I just got bck from my lbs where we spent an hour removing the standard extensions and test fitting the new s-bends, measuring and cutting, measuring and cutting, measuring and cutting, measuring and cutting before leaving it to be finished.
Now I have a few questions for you all. When we were test fitting it became apparent that the s-bends were not up to the originals in finish or fit. The originals have metal insets at the business end of them, the s-bends do not. Also, we noticed that the s-bends have a noticably seam running the length of the bar at what will be the top of the bar. Now my question is that given the forces that the bar will be under when pulling up hard on them and changing gear should this be a concern? As there is no insert for the shifters I am a little concerned, had it been someone other than HED I would have greater concerns. I was a little disappointed that the bars finish was not as good as the originals, there were areas that the carbon epoxy has not completely filled the weave and that the bends are not equal on the pair was an annonyance too.
Add to this that this was also on a day that I removed the bottom bracket that was part of the FSA Carbon Compact chainset I have put less than 90 miles on (all dry) and found the bearings on the non-drive side have failed and I would say I’ve had better days!
My Carbon S didn’t come with metal either…as none of them do. To boot, I had to dremel out some of the inside for the shifters to fit snug, so I’m sure I took away some of the strength. I need to take another 1" off the flatbar-side, but that shouldn’t be a problem. The shifter-side length is a bit of a hassle. Mine also have the seem, but no gaps. Although the insides were pretty nasty.
Also rec’d a pair of alloy, which were (IMO) more precise fit.
I’m not as concerned with the shifter-end strength as the flat-bar end strength (I have the full integrated bar…not the clip on). I’m a pretty relaxed shifter and grip the bar while I shift. But, when pedalling I do apply some force to the S and can see a bit of flex, which appears mostly to be towards the flat-bar insert.
I’m not an engineer, perhaps the college folks in Kansas can do a shifter torque test on aftermarket aerobar extensions!
Smitty, I too have the integrated bar and not the clip-on. My concerns are the same as yours however, I see the shifter end as the more stressed given that the forces are straight up and down whereas the flat bar insert is gripped around the entire circumference of the bar.
I don’t know about the Kansas college folks but I thought some of our carbon fabricators (Bunnyman etc) or shop owners might give their requested opinions/feelings.
I’ve ordered my S-bend extensions and should have them in about a week or so. I’m fairly certain the lack of aluminum insert in the shifter end shouldn’t be a problem. The aluminum end actually presented a problem for those of us who would’ve liked a shorter upturn on the extension of the original extensions, as I’m sure you know. The lack of aluminum means I can trim the shifter end as well, for even more adjustability. Plenty of carbon bars never had an insert in the first place. My Profile Carbon X’s didn’t and I had no problem there.
I am a bit concerned over your report of reduced fit and finish of the product, though. I think that may be my biggest complaint about Hed these days…is that their fit and finish is not what it used to be. It isn’t bad enough to cause me to switch loyalty…YET. I still own the full aero bars, a pair of H3s, a pair of Alps, an Alps rim on my PT hub, and a Superlite disc. The bars were a nice surprise with their fit and finish, at least in the original form. If they’ve gone down in that area, I’m disappointed.
But I will caveat that even though my H3s are not of the same quality of fit and finish as my old Specialized TriSpokes…the performance is exactly the same. Hopefully this is the same here.
As far as the visible seam…I would guess that this seam is only the top layer of carbon. Its likely that the layers alternate the position of the seam.
Thanks Bri, your comments have gone some way to allaying my concerns. I have to say that I was rather disappointed to see the quality of finish when I received the bars but hopefully the performance will be okay.
i have 4 pair of aluminum s-bend extensions i’m farting around with, and i see no problems with finish, and no seams inside or out, on mine. maybe yours are different.
the extensions nicely slide into the sockets at the clip-on’s base, and the bar-end shifters fit fine.
the aluminum piece that was epoxied onto the end of the original hed one-pc bars was entirely useless, because most everyone hacked off most of the upward extension which meant hacking off that piece. the carbon held the wedged-in bar-end plug fine.
Dan, mine are different to your 4 pairs as they are carbon. Interesting that you mention the extensions sliding in and out nicely, we discovered in the shop that one slide in easily and the other was very tight which meant that one of us had to hold the bars whilst the other worked the extension in or pulled HARD to get it out!
Tom and I reduced the length on the orginal pair by cutting from the straight base length of the extensions and therefore avoided cutting the aluminium sleeve. Thank you your comment about the structural integrity of the extensions, I hope that I have just got an “ugly” pair and all is well once installed.
yes, i see, you have the carbon versions. now i understand. mine are aluminum.
don’t fret about now having the aluminum thingy. the s-bend bars are made to be mitered. you can’t miter them if you have the aluminum plug. and you don’t need the plug.
Nope, I got a set about a month ago and they are exactly like the ones you desribed. There is no doubt that I will need to take a hack saw to them because they are way long.
I have both the alum and carbon. I could crack out the calipers and measure if you guys need me to…
But, the alloy are more “precise” and easier the work with. They fit nice into the bar the the shifter seat properly.
Now…the carbons are a totally different animal. 1st, they are about 1" longer (Search the archived, I posted a pix). The don’t fit “nearly” as nice into the bar and I had the dremel the inside for the shifters to fit. I imagine there is shrinkage in the carbon lay-up process…
But…I have no complaints. It is what it is. Steve runs a great shop and I thank him for his products.
Dan, excuse my ignorance, but what do you mean by mitring them? The only mitre I know is that one would use to make a right angle joint in woodworking. OR is that angling the internal profile to allow the shifters to enter? Mine are Campag shifters and actually go in fine.
Hi Smitty, thanks for taking time out to answer. However, I am not knocking Steve’s work per se, merely disappointed with the fabrication of the s-bend extensions compared to the standard bend extensions, also HED fabricated and also carbon. As such I find it hard to reconcil the vast difference in the quality of finish between the two. I am aware that there would be some shrinkage in the drying process but can’t see how one set can fit like a glove the on the other one is loose and the other is very tight.
as for “It is what it is” the only time I have heard that is in Good Morning, Vietnam! What do that mean in relation to the subject matter?
I don’t look at the Hed aerobars as being aerobars…I see them as aeropieces or aeropuzzles. Some pieces fit well, some don’t. I also see Steve as a custom mad scientist, not a production quality engineer. Perhaps this is b/c I’ve sat in his shop and watched him and his team work.
I can understand your point as being a consumer and wanting to receive exactly what you’ve paid for. My point is that I’m gracious for whatever product is made available to make my tri experience better, even if it’s a bit out of specification.
While other companies scramble to get S-bends into production, Hed is shipping. Not unlike what happend when Steve started with aero carbon rims…
Have you talked with Hed and sent pix about the seam/lay-up? I’d venture a guess they would replace in a heart beat.
Hey Jules, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem as the aly sleeve is more there for anti crushing rather than strength. Carbon can handle a fair degree of flexing. The point here is then to make sure when clamping you don’t overdo it - it may be worth us finding some way to knock something up. I think the old metal sleeve in the standard extensions is bonded and I know that the new Ovals have this reinforcement added (and the sleeve). Knowing the short length of yours S’s, chances are good that the leverage when you’re honking shouldn’t be a factor. Keep an eye on it as they bed in.
Sometimes the outer layer of carbon fibre will not wet out because of either:
a) Excess silcone from the mould. Of course, this silicone (from the mould release agent, whether a wax or a spray-on product) helps with removal of the part from the mould.
b) Epoxy was not wet out by human error. I would say this is FAR less likely, being that the little silicone bubbles happen quite frequently on hand-laid, wet-layup constructed carbon parts.
The seam is from the mould. It sounds like you have one of the first bars from their moulds. It takes quite awhile before the moulds are truly “broken-in” and the seam becomes a bit less apparent. And if they are laid up in the way I suspect (a clam-shell mould), there was quite a bit of hand-finishing involved.