Short/shallow 26.0 bar with good looking bend?

[dvancleve]

I want to find a black, 26.0mm bar with short reach and shallow drop AND a nice looking bend. Aesthetically, I prefer traditional looking drops and most short/shallow bars look pretty contorted to me. I did find these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380238612680 (3T Forgie TDF). They are pretty short and shallow and the bend looks pretty good, appears that the top to hood transition would be pretty flat. Any opinions on them? Any other good options?

Thanks, Doug

[AngryScientist]

http://bontrager.com/model/09170

http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/TrekBicycleProducts/11bo419430?wid=389&hei=389&fit=fit,1&fmt=jpg&qlt=85,1&op_sharpen=1&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0,0,0,0&iccEmbed=0

[DHallerman]

I want to find a black, 26.0mm bar with short reach and shallow drop AND a nice looking bend. Aesthetically, I prefer traditional looking drops and most short/shallow bars look pretty contorted to me. I did find these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380238612680 (3T Forgie TDF). They are pretty short and shallow and the bend looks pretty good, appears that the top to hood transition would be pretty flat. Any opinions on them? Any other good options?


A warning about that eBay seller, for item 380238612680.

Twice I've bought things from them, twice they didn't have what they listed on eBay, twice it took too much of a dance to get my money back.

Yes, I got a refund.

But why does an eBay seller list something which they then say they don't have in stock? And then tell you the item is on backorder. And then don't readily respond to emails asking when the item will be available. So then you have to call them and be placed on hold for long periods of time.

Dave, who tried twice with this seller because he thought the first time was an accident so gave them the benefit of the doubt but in the buying sport it's two strikes and you're out

P.S. Just for some perspective: I've bought bike stuff from literally hundreds and hundreds of companies and individuals online, and this seller is the only one of two I've been truly unhappy with.

[dvancleve]

Dave, if I decide to take the chance (seems that bar is no longer made) I will definitely pay by CC for some extra protection...

Doug

[coelacant]

+ 1 on the Bontrager above. I'm currently using them and like very much. They have a tiny bit more reach than the Ritchey classic silver which I prefer and a bit lighter than the Nitto Soba they replaced.

[merckx]

deda 215 shallow

[bicycletricycle]

deda 215 shallow

+1, ramps are not as flat as the bontrager above, mor elike a cinelli 64 of old, nice handlebar though.

[slowandsteady]

I have a nice Easton Equipe PRO 44 I just replaced available for sale...

Great bar but I wanted to try an ergo bar and it suits my shoulders and wrists better YMMV.

[Marz]

deda 215 shallow

+1 million

i have had mine for years, Lance rode them on hhis comeback and they are similar to classic Cinelli 64.

...and still available at a popular UK online site starting with Pro.

[John H.]

PSA- classic bars do not have flat ramps on top. It is just a fact. You have to rotate them all funky and/or raise the hoods to get the ramp out.
That said, out of circulation Easton EC90 Equipe pro classic bend are best short and shallow choice (if you can find your size).
If you ride 42- I even have a set I might part with.

[bicycletricycle]

PSA- sometimes classic bars have flat ramps, its just a fact
:)

http://www.compasscycle.com/images/MaesPara800.jpg



PSA- classic bars do not have flat ramps on top. It is just a fact. You have to rotate them all funky and/or raise the hoods to get the ramp out.
That said, out of circulation Easton EC90 Equipe pro classic bend are best short and shallow choice (if you can find your size).
If you ride 42- I even have a set I might part with.

[John H.]

OP also asked for short reach and shallow drop- those bars are neither. Hoods are way far away and they drop off significantly from the top of the bars.

PSA- sometimes classic bars have flat ramps, its just a fact
:)

http://www.compasscycle.com/images/MaesPara800.jpg

[bicycletricycle]

you are correct, short reach and flat ramp in classic bend are never found together.

[sjbraun]

IIRC, Nitto makes such a bar. Someone posted info on one here or on one of the iBob lists.

The bars aren't readily available, but I think the post included info on where they could be ordered, a Japanese shop that does mail order, maybe??

Steve-boy that was a lot of help

Oops. It was across the hall

http://www.alexscycle.com/handlebars/road-1-2/nitto-neat-mod-185.html

[dvancleve]

So there appear to be 3 bars that I can get that are black, roundish bend, short/shallow and 26.0 diameter: 3T / 3TTT FORGIE TDF BICYCLE HANDLEBAR 46 CM NEW | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380238612680) (shortest reach, middle drop, middle weight), Bontrager: SSR VR-C 26.0 (Model #09170) (http://bontrager.com/model/09170) (longest reach, shallowest drop, heaviest), Ritchey WCS Classic 26.0mm 44cm Road Handlebar | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220804559644) (middle reach, deepest drop, lightest). I think like the 3T best, but it would be the most moolah and the vendor is apparently a bit sketchy. The Bontrager probably has the flattest transition to the hoods but it is the worst deal since it seems to only be available from Trek. I am not sure about the bend of the Ritchey, but it is the lightest and the same price as the Bontrager. I think the 3T and Ritchey are both old models, don't really care about that though. There is less than 1cm of difference in reach and drop across the three, not sure I could feel that, bend will probably feel the most different. Anybody have experience with all three or at least a couple of them?

Thanks again, Doug

[DRietz]

Check out Kalloy bars.

[phcollard]

Have you seen this one? It's a steal.

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=92874

[thinpin]

How come as Marz suggested the deda 215s dont figure on your menu? I ride 215s shallow, 3ttt tdf classic and cinelli giros and the 215 are up there in all respects. Nice aesthetics, light, shallow, short, 26.0 and black. A bar for all seasons.

[John H.]

VR has way more effective reach than the classics. Either of the classics will have significant ramp from tops to hoods.

So there appear to be 3 bars that I can get that are black, roundish bend, short/shallow and 26.0 diameter: 3T / 3TTT FORGIE TDF BICYCLE HANDLEBAR 46 CM NEW | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380238612680) (shortest reach, middle drop, middle weight), Bontrager: SSR VR-C 26.0 (Model #09170) (http://bontrager.com/model/09170) (longest reach, shallowest drop, heaviest), Ritchey WCS Classic 26.0mm 44cm Road Handlebar | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220804559644) (middle reach, deepest drop, lightest). I think like the 3T best, but it would be the most moolah and the vendor is apparently a bit sketchy. The Bontrager probably has the flattest transition to the hoods but it is the worst deal since it seems to only be available from Trek. I am not sure about the bend of the Ritchey, but it is the lightest and the same price as the Bontrager. I think the 3T and Ritchey are both old models, don't really care about that though. There is less than 1cm of difference in reach and drop across the three, not sure I could feel that, bend will probably feel the most different. Anybody have experience with all three or at least a couple of them?

Thanks again, Doug

[dvancleve]

Mostly price, they are more like $90 than $45 and several folks have said there will be quite a bit of drop to the hoods. Sounds like the Ritchey and 3T probably have that as well. Looking at this, http://ruedatropical.com/2009/03/road-drop-bar-geometry/, it looks like the Deda has a nicer bend than the Ritchy, less triangular from the side (probably not worth the extra moolah to me though)... Doug

How come as Marz suggested the deda 215s dont figure on your menu? I ride 215s shallow, 3ttt tdf classic and cinelli giros and the 215 are up there in all respects. Nice aesthetics, light, shallow, short, 26.0 and black. A bar for all seasons.

[dvancleve]

Thanks John. Is it because their actual reach is a bit more and it is a straight shot forward rather than down a bit and forward? I am a cheapskate, so I'm torn. Since the Ritcheys would be the cheapest for me, I think I might try them. I generally angle my bars back a bit, flattens the ramp on any bar and I like the drops angle to sorta match my hand angle rather than being parallel to the ground... Doug

VR has way more effective reach than the classics. Either of the classics will have significant ramp from tops to hoods.

[John H.]

Ritchey sets up with less reach because the hood goes on the ramp part so it is tilted back to you.
Bontrager is flat so hood ends up more out by the apex of the shape.
It is a pretty big difference when you have both next to each other.

Thanks John. Is it because their actual reach is a bit more and it is a straight shot forward rather than down a bit and forward? I am a cheapskate, so I'm torn. Since the Ritcheys would be the cheapest for me, I think I might try them. I generally angle my bars back a bit, flattens the ramp on any bar and I like the drops angle to sorta match my hand angle rather than being parallel to the ground... Doug

[Plum Hill]

If you can accept an Ergo bend, I'd recommend TTT LESS 199 bars.
I test rode a bike with these back in '04 and have been using them since. Friends have also switched to them.
Only problemm is finding them NOS. Ital Techno currently lists them in a 46cm width.

[ergott]

There are only 2 general "classic" bend bars types. The deep...
http://ergottwheels.smugmug.com/Sports/The-bikes/MG2291/405468903_Rfjfx-XL.jpg

and the shallow.
http://ergottwheels.smugmug.com/Sports/The-bikes/i-brSXmC3/0/XL/Spooky01-XL.jpg

Everything else is an ergo bend. The deep are also known as "Belgian" style and the shallow are know as "Italian" style. Belgians have a flatter ramp, but deeper drop. Italians have a shallow drop, but the hoods drop more.

The set in the first picture is a Deda 215 Belgians and the second set is a Ritchey WCS Classic. Other companies make similar shapes.

[foo_fighter]

How about these:

http://www.origin-8.com/?page_id=91&short_code=Pro-Lite+Compact&cl1=HANDLEBARS

~$32 on Amazon. More of a modern compact bend though.

Also These:
http://somafab.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-product-soma-hwy-one-road-bar.html

And Lastly and Costly:
http://ruedatropical.com/2010/12/nitto-26-0-compact-bar/