Short and sweet is that my “free” basebar that I modified worked long enough to get me used to the bike and to fiddle a little bit with position.
Now. This bar is an old rectangular bar profile HED base bar. Aero brick. It’s also 5:1 or more so nowhere close to being friendly for a state TT competition.
It seems that the new tech is in getting low stack in the head tube and having that whole bit lower, then adding stack back in with risers on the integrated base bars.
Since this is a Bayonet, I can’t really slam a stem on it like you could a bike with a normal headset. I’m limited by the rotation on the splined Felt stem once the stem bottoms out in the front…
What are my best affordable options for a basebar/pad/extension setup for low stack?
This is TT only, so 3:1 is preferred BUT only need it to be comfortable for up to an hour. Hence, low stack. I’m buying a new shorter stem from Felt for like $20, so I won’t need uber adjustability.
I know some of the picky details of it aren’t super looked at in slower categories, but, I have to replace this bar anyway.
I drilled the old bar to attach the cups and really don’t like them anymore for a variety of reasons. I just figure that if I’m buying a new bar, I may as well get one that is 3:1 while I’m at it.
I’m not buying a new bar because the one I have isn’t 3:1. I want one because what I have doesn’t work anyway.
I don’t have an answer, but just a side note that old Hed basebar is very fast for its time.
Compares very favourably to old vision aluminum and Ventus.
ETA: that bar iirc is legal as the longer aspect is necessary due to the extra structural bit in front of the stem, it tapers pretty quick to 3:1. Or at least it was legal.
