anyone riding with a FSA compact handlebar?

[djgafi]

hi there

has anyone tried out the new handlebar curve by FSA, compact shape with a closer drop (read 'easier reach' for the breaks and lower hand position)?

if so, in which measure? 40 or 42?

thank you

[Thorn]

I have the Compact Wing Pro on all my bikes. Got DH hooked as well. He rented a bike last week for our vacation and all I heard was "I missing my wings".

My shoulders measure out to a 38mm, but I found the 38mm too narrow and now ride a 40mm. The drops are at 40mm which means the hoods are a little narrow than 40mm so I'm more comfortable. I still run 38mm on my winter bike. Next upgrade money goes to updating those with 40mm.

Oh, and I run Campy. No problem shifting from the drops; no problem with reach and I like the non-anatomic bend. But that's just me.

[indysteel]

I just built my new bike up with a set of the compact Wing Pros. I went with the 38s and, like Thorn, find them to be pretty narrow, even more me. My fitter hasn't seen me on the bike yet, so I'll be interested in whether he thinks they're too narrow. I like the classic bend. If my fitter wants me to go up a size, I might consider the non-compact Winf Pros. I could stand a bit more drop.

[Andrea]

I had the Omega Compact, which is like the wing pro but with a round top. I like the Ritchey Biomax bars better, but it's really just personal preference. The FSAs were still pretty nice.

[Grog]

I have the Wing Pro (also with the short reach) in 38. I love them. I love the shallow drops, I love the flatter tops (although it's tricky to install lights or some bike computers). They did feel funny at first but I was starting from 42s which was way too wide for me.

[fatbottomedgurl]

I just had the Bontrager Fit compact bar in a 40 installed today. I'll check in after my ride tomorrow.

[djgafi]

thank you girls!
i noticed that the top surface area of the compact FSA'a results slightly smaller than the center-to-center measure of the handles...
so i was wondering if if didn't result being too narrow for a upper hand position, like thorn pointed out...

i've been fitted for a size 40 compact handlebar, my shoulder are about 39mm at the moment i'm riding with a standard 42, and i certainly could use a shorter drop...

i'll test the alluminum compact wing pro size 40 and see how it goes. it should be quite a change from now... will submit my impressions soon!

[fatbottomedgurl]

I rode my new bars. I really liked being able to reach my levers from the drops (we shimmed the levers also). All in all, I think a compact bar is a good idea for us with small hands and shorty fingers. And they look good too on a small frame!

[djgafi]

still waiting for mine... should have them mounted by tomorrow.
i rode last week and had to come down a long & steep
hill with my standard handlebars and i suffered all the way through.
Break leverages were too far away for my hands, and it was a real pain.

can't wait to try the new "pro wings"... will report back in a few days!

[VeloVT]

I'm slightly ADD right now and have only skimmed the posts so far, so forgive me if I repeat or say something otherwise stupid :cool:. I have FSA Wing Pro compacts on my roadie. I bought a 38 because I generally ride a 38 comfortably on standard, c-c measured bars. I *****love****** the shape of the drops, but apparently they're measure at the ends, not at the tops/hoods -- and there is a small out-flare, so the measurement at the hoods is narrower. I *like* them, but would have been happier with 40s, I think. The ergonomic shape of the tops feels quite good in your hands, although my bars are so narrow I don't use the tops much.

[wildeny]

FSA compact handlebars (Wing Pro or Omega) are measured on the end of the drops, c-c. But their width on the top/hood are shorted by 2 cm.

My Fuji Finest RC (XS) comes with a 40 cm handlebar that is compact one but is measured on the top/hood => the width of ends c-c is 42 cm. That's a little too wide, I think, for a XS frame. Recently I ordered a FSA Omega 38cm, which should be fit for my shoulder according to an article on Bicycling (http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-5-28-1056-1,00.html).

Why don't the manufactures measure their handlebars in the same way? :rolleyes:

[Miranda]

I have not tried out the bars you mention, but have been pondering the same thing for my new ride. Everything is too big on my current ride. But, the bar (not sure of brand) is a compact ergo shallow reach/short drop bar. Size 40cm. I'm sped'ed for a 38cm. One fitter suggested the 3T Ergonova. It's short reach/shallow drop ergo. Measures "center to center" and does flare out at the drops. The "c-c" measurement is at the drop point. So, a 38cm bar is actually 36cm at the hoods. Thinking, will she fit, or be a bit narrow. Some peeps like a Bonrtager bar, think is called the VR bar? with short reach and shallow drop. Salsa makes a short reach shallow drop bar called Poco I think. 40cm is more standard of options/makers. Going to 38cm/less, choices get less too.

[Miranda]

...which should be fit for my shoulder according to an article on Bicycling (http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-5-28-1056-1,00.html).

Why don't the manufactures measure their handlebars in the same way? :rolleyes:

Wouldn't that be LOVELY if all the makers had a uniform standard? Would be too easy :rolleyes:. Gheez. :)Thanks for that link. I wondered how they got the measurement calculation.

[Brandy]

I ride them on all of my bikes. I have the carbon ones on the R3 and the aluminum version on the other two bikes. They're all 40.

[mayanorange]

I adore my FSA compacts! So great. I ride the 40cm width- which, as everyone has been saying, is a 38ish at the hoods.

[djgafi]

first ride on my fsa wing pro, size 40 and i love it.
it felt totally natural to place the hands on to, and even if the tops are only 38 it was ok.

actually my overall position has improved in comfort, and i finally can get to the breaks easier when riding downhill

i was skeptical at first because i thought it was going to be too narrow for me, being the tops narrower than 40, but once i tried it i was ok. My shoulders are 40cm wide (center-to-center) so this explains why this size is perfect for me.

very happy!
;-)

[five one]

first ride on my fsa wing pro, size 40 and i love it.
it felt totally natural to place the hands on to, and even if the tops are only 38 it was ok.

actually my overall position has improved in comfort, and i finally can get to the breaks easier when riding downhill

i was skeptical at first because i thought it was going to be too narrow for me, being the tops narrower than 40, but once i tried it i was ok. My shoulders are 40cm wide (center-to-center) so this explains why this size is perfect for me.

very happy!
;-)

I'm very glad to read your positive report. I just had my Deda Piega's switched to FSA Wing Pro compacts. Had to get a new stem as well since my existing stem wouldn't accommodate the larger center circumferance of the Wing Pro's. Picked the bike up yesterday after work.

After reading this thread (and others along the same lines) I thought it was worth a go. I'm one one those small riders who can't reach the brakes from the drops, or even ride comfortably for very long in the drops. I'm hoping this will help in both scenarios. Shoulders measure 38cm, so I got 38's. We'll see if that's the right size for me.

First ride will be tomorrow.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

My new Avail Advanced 1 came with the compact FSA Wing Pro.. It took a ride to get used to the new shape, but I REALLY like it! With my fused back, its a little more comfortable having the more shallow drops.

I think its a 38.