Carbon stem, bar & seatpost recommendations

[54ny77]

Hi folks I'm building up a barn find old Parlee with gloss 3k weave (https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=309612), and I could use some tips on modern bar/stem/post options out there that would look nice with that combo. Only carbon bar/stem/post stuff I've bought in a very long time was couple years ago, all Enve, because I got kinda overwhelmed looking at choices at the time and just went with that brand.

While I could do that again I'm not really crazy about the aesthetic, and for the price, at quick glance there seem to be other options.

I looked at Ritchey stuff briefly, and boy have they expanded (last time I looked ~15+ years ago they only had 2 carbon options: a single bolt and double bolt). Sure wouldn't mind supporting them

Size requirements:
post: 27.2, need setback
bar 40cm, prefer compact shape and close to a traditional bend (no ergo bend)
stem: 110

Thanks for suggestions.

[owly]

There may be some gloss finish carbon seatposts out there. As for matt, I find the 15mm-offset Ritchey WCS 2-bolt pretty comfy.

Have a look at what seatposts and carbon stems R2bike has.

Alexscycle Japan should have one or two 40cm carbon bars with the shape you're chasing.

[cgolvin]

I've been riding a 40cm Thomson carbon bar for a long time, kind of a classic bend and the oversize tops (similar to a Deda 35) feel very good to my hands.

Plus, @Imaking has a pair for sale at a good price right now.

Also a fan of the Deda Superleggera post because I want some setback but not too much.

[theboucher]

Deda makes great bars and stems!

[SDJ]

Can 2nd Deda

I really like Zipp but not sure they have a classic bend bar in the line up

[teleguy57]

Second @cgcolvin on the Thompsons. Also a big fan of Deda, particularly the 35mm Trentacinque (yes, redundant 😉)

[Dired]

Black Inc - they usually do a nice sale on BF.

[benb]

Gloss finish CF seatposts and seat mast toppers can be a PITA.. they very easily get scratched/polished by a saddle bag or your legs rubbing against them.

I have two of them right now... very hard to keep them looking good long.

If I bought some bars I'd be tempted to order from Easton, not sure why but I like Easton a lot.

[mortirolo]

Mcfk seatpost.

[mcteague]

Ritchey stuff is really good IMO. You said you want to support them so....do so! That said, I have only ever used their WCS aluminum bar/stem/seatpost as the carbon parts just didn't warrant the extra cost for me.

Tim

[Wakatel_Luum]

I'm using MCFK seatpost, stem and a ZIPP classic shaped handlebar.

A lot stiffer than I expected. Stiffer than the alloy Deda I had on.

[jacrider]

Been happy with Whiskey carbon bars and seatposts. Not sure if they have carbon stems. I tend to use the cheap Uno aluminum stems - light and work really well.

[BdaGhisallo]

Originally Posted by benb

If I bought some bars I'd be tempted to order from Easton, not sure why but I like Easton a lot.

I've been running Easton bars for about ten years now and they are fantastic. The current gen bars with the Maximum Contact Drop shape are a great blend of a traditional shape and a modern compact bar.

I haven't used any of their carbon stems, but their EA90 aluminum stems are the business. I replaced all of my Ritchey stems with Eastons.

[mcteague]

Originally Posted by BdaGhisallo

I've been running Easton bars for about ten years now and they are fantastic. The current gen bars with the Maximum Contact Drop shape are a great blend of a traditional shape and a modern compact bar.

I haven't used any of their carbon stems, but their EA90 aluminum stems are the business. I replaced all of my Ritchey stems with Eastons.

Just curious...why? They look identical and weigh the same. What makes the Easton so much better than the Ritchey?

Tim

[BdaGhisallo]

Originally Posted by mcteague

Just curious...why? They look identical and weigh the same. What makes the Easton so much better than the Ritchey?

Tim

It was around the time that Ritchey started using three bolt setups and reverse bolts on the 220 stem, I think it was. Those bolts had 3mm hex drive heads and they were very soft and easy to strip. They eventually replaced the hex head bolts with torx headed bolts but the tiny bolts were still there.

Easton stems were much simpler as they used the traditional forward facing 4 bolt bar clamp setup and the bolt heads had 4mm hex sockets which I much preferred.

Once I'd installed and used the Easton stems, I saw no reason to revert to Ritchey. And they matched the Easton MCD bars that I became wedded to.