Tribar on MTB?!
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Tribar on MTB?!
Now this may seem ridiculous but hear me out I've entered into a single stage MTB race called the Munga, it entails covering 1000km+ across South Africa in summer. I'm looking for aerobars to help with position and general comfort.. I currently have the Bontrager Kovee pro carbon 35 handlebar and because of its unique shape its almost impossible to find the right aerobat that will fit the bar. Can anyone help by recommending something that will work? would be super grateful for any help!
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Jones H-bar - they have carbon and titanium options as well ——. Its the only bar id want for a ride like that
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Chat with someone at Trek to ask whether any clip-on aero bar would work with that bar's "unique shape" (is the cross-section not round?). If not, given the length of the ride you propose to undertake, you might want to consider installing another bar that will allow use of a clip-on bar.
In any event, be sure that your long-distance setup includes padded forearm/elbow pads, which are invaluable for supporting your upper body weight. I'm primarily a road bike rider, but for decades, I've done all my cold weather/rainy weather training on an old Cannondale mountain bike with fenders and clip-on aero bars. It's so comfortable, I sometimes use that bike instead of one of the road bikes even in good weather.
In any event, be sure that your long-distance setup includes padded forearm/elbow pads, which are invaluable for supporting your upper body weight. I'm primarily a road bike rider, but for decades, I've done all my cold weather/rainy weather training on an old Cannondale mountain bike with fenders and clip-on aero bars. It's so comfortable, I sometimes use that bike instead of one of the road bikes even in good weather.
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I’m no expert on mtb geometry, but I think a lot depends on exactly what bike you are going to ride and the type of terrain. Older mtb’s placed the rider with more weight over the front wheel. Over time that weight distribution has moved back.
I would think you would need to get the bike setup correctly with flat bars and see where your tuck ends up. My other concern is the amount of control you would have with narrow tribars on a slack head angle mtn bike.
John
I would think you would need to get the bike setup correctly with flat bars and see where your tuck ends up. My other concern is the amount of control you would have with narrow tribars on a slack head angle mtn bike.
John
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Check out some options that BarYak has. Not traditional aero bars, but they are designed to be used with flat bars. And they also provide mounting options for electronics.
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I’m no expert on mtb geometry, but I think a lot depends on exactly what bike you are going to ride and the type of terrain. Older mtb’s placed the rider with more weight over the front wheel. Over time that weight distribution has moved back.
I would think you would need to get the bike setup correctly with flat bars and see where your tuck ends up. My other concern is the amount of control you would have with narrow tribars on a slack head angle mtn bike.
John
I would think you would need to get the bike setup correctly with flat bars and see where your tuck ends up. My other concern is the amount of control you would have with narrow tribars on a slack head angle mtn bike.
John
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I'm guessing the aero bars won't go because of the long taper down from the 35mm clamp area which is very wide on this bar, probably for lights. If you swapped for a bar with a wide 31.8 clamp diameter like a Salsa Rustler and a stem to match you'd be able to mount the aero bars no problem
Kovee Pro
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Kovee Pro
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Last edited by Darth Lefty; 02-18-21 at 06:14 PM.
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I would look at the Koga Denham Bar that might be the better choice for a long distance event like that. Jones bars have way too much sweep for comfort at least for me. The Denhams are perfect.
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Or just get a 31.8mm stem and use any flat bar that will also fit any clip on aerobar. The only problem really is the oversized diameter of the current one.
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that race sounds awesome!
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I’ve gone back to Jones, as they just feel better to me in technical terrain (full rigid 29+).
I have a new, unmounted Denham (I ordered 2 ) that I’d sell. Just putting it out there, since the main source is in Holland and my order took over 3 months to arrive. The Denham offers an ideal “on the hoods” postion (on the integrated extensions) that is hard to beat for long, straight cranking.
The Jones option offers their “Narwhal”, which IMO would be the ultimate true aero setup un a MTB.
Denham on my bike from different angles.
Here’s the Jones H bar / Narwhal combo
Last edited by canyoneagle; 02-28-21 at 11:23 AM.
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the Denhams are definitely nice. Hard to source, but great all-rounders.
I’ve gone back to Jones, as they just feel better to me in technical terrain (full rigid 29+).
I have a new, unmounted Denham (I ordered 2 ) that I’d sell. Just putting it out there, since the main source is in Holland and my order took over 3 months to arrive. The Denham offers an ideal “on the hoods” postion (on the integrated extensions) that is hard to beat for long, straight cranking.
The Jones option offers their “Narwhal”, which IMO would be the ultimate true aero setup un a MTB.
Denham on my bike from different angles.
I’ve gone back to Jones, as they just feel better to me in technical terrain (full rigid 29+).
I have a new, unmounted Denham (I ordered 2 ) that I’d sell. Just putting it out there, since the main source is in Holland and my order took over 3 months to arrive. The Denham offers an ideal “on the hoods” postion (on the integrated extensions) that is hard to beat for long, straight cranking.
The Jones option offers their “Narwhal”, which IMO would be the ultimate true aero setup un a MTB.
Denham on my bike from different angles.
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I’ve attempted to emulate the same kind of setup, but found it difficult to get the sweep and bend mix that works. Too many tradeoffs.
I can’t recall the exact cost, but they’re in the same ballpark (maybe a little more) as other alt bars, or nice swept bar + ends. Not enough difference to sweat, unless on a tight budget.
Here’s the writeup comparing his one-off version (Denham) to other bars in the genre (so called alt-bars).
https://www.cyclingabout.com/compari...with-alt-bars/
Last edited by canyoneagle; 03-01-21 at 10:25 AM.
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What I can't figure out, with bars like those, is what the frame reach and stem are supposed to be to go with them. You see people putting them on both flat and drop bar frames and seemingly happy. I can't see what to do without making the "hoods" too far or the flats too close. In fact the same deal with bar ends. I don't like drop bars very much but they don't do that.
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