Whats the difference between Road Bars?

Triathlon Forum
1

I am looking for a Road Bar for my new/being rebuilt training bike. Is the only difference weight and stiffness? The Profile Design DROMO has my eye due to the flat space in the middle which looks like it would be comfortable, but won’t this get lost once tape is applied? EASTON makes a bar similar for about the same price. The carbon bars are around $180.00…Aluminum $120.00 and just your basic bar for around $50.00. The $50.00 bar is a whopping 60 grams heavier… Ok all you roadies/bike store guys…help me out, please. Should I spend $130.00 more for the fancy/smancy carbon. If not, why not?

Mark

2

I was interested in upgrading to Carbon and have a similar question. I heard that 3TTT are shaped to work esp. well with campy shifters. Is there really a difference between the shape of 3TTT The’s and Easton EC90 or Kestral EMS?

3

Carbon bars…lol…they crack me up. I dont get it…spend more on something that weighs more…spend LOTS more…

4

Some people claim that carbon bars are more comfortable. I’ve never ridden carbon bars, but can’t say that I believe the hype enough to spend that kind of cash on an experiment.

Some people will pay stupid amounts of money to save a few grams.

I’m partial to non-anatomic bars - specifically, Deda 215’s with the Italian (shallow) drop. Lots of people love the bars with flat spots on them, I’m just not one of them - but that depends mostly on what you’re used to.

5

I’ve been interested but afraid to ask. I am looking forward to a spirited debate.

6

Check out Rivendell’s Noodle bar; it does all the right things, IMHO.

7

My concern about Carbon is this…I am not a small guy, 6’0 180lbs, and I think while climbing I put a fair amount of pressure on them. Last thing I need is for the carbon to splinter and fail on some high speed decent in North County somewhere. I’m thinking I should just spend the $50.00 on the “regular” bars and find something else to spend my money on. Carbon seat post maybe…

Mark

8

ebay . buy many different type. try em all. sell the ones you don’t like.

I 'm on my ,hmmm, 1 2 3 4 5th set of road bars since I bought my bike 18 months ago.

finally settled on 3TTT Less XL’s. love em.

HATED ritcheys anatomic bends. ‘ergo’ bars with either really work , or really NOT work for you.

only thing about the 3TTTs is aerobars dont’ work well because of the way the large clamp area slopes down .

but I don’t care about aerobars on my road bike

if you do, get standard sized bars.

9

Re - carbon. I have a Kestrel bar on my current road bike, came as a package deal with the rest of the group set. If I had a choice I would not bother with carbon bars I cant tell the difference in terms of weight or "comfort, in fact I wish I had alu bars, which will give me more choice of aerobars.

I have used variety of bars - 3T, Deda, Palazzo, and others, now Kestrel and unfortunately comes down to own choice in terms of shape, reach and also size. Companies measure differently and in some cases this might make a difference. As regards so called comfort put on more bar tape.

Check out ebay as they were some deals a few days ago, I think there was a new Deda 42cm newton for less than 50$ on the buy now option.

Bars are one of those items on a bike I dont stress too much over. But if I had the choice I would not get the carbon bars, save the money.