Road bar bend

[Joe]

What shape bars do you use?
I'm currently running Cinelli Vai bars which I bought mainly on price. After using them for a few months I'm still not hooked on the shape. I find the flat central section of the bend to be a a bit too vertical, particularly when climbing in the drops. I think I would prefer a more horizontal and lower flat section. I also find the ends of the bar pretty useless. What bars would you recommend (low end)? Any particular ergonomic, or maybe a classic bend? Do the drop/reach measurements relate to the shape of the bend?

I quite like the look of this shape

http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a...60036583&n=Easton EC90 Aero CNT Road Bar 2008

But it's way out of my price range!

 

[peekay76]

Those bars don't look that clever to me. If your hand is nicely on the flat section of the drops you're going to have a job reaching the brake levers in a hurry.

 

[Joe]

Who needs brakes?
I know what you mean though, I'm actually leaning towards giving some classic bend bars a go.

 

[John the Monkey]

Who needs brakes?
I know what you mean though, I'm actually leaning towards giving some classic bend bars a go.

My current ones are just the set that came on the SCR2.0, an "anatomic" bend design. My old bike had classic bend bars, and I liked them (too bloody narrow mind ) - to the extent that the ones on the Giant still feel a bit odd at times. (I think the newer bars are probably better from the point of view of the "covering the brakes" position on the drops).

One thing I used to do on the old bars was give my hands a rest on long straights by holding the lowest, horizontal bit of the bar - I miss that on the new bike.

 

[Joe]

One thing I used to do on the old bars was give my hands a rest on long straights by holding the lowest, horizontal bit of the bar - I miss that on the new bike.

I think I would like that option. I often get the urge to climb using the very end of the bars but because the horizontal section is too short I end up with my palm on the angle and it's not comfortable.

 

[Tynan]

there's different shapes?

gawd, I got whatever the man in Condor picked out for me

 

[girofan]

At that price Joe I would expect the bars to ride the bike for me!!!
For about £40 FSA do some nice bars and you get a choice of shape.