Ergo Road Bars - flat top - WSD?

[ecovelo]

Hey everyone... I'm a newbie. I've enjoyed perusing the TE threads over the past few weeks and appreciate all the contributions!

I keep hearing about ergonomic road bars that are not just ergo on the drop bar part, but are flat on the top ... (where my thumb pads of my palm typically sit)...perhaps mimicking the Ergon MTB grips :confused:

Has anyone heard of such an animal? ...and in smaller sizes (WSD) at that?

Thanks!

[Zen]

Catriona has bars like that. I don't know the specific name, though. You could PM her.

[7rider]

Do you mean something like these (http://www.eastonbike.com/PRODUCTS/BARS/09/bar_road_ec70_'09.html)?
These are Easton aero road bars.
I have a set on both my road bikes. I love 'em, but with a 42 cm c-t-c, and with larger hands, I don't do well with "women's" bars.
I don't think these particular bars come in women's sizes....

[Zen]

I can't tell from that photo. Catriona's are really, really flat and wider on top, like they were put through a press at that particular point.

[lunacycles]

FSA makes a short reach, shallow drop (i.e. nice for women) bar called the K-wing Compact I believe, that has a nice flat top area. I often use the alloy ones on my customer's bikes. FSA sent me a sample of the carbon version that I just put on my road bike and like lots so far.

They do not have the ergo "bump" on the lower part of the bar, however.

Here's an online review and pic:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/road/product/k-wing-compact-road-handlebar-29764

[Zen]

Wow, those are nice. Spendy, but nice. I think they may be the ones.

[uforgot]

I have some on my Merlin. They are ITM Mantis wing shape. The Mantis is the smaller ones, and the wings are the flat tops. I can't find them on the net, though. I can find the mantis, and then I can find other wings. I had to unwrap mine a bit to find the name, so I just took the pic unwrapped. They are really comfortable. Here's a pic or two.

The flat parts measure almost 2 inches across. The drops and reach are smaller than average also. Seems I found the stats on them at one time. I'll keep looking.

[aicabsolut]

FSA (though they don't go super narrow)
3T
Specialized (Ruby carbon bar has slight flat top but it's pretty subtle compared to FSA and others)

etc.

Many of them are called "wing" bars, I think.

[kenyonchris]

FSA makes a short reach, shallow drop (i.e. nice for women) bar called the K-wing Compact I believe, that has a nice flat top area. I often use the alloy ones on my customer's bikes. FSA sent me a sample of the carbon version that I just put on my road bike and like lots so far.

They do not have the ergo "bump" on the lower part of the bar, however.

Here's an online review and pic:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/road/product/k-wing-compact-road-handlebar-29764

I have these...just put em on, actually, but already have about 200 miles on them. REALLY like them. Much better than the "ergo" specialized bars. I couldn't reach the brakes in the drops at all, even though they were supposed to be short reach. I always descend in the drops so this was an immediate problem.

[MartianDestiny]

Specialized Ruby SL

Not as dramatic a flat top as some, but it's there, and they come in small sizes and have a short reach (but a fairly normal drop, which I personally like)

I have tiny hands and I just can't stand the shallow drop bars I've tried, can't get to the brakes right. With the Specialized bars I have no problem getting full brake coverage from the drops (or the hoods for that matter, though my brakes are shimmed for easier use on the hoods).

[Trigress]

Hey, I've got bars like that! Wonder what they are.

*Running out to check on her bike*

FSA Wing Pro.

They're fine. I have no problem with reach, but then again my gorilla factor is quite high and I have quite large hands (just imagine what I look like, ladies!). I use a normal mens' handlebar, size 40 is just right.

[Cataboo]

I can't tell from that photo. Catriona's are really, really flat and wider on top, like they were put through a press at that particular point.

Yeah, mine are the FSA k-wings that Luna mentioned.

I love them :)

But spendy

[lunacycles]

Yeah, mine are the FSA k-wings that Luna mentioned.

I love them

But spendy

They have an alloy version that is nearly as light and not nearly as spendy.

[SadieKate]

I hated the FSA K-Force bars I put on my Spectrum. I'm short with small hands, but long arms. I could never get comfortable on the short reach (fore/aft). And could never wrap my head around riding with my thumbs on top of the bars because that flat section is wide and painful to ride that way, and it's dangerous (IMHO - and others).

I think such bars are a love or hate relationship.

[ecovelo]

FABULOUS!!!:D I shall have great fun researching all these choices... thanks!!

[ecovelo]

uforgot...thanks for going through the trouble of "unraveling" your bar tape...:)

[indysteel]

If you decide on the FSAs, I have the Compact Wing Pros in a size 38 I'd be happy to sell. Just PM me.

[Cataboo]

I hated the FSA K-Force bars I put on my Spectrum. I'm short with small hands, but long arms. I could never get comfortable on the short reach (fore/aft). And could never wrap my head around riding with my thumbs on top of the bars because that flat section is wide and painful to ride that way, and it's dangerous (IMHO - and others).

I think such bars are a love or hate relationship.

I'm confused why your thumbs would be on top of the bars? I ride mine with my thumbs under the bar.

I don't use the short reach k wings (but have never tried them) but I like that the hoods on those bars are dropped down a bit from the top of the flat wide section - so it pulls me forward and down a bit and it's actually a pretty comfortable more "aero" position that I like better than being in drops. Then with the raised flat section, I'm fairly upright if I want to be as well.

[SadieKate]

Thumbs may be on top of flat bars (riding on the tops) because of the shape and hand size.