Well as the thread name says, I am hoping to hear some pro’s and cons about either. I have a Speed Concept 7.2 that I am changing out the cockpit. I am using Profile Design carbon strykes for the aerobar (I can’t do straight or s-bends) that I already have from another bike and am deciding between these two base bars. The slight price difference is a wash as I get a pretty good discount from my LBS on either bar. The Bontragers appear to not be shipping until at least march so who knows what my wait would be like. Having said that I am dealing with bursitis issues that are keeping me from biking anyways. Is it worth waiting for the Bontrager’s or should I just get the Prosvet?
Prosvet
http://www.profile-design.com/profile-design/products/base-bars/carbon-base-bars/prosvet.html
Bontrager
http://www.bontrager.com/model/07000
FWIW, I used the Bontrager bar for 2 years and had no problems with it at all. Really liked it in fact. The bullhorns do have just a slight downward slant.
Never ridden the Profile bars, but in general I am not a huge fan of the quality of Profile products.
My Trek bike has the Race XXX lite cockpit on it, and I love it. (although there’s not a ton of adjustability, but that’s an aside since you’re looking at the X lite) anyway. I’m a big fan of Bontrager, I’ve never had any problems with their products, and I feel like they have really great quality stuff for the prices. So, IMHO, I’d suggest the Race X lite.
Depends on how wide you need to put your aerobars and whether or not you like the “pursuit style” basebar which is effectively what the Bontrager Race X-Lite is. I personally don’t care for the design of the Race X-Lite bullhorn. It appears to me that the Profile Prosvet has a little more clamping surface in the middle which would allow you to space your aerobars out a little wider than what the Bonty’s allow if width is a concern for you. By the way,that 7.2 sure is a nice looking ride.
Just my two cents… I’ve crashed twice on my bike (once due to wet roads and the other to gravel). Both times my alu basebar hit the ground first and bent. Based on the force that i hit the ground, i’m fairly certain that carbon would have shattered. Instead, i was able to unbend the basebar when i got home.
Dont get me wrong, i love my bike bling, but I think i’ll be sticking to alu basebars. The profile Ozero looks like a solid option, and its MSRP is way cheaper than the Prosvets.
I have another aluminum basebar already, not including the one that comes with the bike. I too have crashed (still in physical therapy 6 months later) so if I am unlucky enough to do it again, I can switch back, albeit lighter in the pocket book and a big I told you so. As to the bling, this is my get your ass back on the bike, start living a healthier life again, kick in the ass present to myself…and my wife wont let me buy another bike for along while. I have to get the bling while I can.