Handlebars: I would not ask unless I really needed help
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Handlebars: I would not ask unless I really needed help
I have Nitto Noodle 48 cm. (50cm at the drops) I love everything about them except how they feel. They look correct on my Colnago, which came with some very narrow bars I can't ride.
I searched back through this forum for an hour, and got so confused that now I am stooping for help from the hivemind.
Nitto noodle 48cm
pros: Looks great.
cons: 140 drop is a little bit to much, the back sweep is wrong for my shoulders. My arms go inward from my shoulders to the bars while riding on the tops, and I have to bend my wrists backwards (literally) to ride.
Never tried:
VELO ORANGE grand cru , cons: only 46 at drops, logo not as nice as TTT, Nitto or old bars
Rene Herse Maes Parallel (with shim to 26mm) No logo, looks cheap but is $125
VELO ORANGE 50cm Randonneur. Ugly logo, good width. "Randonneur style" does not look as "racy"
What should I add to this list to BUY and try out?
Thanks
I searched back through this forum for an hour, and got so confused that now I am stooping for help from the hivemind.
Nitto noodle 48cm
pros: Looks great.
cons: 140 drop is a little bit to much, the back sweep is wrong for my shoulders. My arms go inward from my shoulders to the bars while riding on the tops, and I have to bend my wrists backwards (literally) to ride.
Never tried:
VELO ORANGE grand cru , cons: only 46 at drops, logo not as nice as TTT, Nitto or old bars
Rene Herse Maes Parallel (with shim to 26mm) No logo, looks cheap but is $125
VELO ORANGE 50cm Randonneur. Ugly logo, good width. "Randonneur style" does not look as "racy"
What should I add to this list to BUY and try out?
Thanks
Last edited by Reynolds 531; 07-17-19 at 02:55 PM.
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How wide are your shoulders? 48 cm is really wide ... my favorite handlebar remains the Nitto Model 176, what Rivendell used to call the Dream Bar. For a while there I drank the Grant P. Kool-Aid about how wide is better, but I find I am more comfortable with the old classic shoulder-width bar. In my case, that's 42 cm.
The 176 is a more traditional shape than the Noodle 177; it does not have the back sweep, but it may have a similar drop.
The 176 is a more traditional shape than the Noodle 177; it does not have the back sweep, but it may have a similar drop.
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If you go to the Nitto site, you will find all the dimensions for their extensive range of drop bars. Find one you think will work, then track it down. I’ve had to order some directly from Japan, cause no one here carries that model. If you’ve already checked out there site, never mind, and good luck!
Tim
Tim
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Handlebars
the above link was picked up from Leonard Zinn's website.
but what do I know? at 6'1", I prefer 38s.
the above link was picked up from Leonard Zinn's website.
but what do I know? at 6'1", I prefer 38s.
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Like you, I prefer a wide drop bar 46cm or above if possible. So I have done similar searches to you.
First of all, the reason why the Nitto-made Rene Herse bars are so expensive is that they are heat-treated. This means they are very strong but also lighter than bars made by brands like Velo Orange and Soma. The finish is also better than VO or Soma. These are Nitto's top-end products. Nitto's house-branded bars that are heat-treated are similar in pricing.
I have both a Maes Parallel and a Randonneur bar in 46cm from Rene Herse and they are both extremely comfortable and light. I would recommend them. The Randonneur bar doesn't look racy but there is nothing about it that would prevent you from going fast.
I have another Nitto-made heat treated bar under the Crust Bikes brand that 53cm wide, which I also really like. These have a 31.8 center though.
First of all, the reason why the Nitto-made Rene Herse bars are so expensive is that they are heat-treated. This means they are very strong but also lighter than bars made by brands like Velo Orange and Soma. The finish is also better than VO or Soma. These are Nitto's top-end products. Nitto's house-branded bars that are heat-treated are similar in pricing.
I have both a Maes Parallel and a Randonneur bar in 46cm from Rene Herse and they are both extremely comfortable and light. I would recommend them. The Randonneur bar doesn't look racy but there is nothing about it that would prevent you from going fast.
I have another Nitto-made heat treated bar under the Crust Bikes brand that 53cm wide, which I also really like. These have a 31.8 center though.
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If you go to the Nitto site, you will find all the dimensions for their extensive range of drop bars. Find one you think will work, then track it down. I’ve had to order some directly from Japan, cause no one here carries that model. If you’ve already checked out there site, never mind, and good luck!
Tim
Tim
The only Nitto site I could find is very old...........
HANDLE BARÂ NITTO
HOWEVER, after poking around they have a 2019 .pdf on their site.!
https://nitto-tokyo.sakura.ne.jp/Catalog.pdf
Again, thanks for the help. My shoulders are 500mm wide, almost exactly. (within a mm or two) I do race CycloCross with narrower bars because of the crowds, but when I have to lean on the hoods or whatever for a long time, it feels better to stretch out. I also ride/race MTB with 780, so of course that makes -everything- feel skinny.
Last edited by Reynolds 531; 07-17-19 at 05:19 PM.
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There is a site called whatbars.com that mocks up the dimensions of different bars and can compare one to the other, as in superimposing an image of one over the other. Pretty nifty site. It doesn't have every handlebar available, but interesting to play with dimensions and imagine the fit.
EDIT: When I used the site, I was shopping for upright bars. I notice now that it is pretty disappointing for drop bars. The Noodle, btw, is on there as the "Rivendell Noodle."
EDIT: When I used the site, I was shopping for upright bars. I notice now that it is pretty disappointing for drop bars. The Noodle, btw, is on there as the "Rivendell Noodle."
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Have...
Have you raised your handlebars? Normally when you go to real wide handlebars, then you need to go up to compensate.
I have Noodles in 44cm, and I would buy them over and over again if I could. I'm 5'10" and ride 56cm frames though.
I have Noodles in 44cm, and I would buy them over and over again if I could. I'm 5'10" and ride 56cm frames though.
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Yes, the noodles actually feel great in the drops. It is when my hands are on top that is a problem, because my wrists dont want to bend outward.
yeah I'm 5'10 and can barely straddle a 52 in cleats
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I like nitto noodles but use the 44 or 46 (IIRC the line between heat treating and not is 44) if i had to guess I would think 48 is too big. (me 6 foot on 58 cm frame)
I really don't understand the comment about wrists bending out on top....do you mean on the flat or when riding on the hoods?
here is all the info from rivendell on these https://www.rivbike.com/products/nit...nt=23335757505
I really don't understand the comment about wrists bending out on top....do you mean on the flat or when riding on the hoods?
here is all the info from rivendell on these https://www.rivbike.com/products/nit...nt=23335757505
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Sounds more like some stem length variation might be in order. As the bars move out the angle of your wrists will decrease.
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I'd go down in width size then. You may like short drop bars better or more traditional bend road bars. Is their a style of road bars you love in the rest of your stable of bikes? Measure those out and consider new bars that are similar. There are so many different, bend, reach, and drop styles available now it's silly.
#14
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48 cm? Unless you have some special ergonomic needs, that's crazy wide. Might be useful if you ride a lot of gravel I suppose. I'm 6'2" and ride 40 or 42. Even then I'm often rotating my wrists in a bit to get more aero whenever I have to deal with a headwind. BITD bars were only available in 38 or 40.
Anyhow, the VO bars are noticably flexy even in 42. The shape give you long ramps but sharp corners. Depends what you like. IMO if you are set on wide bars, you need to go with bars that have a reinforcing sleeve like Cinelli or Nitto. If possible, consider heat treatment as well. Cinelli still sells the classic 64 bar, but now available in 44cm width.
Have you considered randonneur style bars? Might work for you. I like them. My wrists don't want to bend outward either. I can tell by looking at noodles they wouldn't work for me.
Anyhow, the VO bars are noticably flexy even in 42. The shape give you long ramps but sharp corners. Depends what you like. IMO if you are set on wide bars, you need to go with bars that have a reinforcing sleeve like Cinelli or Nitto. If possible, consider heat treatment as well. Cinelli still sells the classic 64 bar, but now available in 44cm width.
Have you considered randonneur style bars? Might work for you. I like them. My wrists don't want to bend outward either. I can tell by looking at noodles they wouldn't work for me.
#15
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No experience with this one but it's another made by Nitto small label, and the price seems very good for a heat treated bar. It's a modernish softened ergo shape, but available in silver. Comes in sizes up to a 45. Something else to consider anyway.
https://sim.works/collections/handle...nt=23501980803
They also make a 50 cm (!!) 'so' bar. Crazy.
https://sim.works/collections/handle...12605701750885
I'm a big Nitto fan. The quality is worth the extra cost IMO.
https://sim.works/collections/handle...nt=23501980803
They also make a 50 cm (!!) 'so' bar. Crazy.
https://sim.works/collections/handle...12605701750885
I'm a big Nitto fan. The quality is worth the extra cost IMO.
Last edited by Salamandrine; 07-17-19 at 10:31 PM.
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3TTT Prima 46 or 3TTT Forma. I think I recall seeing them in silver... 3TTT Podiums ...?.
ITM Millenium I've heard are really comfortable.
I am a Cinelli 64-40 or 42 guy. Great bars.
ITM Millenium I've heard are really comfortable.
I am a Cinelli 64-40 or 42 guy. Great bars.
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I personally think the "match your bar width to your shoulder width" conventional wisdom makes no sense. I've done many long rides and multi-day tours on very wide drop bars like my 46cm Rene Herse bars, and more recently my 53cm Crust drop bars. I'm 5'7, 140 pounds. No shoulder, wrist, or hand issues whatsoever. I've even done a couple multi-day tours on slightly swept back mtb bars with no shoulder issues. Some predictable wrist issues, more due to lack of hand positions than width.
What I did gain from the wider drop bars was better handling on unpaved ATV trails, rail-trails, and singletrack, as well as more room for handlebar/randonneur bags.
I think it's mostly what you're used to, and what you get used to. Riding on a 38cm bar feels unbearable to me now. If I had to do it for a couple weeks I'm sure I would get used to it. A couple years, I'd probably prefer it.
What I did gain from the wider drop bars was better handling on unpaved ATV trails, rail-trails, and singletrack, as well as more room for handlebar/randonneur bags.
I think it's mostly what you're used to, and what you get used to. Riding on a 38cm bar feels unbearable to me now. If I had to do it for a couple weeks I'm sure I would get used to it. A couple years, I'd probably prefer it.
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I appreciate it all the advice. I just recieved my $$$ padded Newbaums tape, and it cost more than handlebars, so I wnt to be sure.
I am leaning towards trying a Nitto 46 "track bar" (?) that looks like a Maes, and a Cinelli '64.
I am leaning towards trying a Nitto 46 "track bar" (?) that looks like a Maes, and a Cinelli '64.
Last edited by Reynolds 531; 07-18-19 at 10:55 PM.
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