What are your favorite short-and-shallow handlebars?
#1
Hanging On
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 872
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
What are your favorite short-and-shallow handlebars?
I would like to try a set of handlebars with short reach and shallow drop. What are your favorites and why?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Paducah KY
Posts: 754
Bikes: 2013 Tarmac Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Zipp Contour SL is what I have. Lets me keep my 100mm stem but not be too stretched out. I'm built weird, I need the reach of a size 54cm bike and the leg length of a 58. I ride 56 with lots of seatpost and usually shorten the stem. When I got my Tarmac I kept the stem and swapped the bars because I hated the round tube alloy one on it anyways. This Zipp one has the ergo tops and drops that are SOOOO much more comfy than round tube, regular curl bars.
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/zi...FZPm7AodSUAAuw
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/zi...FZPm7AodSUAAuw
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Missouri
Posts: 662
Bikes: '12 CAAD10 3, '88 Raleigh Talon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I like my Deda Newton Shallows a lot. The hoods put me in an aggressive position inherently, with the tops providing a little extra upright variation compared to the hoods. I believe it's more variation than what a regular handlebar would offer. The classic bend provides some secure drops for sprinting or holding a tempo (I hold at the bends for sprints - this is the most stretched out position on this set of handlebars. I hold the flat sections after the bend for tempos). Plus I got it for a great price, which was the deciding factor over Ritchey's shallow classic bar.
If I were to take my weight weenieing to the next level, I'd go with a set of Zipp handlebars.
If I were to take my weight weenieing to the next level, I'd go with a set of Zipp handlebars.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 794
Bikes: '11 Merlin Extralight, '98 Dean Castanza, '89 Schwinn Prologue
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
FSA Wing Compact Pro (quite a bit lighter than the non-pro version), it's great looking, comfortable, and light, but very affordable.
Last edited by link0; 02-02-14 at 05:46 PM.
#6
Kit doesn't match
I'm going to back up these two ^^^.
3T Ergonova and FSA Compacts, the Wing Pro if you prefer the tops to be broader and the Omega if you prefer them round.
Can't recall where I grabbed this image...
3T Ergonova and FSA Compacts, the Wing Pro if you prefer the tops to be broader and the Omega if you prefer them round.
Can't recall where I grabbed this image...
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Boston
Posts: 775
Bikes: 2020 Fuji Transonic; Zunow Z-1; All-City Macho King ACE; De Bernardi Track
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
1 Post
Ritchey WCS Logic Curve:
That's the carbon version, but the alloy version is super affordable and just as light if not lighter than the carbon model.
That's the carbon version, but the alloy version is super affordable and just as light if not lighter than the carbon model.
#12
Raising the Abyss
none
__________________
"...in Las Vegas where -the electric bills are staggering -the decor hog wild -and the entertainment saccharine -what a golden age -what a time of right and reason -the consumer's king -and unhappiness is treason..."
"...in Las Vegas where -the electric bills are staggering -the decor hog wild -and the entertainment saccharine -what a golden age -what a time of right and reason -the consumer's king -and unhappiness is treason..."
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,415
Bikes: 2010 Litespeed Icon, 1987 Nishiki Olympic 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Currently using 3T Ergonova, want to give the FSA Wing Pro a shot. Looks like the bend will be a bit more comfortable on the FSA, not that the 3T isn't.
#17
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,561
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3239 Post(s)
Liked 1,798 Times
in
1,082 Posts
+1 for FSA Wing Pro compact.
Soma offers compact bar shape for vintage bikes with 25.4 stems with their Hwy One bar (and OS stems a silver bar, if that's what ya need).
Soma offers compact bar shape for vintage bikes with 25.4 stems with their Hwy One bar (and OS stems a silver bar, if that's what ya need).
#18
Senior Member
However if you're not currently using short/shallow bars then keep in mind that you're going to lose some significant reach and drop. For me, having had the last two frames custom made based on fit with a "regular" bar, it meant getting custom stems to keep my weight distribution the same.
Getting a longer top tube (to make up for the 3 cm shorter reach) would have meant pushing the front wheel out 3 cm so I wanted to use a longer stem. I couldn't get a 3 cm lower stem set up, nor could I adjust spacers etc to get the drop.
Having said all that I like the compact bar shape a lot, hence I made the effort to make them work on my bike. It's been three? years since I bought the first set of compact bars and I have a pile of stems from trying different things, seeing if fit compromises would work.
__________________
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
#21
Hanging On
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 872
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I use these also, not sure if they're the pro or not.
However if you're not currently using short/shallow bars then keep in mind that you're going to lose some significant reach and drop. For me, having had the last two frames custom made based on fit with a "regular" bar, it meant getting custom stems to keep my weight distribution the same.
Getting a longer top tube (to make up for the 3 cm shorter reach) would have meant pushing the front wheel out 3 cm so I wanted to use a longer stem. I couldn't get a 3 cm lower stem set up, nor could I adjust spacers etc to get the drop.
Having said all that I like the compact bar shape a lot, hence I made the effort to make them work on my bike. It's been three? years since I bought the first set of compact bars and I have a pile of stems from trying different things, seeing if fit compromises would work.
However if you're not currently using short/shallow bars then keep in mind that you're going to lose some significant reach and drop. For me, having had the last two frames custom made based on fit with a "regular" bar, it meant getting custom stems to keep my weight distribution the same.
Getting a longer top tube (to make up for the 3 cm shorter reach) would have meant pushing the front wheel out 3 cm so I wanted to use a longer stem. I couldn't get a 3 cm lower stem set up, nor could I adjust spacers etc to get the drop.
Having said all that I like the compact bar shape a lot, hence I made the effort to make them work on my bike. It's been three? years since I bought the first set of compact bars and I have a pile of stems from trying different things, seeing if fit compromises would work.
Lots of good suggestions here. I see a couple of suggestions popping up again and again, like the 3T Ergonova and the FSA Wing Compact. I will be looking over their specs and probably end up trying one of them first. Thanks for you suggestions so far.
#22
Rubber side down
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Teh Quickie Mart
Posts: 1,770
Bikes: are fun! :-)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 231 Times
in
106 Posts
Another vote for Zipp short-and-shallow in whatever flavor you like. I really like the Service Course SL. Great stiff/lighweight design that is simply very comfortable for me. I went from carbon bars to these with no regrets.
#23
Hanging On
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 872
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Lots of love for Zipp. I have to admit that I find Zipp products attractive; I currently use a Zipp seat post. Deda seems to be going their own way with handlebar clamp diameter. Ritchey is a manufacturer that I have not followed much, but someone suggested them so I will look at their products also.
#24
Senior Member
FSA have, in my opinion, the best overall compact shape on the market, except that it's just a bit too shallow. For me it feels like there just isn't enough difference between the hoods and drops position. If you don't mind that, everything else is excellent - the drop shape is very comfortable, reach to the levers is good and they work well with all hood shapes. Best of all, the drop shape is the same at any of the price levels they offer, so they are pretty cheap to test out if you go with Vero or Omega.
Personally, I use 3T Ergosum Pro. The overall shape is not as good as FSA but it's OK, and they offer that extra bit of drop. They also have quite long reach for a compact bar, as much as 10-15mm longer than other models, so that's worth keeping in mind.
Personally, I use 3T Ergosum Pro. The overall shape is not as good as FSA but it's OK, and they offer that extra bit of drop. They also have quite long reach for a compact bar, as much as 10-15mm longer than other models, so that's worth keeping in mind.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,744
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
Your username!
https://www.somafab.com/archives/product/highway-1-bar
I have the Highway 1 26.0 bar on my older Steel Fuso bike with Sram S500 levers.
https://www.somafab.com/archives/product/highway-1-bar
I have the Highway 1 26.0 bar on my older Steel Fuso bike with Sram S500 levers.