FSA Wing Pro Compact Bars

[VeloVT]

Anyone have experience with these? I ordered a pair yesterday and now I'm all nervous, having never seen them in person.

Here's a picture:
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/product-components/2008-fsa-wing-pro-compact-alloy-handlebar-4183_28_TRUE.html

My bike came stack with 40cm bars (which I think is strange for a size XS, WSD bike, but that's another story). I gave them a try and they are definitely less comfy for me than my old 38s.

I've been intrigued also by the growing number of traditional, round bend bars out there. They look comfy. I wanted to try some. I really wanted the Deda Newton bar in the "Italian Classic" bend, but while they make the Newton anatomic bend in their smallest size (40 o-o, which is roughly equivalent to 38 c-c), they don't make the traditional shallow bend Newton bar in that size. I wrote Deda a diplomatic email explaining how annoying it was that they didn't make their shallowest-bend bar in the size that would be attractive to many women. They wrote me back and told me they were "considering it in the future." Well. Interestingly, very few of the traditional bend bars on the market are available in 38cm, unless you go to the most expensive carbon bars. Even more irritatingly, those that are **made** in 38cm don't seem to be stocked anywhere online in that size.

Anyhoo, ranting aside, I found a pair of this model in 38cm and ordered them. Has anyone tried them? Does anyone have feedback?

Thanks!!!

[Grog]

That's what I have, 38s also. It saved me from having to change my stem, and I find the drops really comfortable, and I love the width. It took me a tiny bit of time to get used to it, but I am really really glad I changed. My sweet partner rode my bike for a bit this winter and he said he really enjoyed the ergo tops too.

Good purchase! I hope you love them!

[Thorn]

Excellent choice! OK, I'm biased. I have that bar on two bikes. When I'm riding the third, I really miss them. For me, I can get to brakes from the drops. I don't like anatomic bend--it always seems the bend doesn't fit me quite right and it keeps me away from the brakes. The long lower part of the drop is cool. It gives you an extra hand position--dropped and closer to the body. For windy spring weather, multiple in-the-drop positions is really nice.

The flat section across the tops is very comfortable on long distance. I find I ride the top of the bar more.

My only complaint about the bar is probably due to my body shape--I'm very long leg and very short torso. When I stand on a very steep hill, I have to be very careful not to hit the drop with my knee.

Enjoy!

[Beane]

Hey Thorn,
Would you mind measuring the distance between your shift lever and the bar for me? I can just barely reach the brakes from the drops and I'm wondering if the wing pros would be any closer. So if you could tell me the distance from the closest point to the outer edge of the bar (so the shortest total distance) that would be great.

thanks!

[Thorn]

I'm not sure I have the right measurement, so I marked it out in the attached image. That distance is about 3.5 inches, both places.

Interestingly, the minimum distance is the same on my other bike where I can't reach the brakes from the drops. But when I'm riding that bike in the drops, my hands and reach don't fit the bar right and I end up much lower The end result is that I can't reach the brakes because I'm not reaching on the minimum distance.

Oh, I bet that just muddied the waters more, didn't it.

[Beane]

Thorn-
Thanks. That was really helpful. Mine measured 3.75, so those bars would be an improvement. I could get the levers closer by rotating the bar and repositioning them, but then my tops wouldn't be nice & flat which I definitely want.

how was the quadrupedal? I had a bad cold all last week and am just now getting better so I had to pass, but the weather seemed great.

[Thorn]

The quadrupedal had great weather. We did the 55 miler, same as last year. This year, though, we weren't trashed at the end--so I think we're getting better. But, the grass was that deep spring green and the creeks were all running so the valleys were gorgeous and it made the climbs worth the effort. Oh, and the animal crackers at the rest stops just make me smile (and they're a great sugar source).

Because of the good weather and more advertising, they had a record turnout so the Humane Society should make some money off the ride (the first couple of years, they broke even).

Around midday, the wind picked up and the 100 milers had head wind for the last 30 miles or so and a beast of a hill at 92miles. We were speculating that the SAG support was going to be busy late in the day. Anyone who got peer-pressured into the 100 was going to be miserable at the end.

But it was a great ride--sorry about your cold, but, perhaps next year....