Any thoughts would be appreciated…thinking about throwing this puppy on my new Javelin.
I had a bike fit by a Cat 1 racer and he put me on them as they are adjustable, and I love them. I am way more comfortable in aero than I was on the Syntace C-2, which are not adjustable in length.
Super adjustable. Very comfortable in the aero position. I’ve also found Profile great with regards to their customer safisfaction. I had a few problems with a set of Carbon Stryke bars in the past but Profile bent over backwards for me to ensure I was satisfied with their product. I have the Carbon X’s now and couldn’t be happier. I would highly suggest them.
I think I recall hearing that the first generation of these bars was not quite up to snuff and had a recall or two. Most people I know who have used their stuff are mildly disappointed by it. Fit and finish are not always as good as the money you pay for it. Performance for the masses sometimes means quality is sacrificed.
I like the fact that they are so adjustable, but I use Vision Bars now. The Vision Bars are harder to fit as they come in 4 sizes and are not very adjustable, but much stiffer. If you are strong and pull hard on the Profile extensions they give. I have a set of both carbon and aluminum Vision bars on both my race and training bikes and they are idetical in both weight and stiffness, only the price is different. I put the Profile bars on my wifes bike and she loves them, but she weighs 120 lbs. I only weigh 145. The base bar on the Profile bars is great. The base bar from vision is the best I have used. I went that way instead of the 1 piece as now I can change stems. Hope this helps.
I purchased some for my lady’s bike. Yes, they are adjustable. No, the arm rests are not low profile and even worse, I find them quite uncomfortable. But that last part can be easily fixed. For $100 less I’d go for Full Speed Ahead’s Vision Tech lineup, even thought it isn’t carbon.
I should have mentioned it, Excel sports has a good measurment system for the Vision bars, they got the size correct 1st shot. And, like the last guy mentioned, they are way less expensive. They are also lighter.
I wouldn’t put them on a new Javelin.
For a javelin I’d either deck it with Hed/Ovals or Vision.
The carbon-x is a little out of date, but mostly it’s just not stylish on an aluminum javelin.
-It’s not how fast you are, it’s how fast you look
VERY adjustable, and I like them personally. Work great modified with base-mounted armrests and S-bends, and you can cut down the extensions and/or brake ends to keep the weight down. They aren’t the lightest setup compared to the newest stuff, but light enough for the average triathlete. Since they are older, you can probably find a good deal somewhere too.
( http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=292890;search_string=profile%20carbon%20x;#292890 )
Keith
I had Carbon X’s. They were a great set of bars on my Saber (2003). My only complaint was that the armwrest mounts were too high, especially when combined with the somewhat tall Saber head tube…even with no spacers, the armwrests were a cm or two higher than I would have liked.
I have the Heds on my current tri-bike, a Talon SL. I like the Heds better in most respects…
You can’t go too wrong with the Carbon Xs…
Unlike most everyone here, I think they’re barely average. Like some of Profile’s other stuff, it seems to be oddly engineered (who considers rubber bands as an adequate water bottle mounting device?). For example, the arm rest pad/aero bar mounting bracket attaches to another set of aero bar brackets on the underside of the bar. Even if you mount your aero bars above the base bar, you still have to use the under-the-bar mounting bracket (because that’s what the top-of-the-bar mounting bracket attaches to).
For what they are (simple, integrated aero bars) they’re fine. Oh yeah, don’t try to use Syntace brakes cuz they don’t fit (beef # 2). You’re welcome to check mine out if you’re curious. I certainly wouldn’t (and didn’t) pay new retail for them.
I used Syntace brakes with mine.
Interesting. Mine wouldn’t fit to save my life. It made me especially happy because I love buying new stuff when I shouldn’t need to. I think that I have an earlier version of the bars, which might make a difference.