Velo Orange Rando Drop Bar Question
#1
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Velo Orange Rando Drop Bar Question
I have a new set of the Nitto Rando bars in 45 CM however uptop they are considerably more narrow than I prefer . Which is a tad disappointing , because I can't use them . Anyway I have looked at the VO offering and it appears to be offered in a 48. I would like to hear some opinions about the VO bars , and the Nitto Noodle which comes in 48CM as well . I really like the rando style of bars but I can't deal with the narrow top and sadly Nitto does not offer wider bars in that model.
Thanks !
Thanks !
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I know the VO randos are 26mm clamp. So take that into account. I think the drop angles are pretty similar on the two. Go wide if you plan on riding on the hoods a lot.
That’s definitely one of the drawbacks of randonneur bars for me as well. I have a set of 42 Sakae Randnner bars that I’m probably going to have to swap for the same reason.
That’s definitely one of the drawbacks of randonneur bars for me as well. I have a set of 42 Sakae Randnner bars that I’m probably going to have to swap for the same reason.
#3
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I know the VO randos are 26mm clamp. So take that into account. I think the drop angles are pretty similar on the two. Go wide if you plan on riding on the hoods a lot.
That’s definitely one of the drawbacks of randonneur bars for me as well. I have a set of 42 Sakae Randnner bars that I’m probably going to have to swap for the same reason.
That’s definitely one of the drawbacks of randonneur bars for me as well. I have a set of 42 Sakae Randnner bars that I’m probably going to have to swap for the same reason.
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I’m curious about the VOs as well. I’ve looked at them, but the bike I was considering them for has a Nitto stem with 25.4 clamp and I didn’t really want to swap the stem as well.
#5
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In my case it would be just buying the VO bars since I have the B136 Nitto bars . Hence my interest, I do have a set of the Sakae Rando bars as well which are probably a 40CM and they will not stick around either. It feels like bars made for a child
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I'd call VO and ask if they wouldn't mind taking additional measurements for you. I can't imagine that they wouldn't.
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You might also look into these:
Crust Towel Rack
Currently out of stock, but they do restock from time to time I believe.
Crust Towel Rack
Currently out of stock, but they do restock from time to time I believe.
Last edited by jpaschall; 01-28-19 at 09:37 AM.
#8
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The noodles are the way to go. Their tops are closer to the measured width of the bar.
#9
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I have the widest Nitto B132 bars- and they're much tighter than you'd expect. They're measured at the end of the drops, and since they splay out so much, the distance between the hoods is much narrower.
As Law said- the B177 (Noodle) is much closer to the measured size at the hoods because they don't splay out. There's also the difference in the shape- Where Rando bars go up from the stem to the corners, the B177 goes down and sweeps back towards you.
I think if you get the B177 in 48, they'll be a LOT wider than you expect. I think I have the 44s, and they're plenty wide for a handlebar bag and Command Shifters- which is not the case for the B132 in 45 or the Sakae "Randnner" bars.
IMG_2402 by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr
As far as the other bars go:
As Law said- the B177 (Noodle) is much closer to the measured size at the hoods because they don't splay out. There's also the difference in the shape- Where Rando bars go up from the stem to the corners, the B177 goes down and sweeps back towards you.
I think if you get the B177 in 48, they'll be a LOT wider than you expect. I think I have the 44s, and they're plenty wide for a handlebar bag and Command Shifters- which is not the case for the B132 in 45 or the Sakae "Randnner" bars.
IMG_2402 by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr
As far as the other bars go:
I have some VO Grand Cru Rando bars on my Voyageur. I'll measure them tonight. I have the 46mm version. They're available in 42, 44, 46 and 48cm versions. I'll bet the 48cm version will get you close to 42cm at the hoods if you're wanting to use a randonneur bend bar. I've grown to really like them.
I think the VO bar shape is closer to the Nitto B132a than the B135, though the ends sweep back further than the B132a.
B135 45cm
B132a 44cm
B177 44cm
I think the VO bar shape is closer to the Nitto B132a than the B135, though the ends sweep back further than the B132a.
B135 45cm
B132a 44cm
B177 44cm
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Last edited by The Golden Boy; 01-28-19 at 01:57 PM. Reason: AutoCorrect got "Sakae" into "Sake". grrr....
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Funny, I was just thinking about this the other day when deciding what bars I will put on my new Schwinn.
I like wide drop bars (46cm at the hoods). The problem with these randonneur bars is they are always a few cm narrower at the hoods than the size denomination.
I was looking at the Compass handlebars (by Nitto) because they come in a 46cm size, and in a 25.4cm clamp, which is what I am confined to because the Sports Tourer only takes a 0.833" stem, which only come in 25.4mm clamp diameters. Here is a comparison of the two Compass bars:
Maes Parallel
-Shallow drop (125mm)
-Long reach (115mm)
-Tops are parallel with the drops
-Tops are totally flat
-Flares out to the drop 20mm on each side (so a 46cm bar is 42cm at the hoods)
Randonneur
-Deeper drop (140mm)
-Same long reach as the Maes (115mm)
-Tops are not parallel to the drops, but the angle isn't that pronounced compared to some other randonneur bars. Jan recommends having the tops level and the drops angled
-Flares out slightly LESS than the Maes. According to the Compass specs it flares out to the drop 15mm on each side (so a 46cm bar is 43cm at the hoods)
-Tops flare up
I like wide drop bars (46cm at the hoods). The problem with these randonneur bars is they are always a few cm narrower at the hoods than the size denomination.
I was looking at the Compass handlebars (by Nitto) because they come in a 46cm size, and in a 25.4cm clamp, which is what I am confined to because the Sports Tourer only takes a 0.833" stem, which only come in 25.4mm clamp diameters. Here is a comparison of the two Compass bars:
Maes Parallel
-Shallow drop (125mm)
-Long reach (115mm)
-Tops are parallel with the drops
-Tops are totally flat
-Flares out to the drop 20mm on each side (so a 46cm bar is 42cm at the hoods)
Randonneur
-Deeper drop (140mm)
-Same long reach as the Maes (115mm)
-Tops are not parallel to the drops, but the angle isn't that pronounced compared to some other randonneur bars. Jan recommends having the tops level and the drops angled
-Flares out slightly LESS than the Maes. According to the Compass specs it flares out to the drop 15mm on each side (so a 46cm bar is 43cm at the hoods)
-Tops flare up
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Funny, I was just thinking about this the other day when deciding what bars I will put on my new Schwinn.
I like wide drop bars (46cm at the hoods). The problem with these randonneur bars is they are always a few cm narrower at the hoods than the size denomination.
I was looking at the Compass handlebars (by Nitto) because they come in a 46cm size, and in a 25.4cm clamp, which is what I am confined to because the Sports Tourer only takes a 0.833" stem, which only come in 25.4mm clamp diameters. Here is a comparison of the two Compass bars:
Maes Parallel
-Shallow drop (125mm)
-Long reach (115mm)
-Tops are parallel with the drops
-Tops are totally flat
-Flares out to the drop 20mm on each side (so a 46cm bar is 42cm at the hoods)
Randonneur
-Deeper drop (140mm)
-Same long reach as the Maes (115mm)
-Tops are not parallel to the drops, but the angle isn't that pronounced compared to some other randonneur bars. Jan recommends having the tops level and the drops angled
-Flares out slightly LESS than the Maes. According to the Compass specs it flares out to the drop 15mm on each side (so a 46cm bar is 43cm at the hoods)
-Tops flare up
I like wide drop bars (46cm at the hoods). The problem with these randonneur bars is they are always a few cm narrower at the hoods than the size denomination.
I was looking at the Compass handlebars (by Nitto) because they come in a 46cm size, and in a 25.4cm clamp, which is what I am confined to because the Sports Tourer only takes a 0.833" stem, which only come in 25.4mm clamp diameters. Here is a comparison of the two Compass bars:
Maes Parallel
-Shallow drop (125mm)
-Long reach (115mm)
-Tops are parallel with the drops
-Tops are totally flat
-Flares out to the drop 20mm on each side (so a 46cm bar is 42cm at the hoods)
Randonneur
-Deeper drop (140mm)
-Same long reach as the Maes (115mm)
-Tops are not parallel to the drops, but the angle isn't that pronounced compared to some other randonneur bars. Jan recommends having the tops level and the drops angled
-Flares out slightly LESS than the Maes. According to the Compass specs it flares out to the drop 15mm on each side (so a 46cm bar is 43cm at the hoods)
-Tops flare up
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This are old pics, now I´m running Selle Anatomica and 9 cogs from a 10s cassette with Microshift bar end shifters.
VO quill stem 80mm length with VO Grand Cru Rando Bar 460mm width. I think the most comfortable bars/stem I´ve never had, now they are in my Trek950 drop bar conversion.
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*EDIT: removed old outdated product info* [/QUOTE]
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Last edited by The Golden Boy; 02-03-19 at 12:06 PM.
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A more modern pic.
Sorry for the crap pics from my phone.
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I think I'm done with the rando bar bend, since I'm rarely in the drops. I want the width "up high". The Crust towel hanger looks promising for a gravel bike...
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Last edited by SamSpade1941; 01-29-19 at 08:23 AM.
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The simworks website has some interesting and especially wide bars by Nitto. A 135 version called "Wild Honey" in a 47cm width, and a 177 noodle version called "Sobar" in 50cm(!) width.
No personal experience (yet) with either -- and unfortunately they are kinda spensive, though bargainish if comparing to compa$$.
No personal experience (yet) with either -- and unfortunately they are kinda spensive, though bargainish if comparing to compa$$.
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Yeah those Simworks are really nice. Would have gone for one of those if they were available in a 25.4 clamp.
I got the Compass Rando bar in a 46cm width yesterday. They are decently wide for a traditional randonneur bar. 43cm at the tops.
I got the Compass Rando bar in a 46cm width yesterday. They are decently wide for a traditional randonneur bar. 43cm at the tops.
#22
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Those look GREAT!
I think I remember that I need 42 c-c at the hoods fo either my Acorn or Cannondale bags to fit between Command Shifters and still have room to shift...
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Last edited by The Golden Boy; 02-03-19 at 12:05 PM.
#23
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I get it- If I have a bad experience with products I'm not afraid to say it- and if I have a great experience I'll say it. It's just kind of odd to have completely polar experiences about the same product. I had a set of the tires that I loved so much I bought a pair for another bike- and I haven't had the flatting problems you experienced- which could be a whole bunch of different factors.
I really wanted a set of the Maes Parallel bars- but I don't think they made them wide enough at the time when I asked a few years ago- I wish I'd known about the size addition- I bought a set of B177s for my upcoming project...
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#24
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A couple observations:
I have the VO Course handlebars. They seem to generally have the same bend as the VO rando bar, minus the upsweep. Therefore, much of this will also apply to the VO rando bars. IMO they are optimized for a modern riding position and brifters. I am using them with traditional MAFAC brake levers in a traditional position. There is a bit of slightly awkward dropoff between the ramps and the hoods. There is a fairly tight radius here, evidently to optimize the ramps to be as long as possible, and to have at the same time parallel ramps and drops. Also, the upper corners are a tighter than traditional radius. This makes riding on the corners less comfortable. If these bars are to be used with brifters and modern positioning, all those things will be helpful to comfort. On their website they show the bars with brifters, and it's obvious that they will work very nicely if used this way. For someone riding a vintage bike, with vintage levers, in a vintage way -- less than perfect. (Before brifters, hands were typically moved around between the tops, the corners, the ramps, the hoods, the drops)
AFA Compass pricing - seems fair to me. The standard Nitto heat treated "SSB" rando bars go for about 100 bucks. The Compass one is different. It's like a B132, parallel ramps and drops, but with less extreme reach, and with longer drops. Also it looks like the flare is less extreme. I think the B132 pretty much is meant to be used with barcons. IF that isn't your preference, you're kind of screwed if you want a quality heat treated parallel rando bar. I'd pay $25 more for that. New dies and tooling cost money.
Unless I'm missing something, the Simworks is rando bar is identical to a B135SSB, but with the simworks sticker. I'm not 100% certain, but looks that way. If so then if follows: no new tooling = less money.
I have the VO Course handlebars. They seem to generally have the same bend as the VO rando bar, minus the upsweep. Therefore, much of this will also apply to the VO rando bars. IMO they are optimized for a modern riding position and brifters. I am using them with traditional MAFAC brake levers in a traditional position. There is a bit of slightly awkward dropoff between the ramps and the hoods. There is a fairly tight radius here, evidently to optimize the ramps to be as long as possible, and to have at the same time parallel ramps and drops. Also, the upper corners are a tighter than traditional radius. This makes riding on the corners less comfortable. If these bars are to be used with brifters and modern positioning, all those things will be helpful to comfort. On their website they show the bars with brifters, and it's obvious that they will work very nicely if used this way. For someone riding a vintage bike, with vintage levers, in a vintage way -- less than perfect. (Before brifters, hands were typically moved around between the tops, the corners, the ramps, the hoods, the drops)
AFA Compass pricing - seems fair to me. The standard Nitto heat treated "SSB" rando bars go for about 100 bucks. The Compass one is different. It's like a B132, parallel ramps and drops, but with less extreme reach, and with longer drops. Also it looks like the flare is less extreme. I think the B132 pretty much is meant to be used with barcons. IF that isn't your preference, you're kind of screwed if you want a quality heat treated parallel rando bar. I'd pay $25 more for that. New dies and tooling cost money.
Unless I'm missing something, the Simworks is rando bar is identical to a B135SSB, but with the simworks sticker. I'm not 100% certain, but looks that way. If so then if follows: no new tooling = less money.
#25
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I like the recent trend of handlebars being wider at the hoods.
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