New drop bar design coming soon to a peloton near you.
12-05-20, 10:31 AM
#1
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10964 Post(s)
Liked 7,491 Times
in
4,189 Posts
New drop bar design coming soon to a peloton near you.
https://road.cc/content/tech-news/ra...79199#comments
UCI legal under current rules.
Custom fit to your arm length and reach.
Yours for a cool $2Kusd.
Certainly a unique design that addresses a common fit/comfort issue for the most talented among us.
UCI legal under current rules.
Custom fit to your arm length and reach.
Yours for a cool $2Kusd.
Certainly a unique design that addresses a common fit/comfort issue for the most talented among us.
12-05-20, 10:39 AM
#2
Occam's Rotor
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
A real aesthetic leap forward as well.
Someone should invent the stem.
Someone should invent the stem.
Likes For Cyclist0108:
12-05-20, 11:43 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
It's been discussed a bit here - https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...l#post21816488
As rubiksoval points out, there are some interesting aspects, but I'd be concerned with smacking my knee when standing as the "stem" section is pretty stubby.
As rubiksoval points out, there are some interesting aspects, but I'd be concerned with smacking my knee when standing as the "stem" section is pretty stubby.
Likes For WhyFi:
12-05-20, 12:48 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,204
Bikes: ...a few.
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2012 Post(s)
Liked 409 Times
in
235 Posts
It's definitely interesting. I often put my forearms on the tops right now, which is okay for a short period, but not comfortable for more than ten minutes.
12-05-20, 01:18 PM
#6
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,535
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3889 Post(s)
Liked 1,938 Times
in
1,383 Posts
Besides whacking your knees when climbing OOS, there's a reach issue. You'd spec the same reach to the hoods as normal, but that obviously moves the head tube way back, thus the knee smacking issue, but it also moves the front wheel back with it, so the front wheel is more heavily weighted and one's brifters are then cantilevered out way in front of the wheel. That might make hard braking even more interesting. I'd think it would be fine for flat courses with the possibility of having to get used to different cornering and braking behavior. You'd want to lean back a bit OOS and break yourself of weighting the brifters, which is pretty common. There are also no drops to sprint from, so there's that, too.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter
12-05-20, 01:28 PM
#7
Asleep at the bars
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA and Treasure Island, FL
Posts: 1,743
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 234 Post(s)
Liked 203 Times
in
135 Posts
The custom geometry should be very attractive to a multi-million dollar racing business like many pro teams, as it would allow them to have a stable of bars specifically for climbing, flats, windy conditions, etc - to match course/stage specifics and the team's race plan. $2k is probably perfectly justifiable for a single custom bar (that's just an asking price anyway, a starting point that will only come down when you need 20-25). When there's a pot of gold in the form of prizes and sponsorships or partnerships, it's pretty easy to justify expenses that even slightly skew odds in your favor. I think the UCI will end up blocking it off though, at least until it's well established in cycling with multiple suppliers - one of the great things about cycling is that there is nothing in the pro circuit any one of us couldn't go buy if we didn't object to spending the money.
__________________
"This 7:48 cycling session burned 5933 calories. Speed up recovery by replacing them with a healthy snack." - Whoop
"This 7:48 cycling session burned 5933 calories. Speed up recovery by replacing them with a healthy snack." - Whoop
12-05-20, 01:34 PM
#8
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,055
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22599 Post(s)
Liked 8,926 Times
in
4,159 Posts
Likes For datlas:
12-05-20, 01:36 PM
#9
Asleep at the bars
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA and Treasure Island, FL
Posts: 1,743
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 234 Post(s)
Liked 203 Times
in
135 Posts
Besides whacking your knees when climbing OOS, there's a reach issue. You'd spec the same reach to the hoods as normal, but that obviously moves the head tube way back, thus the knee smacking issue, but it also moves the front wheel back with it, so the front wheel is more heavily weighted and one's brifters are then cantilevered out way in front of the wheel. That might make hard braking even more interesting. I'd think it would be fine for flat courses with the possibility of having to get used to different cornering and braking behavior. You'd want to lean back a bit OOS and break yourself of weighting the brifters, which is pretty common. There are also no drops to sprint from, so there's that, too.
I personally don't think I'd like the sharp top bends or the flat top of the section behind the hoods. But it might work for someone who prefers the drops, which is probably the idea, and might be reflected in how low they've mounted the shifters.
__________________
"This 7:48 cycling session burned 5933 calories. Speed up recovery by replacing them with a healthy snack." - Whoop
"This 7:48 cycling session burned 5933 calories. Speed up recovery by replacing them with a healthy snack." - Whoop
12-05-20, 02:11 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Music City, USA
Posts: 4,444
Bikes: bikes
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2622 Post(s)
Liked 1,429 Times
in
711 Posts
Besides whacking your knees when climbing OOS, there's a reach issue. You'd spec the same reach to the hoods as normal, but that obviously moves the head tube way back, thus the knee smacking issue, but it also moves the front wheel back with it, so the front wheel is more heavily weighted and one's brifters are then cantilevered out way in front of the wheel. That might make hard braking even more interesting. I'd think it would be fine for flat courses with the possibility of having to get used to different cornering and braking behavior. You'd want to lean back a bit OOS and break yourself of weighting the brifters, which is pretty common. There are also no drops to sprint from, so there's that, too.
And there are drops. They're under the shifters. Plus the drops can flare out to the width of your choice, so you could have 34cm at the hoods and 40cm at the drops, or whichever other combination you'd like.
Likes For rubiksoval:
12-05-20, 02:35 PM
#11
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
Isn't that what clip on aero bars are for?
12-05-20, 03:37 PM
#14
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,535
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3889 Post(s)
Liked 1,938 Times
in
1,383 Posts
There isn't a reach issue. The bike geometry doesn't change a bit. All you're doing is extending the area where your forearms would be by shortening the area where your stem would be. Nothing else changes.
And there are drops. They're under the shifters. Plus the drops can flare out to the width of your choice, so you could have 34cm at the hoods and 40cm at the drops, or whichever other combination you'd like.
And there are drops. They're under the shifters. Plus the drops can flare out to the width of your choice, so you could have 34cm at the hoods and 40cm at the drops, or whichever other combination you'd like.
the rider's hands and elbows are in the same position as they would be while in the low hoods position on a frame with normal bars and reach. The reach on this frame has been much shortened, or perhaps it's just a very small frame for this rider. In any case, the reach is so short that, as you put it in the other thread, "until the moment I stood up and crushed my knee cap on the bar". The front wheel is obviously not in the normal location. I question as to whether one could rock the bike normally when sprinting from these drops.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter
Likes For Carbonfiberboy:
12-05-20, 03:57 PM
#15
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
BTW. if you have electronic shifting you can add shifters to the end of aero bars.
12-05-20, 04:38 PM
#17
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,972
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10430 Post(s)
Liked 11,906 Times
in
6,099 Posts
I meant "reach," as in the reach and stack dimensions of a frame. As can be seen in these photos:
the rider's hands and elbows are in the same position as they would be while in the low hoods position on a frame with normal bars and reach. The reach on this frame has been much shortened, or perhaps it's just a very small frame for this rider. In any case, the reach is so short that, as you put it in the other thread, "until the moment I stood up and crushed my knee cap on the bar". The front wheel is obviously not in the normal location. I question as to whether one could rock the bike normally when sprinting from these drops.
the rider's hands and elbows are in the same position as they would be while in the low hoods position on a frame with normal bars and reach. The reach on this frame has been much shortened, or perhaps it's just a very small frame for this rider. In any case, the reach is so short that, as you put it in the other thread, "until the moment I stood up and crushed my knee cap on the bar". The front wheel is obviously not in the normal location. I question as to whether one could rock the bike normally when sprinting from these drops.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
12-05-20, 05:39 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
I meant "reach," as in the reach and stack dimensions of a frame. As can be seen in these photos:
the rider's hands and elbows are in the same position as they would be while in the low hoods position on a frame with normal bars and reach. The reach on this frame has been much shortened, or perhaps it's just a very small frame for this rider. In any case, the reach is so short that, as you put it in the other thread, "until the moment I stood up and crushed my knee cap on the bar". The front wheel is obviously not in the normal location. I question as to whether one could rock the bike normally when sprinting from these drops.
the rider's hands and elbows are in the same position as they would be while in the low hoods position on a frame with normal bars and reach. The reach on this frame has been much shortened, or perhaps it's just a very small frame for this rider. In any case, the reach is so short that, as you put it in the other thread, "until the moment I stood up and crushed my knee cap on the bar". The front wheel is obviously not in the normal location. I question as to whether one could rock the bike normally when sprinting from these drops.
12-05-20, 08:39 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Music City, USA
Posts: 4,444
Bikes: bikes
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2622 Post(s)
Liked 1,429 Times
in
711 Posts
Road bars and the newer "aero bars" of this discussion are not like clip on bars in the least because your hands are never away from your brakes or shifters and you can still steer the bike.
12-05-20, 08:42 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Music City, USA
Posts: 4,444
Bikes: bikes
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2622 Post(s)
Liked 1,429 Times
in
711 Posts
I meant "reach," as in the reach and stack dimensions of a frame. As can be seen in these photos:
the rider's hands and elbows are in the same position as they would be while in the low hoods position on a frame with normal bars and reach. The reach on this frame has been much shortened, or perhaps it's just a very small frame for this rider. In any case, the reach is so short that, as you put it in the other thread, "until the moment I stood up and crushed my knee cap on the bar". The front wheel is obviously not in the normal location. I question as to whether one could rock the bike normally when sprinting from these drops.
the rider's hands and elbows are in the same position as they would be while in the low hoods position on a frame with normal bars and reach. The reach on this frame has been much shortened, or perhaps it's just a very small frame for this rider. In any case, the reach is so short that, as you put it in the other thread, "until the moment I stood up and crushed my knee cap on the bar". The front wheel is obviously not in the normal location. I question as to whether one could rock the bike normally when sprinting from these drops.
I'm not sure why you think the reach of the frame has been altered. You can put those bars on any frame, and you can switch them out and put regular handlebars and a stem on it as well. Neither of which have any affect on the frame whatsoever. That's just a regular road frame.
12-05-20, 08:44 PM
#21
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
12-05-20, 08:46 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Music City, USA
Posts: 4,444
Bikes: bikes
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2622 Post(s)
Liked 1,429 Times
in
711 Posts
Holding a more aerodynamic position.
I feel like this is all readily explained in the article. Have you not read it?
Here, this one is much better anyway: https://cyclingtips.com/2020/12/the-...d-ultra-weird/
I feel like this is all readily explained in the article. Have you not read it?
Here, this one is much better anyway: https://cyclingtips.com/2020/12/the-...d-ultra-weird/
Likes For rubiksoval:
12-05-20, 08:50 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Music City, USA
Posts: 4,444
Bikes: bikes
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2622 Post(s)
Liked 1,429 Times
in
711 Posts
Rather than use a long stem and a handlebar with a relatively short reach and shallow drop (as is common even in the pro ranks), the ABB instead uses a stubby 70 mm-long stem with the rest of the length incorporated into the radically-shaped bar. Speeco says the lever position is actually the same as usual, but with that long section of level handlebar behind them — along with a subtly concave upper profile — you can now comfortably rest your forearms in a pseudo-TT position. This theoretically not only earns the rider better control relative to just draping your hands out on the hood tops, but might even allow for a more stable platform for producing power.
Also mentioned, the rider using this was previously using 32mm track bars...
12-05-20, 09:46 PM
#24
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,535
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3889 Post(s)
Liked 1,938 Times
in
1,383 Posts
No, the type of bars which one chooses for one's bicycle of course does not affect the reach of the frame on which they are mounted. However, the type of bars one installs on the bicycle and the frame reach both affect the handlebar reach of the rider: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/videos...it-right-video
Thus the frame reach plus the reach from the head tube to the hoods determines the location of one's hands. It's fairly well known in the bike fitting community that perfect handlebar reach is when one's upper arms are at about 90° to one's torso when one is in the low hoods position. We see this very clearly in the photo of the rider on the Koga bike.
Therefore increasing the reach from the head tube to the hoods while maintaining the same handlebar reach necessitates having a shorter frame reach. In the case of the rider in the photo, his proper handlebar reach could only be provided by selecting a frame with a reach which is much shorter than would be selected had the rider been using conventional handlebars. In fact, his head tube is only about 2" from his knees. Comparing wheel size in the photo to rider size, it appears that this rider is well over 6' tall and his normal frame reach with conventional handlebars would put his headtube about 8" in front of his knees.
Thus as you say, choosing to use the bars in the photo "doesn't alter frame stack/reach" however it does determine the reach of the frame on which they are to be mounted. Similarly, my total height does not determine the leg length of my pants, only the length of my legs does.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter
12-05-20, 09:48 PM
#25
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,535
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3889 Post(s)
Liked 1,938 Times
in
1,383 Posts
Nothing about the frame has been touched. All they've done is taken space normally taken up by the stem and added it to the bar.
I'm not sure why you think the reach of the frame has been altered. You can put those bars on any frame, and you can switch them out and put regular handlebars and a stem on it as well. Neither of which have any affect on the frame whatsoever. That's just a regular road frame.
I'm not sure why you think the reach of the frame has been altered. You can put those bars on any frame, and you can switch them out and put regular handlebars and a stem on it as well. Neither of which have any affect on the frame whatsoever. That's just a regular road frame.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter