Thank you guys for stopping on your way thru Tucson!
I got to try out this handlebar last night for a few rounds in a parking lot and my first impressions were WOW, AWESOME.
Positive thoughts (mostly):
Learning curve is seconds. It is super intuitive and very easy to learn to use. It is much safer than a traditional tri/tt-cockpit setup.
This bar would be great for anyone who is a bit jittery about their bike handling skills or new to riding, or just doesn't like the idea of not having brakes at the fingertips at all times. I'd let my kids ride this thin.
It could also help those folks who cannot afford (or do not want to) have multiple bikes - a dedicated tri bike and road bike, but like both and like to go on group rides - you may still get some nasty looks from your roadie comrades, but once you get into aero at the front of the pace line and take off, they will be green with jealousy!
Drawbacks:
the bar operates with brake cables looping around inside that could brake, fray, lengthen over time, requiring maintenance, and it doesn't sound like this is very easy to do based on my quick peak at it. Someone with limited bike mechanic skills may be discouraged to own something that complex.
The cables that pull the joint result in quite a bit of friction to operate the bars, which was noticeable when just playing with it off the bike, but was not noticeable so much while riding, and it may even be preferable.
It is not for weight weenies in its current form, the thing is solid, but quite heavy compared to a good CF cockpit.
Overall I think it is a great invention, and is something truly new in bicycling technology that we have not seen in a while. It will be interesting to see the different bar end attachments (bullhorn, ski tip) that will make this bar quite versatile, and to see what a potentially compromised position between aero and basebar positions for both road and tri/tt applications this bar will allow.
Overall, I liked it a lot, and it was very easy to ride it.
Frank-S wrote:
Funny thing, we will be Tuscon January 16th with 3 bikes on our way up to the IBD Summit in Pheonix January 17-19. Any and all in the area are welcome to give them a try. If there is enough interest, we could set up somewhere for folks to stop by in both cities. Let me know if that would be worth while!
Thanks,
Frank
desert dude wrote:
Quote:
Over/under on 5w. I'll take the under :)
I'm in for the over.
andhHey I even know someone who can test it ;-)
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.