I have a Shiv Expert and recently upgraded to the Specialized Carbon bar through my LBS (product link below), half because I needed more reach than my stock bars, and half because Specialized advertises the Carbon bar as having a ±15 degree tilt (which I would like to take advantage of to potentially reduce drag).
The product spec page CLEARLY states that the bars have “Extension clamps for standard 22.2mm outer diameter extension, angled up or down 15 degrees.”
When they arrived and my LBS installed them, there were no tilting extension clamps installed (just regular flat clamps, which means the bars don’t tilt). My LBS is being great and trying to figure out why Specialized did not include them, but they did say that after calling Specialized once, they said there was a “redesign” after the recall last year and the tilting clamps may no longer be available.
Has anyone bought a Shiv recently or these bars and had the tilt extensions installed? I’m debating what to do now as I spent $575 on this bar and it doesn’t include half of the benefit that I expected it to and was advertised on the product page.
There was another thread on this a few years ago, with the OP clearly having the tilted extensions on the bars:
I ended up buying a zipp Carbon set up as I was told they don’t do the tilt anymore but this was with the AL version I had. I just didn’t want to spend that much when I could get cheaper carbon set up with tilt. I am guessing the redesigned both the AL and carbon to not have tilt anymore and screwed up on not updating the site. I hope they fix it if they don’t have tilt they should at least take them back.
The tilt hardware was at the heart of the recall. The “low stack” kit was their fix that replaced the tilt hardware. It’s a better design if you don’t want to tilt your bars up, but sucks if you do. I’m running my aluminum shiv bars tilted up, but it requires the base bar to be tilted also and it’s costing me watts (sucks). I assume I could get some different extensions to get the position close, but I have not seen a good option to get tilt on the pads. The stem on the carbon bars doesn’t allow a tilt, so no good option other than different bars.
Well this is disappointing. When I buy an expensive, high-end product, I expect it to have all of the quoted characteristics, especially when those characteristics are the main selling point for me. I may talk to my LBS about returning the bar and replacing it with another - anyone have any suggestions for a carbon bar that tilts? I’ll start a search through the forum as well.
I just wanted to report back on this situation as a public service announcement.
As feared, it turns out that the Specialized carbon bars DO NOT have the tilt mechanism as advertised on the product website. It was taken out as part of the recall and was never redesigned back in. I’ve corresponded with Specialized and so has my LBS and they are still advertising it on their website which is obnoxious (see link below). If you want a tilting bar, DO NOT BUY.
Specialized has agreed to allow me to return the bars even though I have already ridden on them. To replace them, I am going to go with the ENVE SES Bars. I was originally going to go with the ENVE bar in the first place, but I was enticed by the $400 savings on the Specialized Bar.
I just wanted to report back on this situation as a public service announcement.
As feared, it turns out that the Specialized carbon bars DO NOT have the tilt mechanism as advertised on the product website. It was taken out as part of the recall and was never redesigned back in. I’ve corresponded with Specialized and so has my LBS and they are still advertising it on their website which is obnoxious (see link below). If you want a tilting bar, DO NOT BUY.
Specialized has agreed to allow me to return the bars even though I have already ridden on them. To replace them, I am going to go with the ENVE SES Bars. I was originally going to go with the ENVE bar in the first place, but I was enticed by the $400 savings on the Specialized Bar.
I got bit by this too. Loved the original Shiv cockpit. Recalled of course. Replaced with the low stack kit mere weeks before my first race of last year. I prefer a few degrees of tilt but decided I’d accept the flat bars. Didn’t seem too bad.
Fast forward to the other day and a new bike fit. Fitter is calling out my arm angle for causing a bad posture and neck/shoulder pain and all sorts of issues down the chain. Wonderful.
I got bit by this too. Loved the original Shiv cockpit. Recalled of course. Replaced with the low stack kit mere weeks before my first race of last year. I prefer a few degrees of tilt but decided I’d accept the flat bars. Didn’t seem too bad.
Fast forward to the other day and a new bike fit. Fitter is calling out my arm angle for causing a bad posture and neck/shoulder pain and all sorts of issues down the chain. Wonderful.
I wonder if you could use bevel washers to angle the arm pads.
The bars would still be flat, but they are ski bends, so you can grab them up a bit higher.
During the recall, I had my bars replaced with a basebar/clipon combo, since it was the only way to replicate my existing position.
I wonder if you could use bevel washers to angle the arm pads.
The bars would still be flat, but they are ski bends, so you can grab them up a bit higher.
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I did something similar on my Shiv TT (which has even less flexibility in terms of adjustments). Bought carbon angled spacers from FiberFlyte in the UK. They were designed to work with the PRO Missle system, but with a little filing, I could make them work for the Shiv TT spacing.
However, I put them under the whole assembly, not just the arm pads. Yes, you are putting some extra torque on the bolts since they aren’t designed to be at an agile like that, it seems to be working just fine. Lowered my CdA and increased my comfort…win win.
I know someone else did it for just the lads and that also worked for him.
Put one under the head of the bolt as well to flatten the surface. This works with the armrests, but not with the basebar mounting (due to the recessed bolt design).
It’s not really a high stress area; should be fine. Most of the load is compressive, with minor torque load if the pads are far back (or for some reason you put a lot of weight near the grips).
To the OP: I’m guessing Specialized forgot to update the website when they did the recall. The graphic ( https://www.specialized.com/...ith-aero-stem/105033 ) is still the pre-recall design. At least they did the right thing and took it back.
Not only is the graphic incorrect, but they also have a misleading statement in the specifications underneath:
“Extension clamps for standard 22.2mm outer diameter extension, angled up or down 15 degrees.”
That statement is primarily why I purchased the bars in the first place.
Edit: I’m really surprised that they STILL haven’t fixed the website even though this has been brought to their attention for a few weeks now, at least…
