to be the closest.

[Dave]

I avoid any bar that has a lot of "rampdown" , like your first picture.

The short reach bars that I like best are the Easton EC90-SLX3.

http://www.eastoncycling.com/en-us/road/components/bars

You can't predict the brake hood position on any bar, based just on the published reach. All you can do is buy it and do a mock-up to see where the hoods end up.

I use a length of 1" PVC pipe, placed where the crook of your thumb would rest and spanning across both hoods, to take a measurement. I measure inside to inside, between the bar and the pipe. This gives me something meaningful to compare with other setups and insures that both hoods are really the same distance from the bar.

[sevencyclist]

I like the Easton EC90 SLX3 as well. Short reach and shallow drop with flat top ramp and a gentle curved transition rather than angled hook.

I also have a silver Nitto M106 NAS that has the same characteristics.
http://www.alexscycle.com/handlebars/road-1-2/nitto-neat-m106-nas.html

[MerckxMad]

Rather than guessing at effective reach for another set of bars, have you considered trying a shorter stem?

[SolidSnake03]

I have already shortened my stem to 110 from 120, dont want to go any less due to handling. I have the odd body build of long legs but very short arms and torso meaning im always struggling with too much reach and too long a top tube. I like the handling feel of a longer stem so want to shorten reach by the bars.

Its funny that i have never had a problem with drop but reach is a big issue.

The Zipp SSR bars look very promising as do the Pro ones

[ergott]

Here's a sideshot of the Zipp CSL SSR.

Keep in mind that whether you shorten the reach with the stem or the bar the handling is the same. The relationship between the hand position and the steerer is what determines the feel, how you get there is irrelevant.

http://ergottwheels.smugmug.com/Sports/The-bikes/i-R9sLBxw/0/XL/Zipp%20bar%20closeup-XL.jpg

[Steve530]

Thanks for the website however, on it the mounting points for the classic shaped bars *3T and Ritchey WCS Classic* seem to be comparable to the Rotundo pictures in that they are mounted quite a bit lower (farther out) than the first photo's of the WCS's.

This is where I'm a bit confused, I know how far the reach is from the middle mounting area but I'm not sure how short it would be from the higher and closer points shown in the Ritchey WCS Classic photo's. I was wondering if anyone has some personal experience with this/able to compare this aspect.

The PRO Plt Compact II seem to have the shortest listed reach from the manufacturer but again I'm wondering if the WCS with higher mounted hoods might actually be less or even to it since the reach would be measured differently than the website shows

I don't know if moving the shifters up on the WCS bars will help. One of the things I was looking for in a compact bar was a shallow drop with a bend that works with Campy shifters to make a large flat ramp. I bought Deda Zero 100 RHM bars, which I really like. If you have Shimano or SRAM shifters, you might need to look at other brands. I've attached a photo of the Deda bars with Campy 10 speed shifters below.

[SolidSnake03]

I have gone back to my Easton EA70's which are feeling pretty good so far actually! I would like to try the Easton SLX that have been mentioned a couple times but I am leery of both the cost and the carbon...

Regardless, I have mounted the levers up a bit higher and that has seemed to help as well as switching the bars, definitely feel myself being pulled forward much less, feel more grounded actually.

[sjbraun]

Ritchey WCS Classic with Chorus 10

[sjbraun]

Deda 215, deep drop with Chorus 10

[ergott]

Deda 215, deep drop with Chorus 10

That's not a deep drop. That's the Italian drop.

That bike setup would be better served with the Zipp I have on my bikes. You are looking for a flatter top and the hoods more level with the top of the handlebars. Your bars cause you to rotate the bars a lot and your hooks are compromised. The Zipps will give you that flat top and very comfortable hooks. They seem to be one of the best bars to use with Campagnolo levers.


These are 215 Deeps (Belgiums).

http://ergottwheels.smugmug.com/Sports/The-bikes/i-C2PpTd8/0/X2/Zanconato%20original-X2.jpg

[ean10775]

I realize this is digging up an older thread, but my god that Zank is gorgeous!

[carpediemracing]

Heh. Old thread. I take back my previously posted question.

[soulspinner]

Be careful- actual lever mount is what counts.
Many compact bars have short reach (on paper) but the lever mounts in the furthest away spot on the bar.
In my experience Easton Slx3, Zipp csl, and Ritchey Evo (the 73mm one) allow for levers to be the closest.

Ive got Ritchey 73 reach bars, love em. Have Easton Ea 70 bars on another bike. Actual brake/shifter reach seems a few mil shorter than the Easton bar.........

[SteveV0983]

Another vote here for Deda Zero100s. I've owner these, 3T Ergonovas, and FSA Omegas and decided to keep the Dedas. A lot of it had to do with the fact that the Dedas are the same width at the hoods as at the drops. The 3T and the FSA both have a small flare to the drops and the bar ends are about 2cm wider (total) than the hoods. I like them to be the same and find the Dedas very comfortable with Ultegra 6600 or 6700 shifters.

[Hawker]

Short arms, small hands and have found the FSA Wing Compact Pro to work very well. Have them on all my bikes. Also like the flat tops a lot.

[SolidSnake03]

Have been riding a set of Deda Zero100's for a few weeks now and find them to be surprising comfortable. I was originally considering the ErgoNova's but didn't know how the narrow hoods would feel.

I'm on a set of 40cm O-O Deda's and that seems to be perfect width wise. Not sure how the ErgoNova's would be at the hoods since I would have to use 38cm's to get the same O-O...

[John H.]

Zero 100 is a nice bar. I was actually considering the carbon version of that (superleggera) but it is pretty expensive. I still may get the superleggera, but I want to check out the new Fizik bars before I spend my $.