I want to cut the upward portion of the cowhorns so that it is more straight out and short like the HED bar, Oval bar, or Peter Reid’s carbon X set-up. But before I do I am curious as to what it will be like mounting brake levers in the new holes since that portion of the bar is tear drop shaped and not circular.
Also, how do the pros mount thier armrests so they are so low? Anyone who has done this have close up pics?
Thanks so much.
Steven Montoya
i recommend doing a search on this forum for modified Carbon x’s there have been several threads on how to do this on here.
jeremyb
I have modified my bars exactly like Reids. Even have the Profile aerobrakes to go with them!
The bars are carbon all the way through, (ie not an aluminium sleeve wrapped in carbon like the extensions), so care must be taken when cutting the bars. Use a very fine tooth hacksaw.
When you cut the upward portion, do so at the very edge, to leave yourself some hand space when riding in the drops. (you will probably be cutting into one of the drillings for internal cable routing, this is not too much of a problem as you will need to make new drillings later) At this cut, the bars are not an even diameter, as there is extra material there to strengthen that part of the bar. To fit the profile aerobrakes I had to carfully shave away at the carbon with a small, engraver-type handtool with a rotating sander fitting. Worked wonders. If however using diacomps or similar brake levers, just fit the plastic outer portion around the bars and adjust the internal fitting with hex key, like normal. Carefully drill (again I used the engraver type tool) new internal cable route where desired.
Now why would anyone want to ruin a perfectly good aerobar setup? To get more aero of course! The Profile aerobrakes are just that, aero, but F#$% they aren’t that good when it comes to braking.
Need more info? I can post pics if you need.
pinkboy…aero-gear freak!!!
Thanks a bunch for all the information. You answered exactly what I was curious about!
I have read all the posts on this but still dont understand how to mount the pads without seeing a picture (I think I have an idea but what I’m looking at does’t seem to be a very solid solution)
I want to trim the drops part about an inch - a hacksaw will work right?
If someone could post pics of their modified bars that would really help.
Anyone cut the drops so the brakes are parallel- ie just straight and if so it seems the bar gets triangular there and that my QS2s would never fit in there. - How did you pull it off?
Looking at Peter Reid’s bars doesn’t seem to help - it seems he mounts the pad on the aluminum thing that holds his extensions in place cause he rides with the bars on top - this seems to work fin with no need to ‘enlarge’ any holes but just seems really flimsy.
I dont think I would buy these if I could do it again - I would go vision or something tough and aluminum so I can feel secure - plastic handlebars dont inspire confidence
Hey pinkboy, how 'bout posting those pics?
post those pics mate
I tried hacking away today and ended with shorter bullhorns - I still wish I’d bought the visions - if you could post pics of your setup maybe where you got the aerobrakes I would be much obliged…
Im working on it!!!
Ill get a camera on the weekend and post them this week some time under their own thread.
pinkboy…taking his time