Favorite Handlebars?

[ilima]

You don't need to swap out your handlebars, your shop needs to do this!!

I'm appalled that you have dropped, what, $4K on a bike and your shop won't get your bars right. When I bought a pricey bike from my LBS the owner told be straight-up that he would swap out the stem or bars if I needed it --gratis. It's all part of the getting things right. Compared to the cost of your bike, handlebars, especially alloy ones, we're talking peanuts here.

Also, I did swap out the saddle for a more expensive one before taking it out of the shop. He credited me full retail for the cost of the saddle before charging me for the pricier one.

Please, please go back to your LBS and have them swap out the handlebars. If you switch to alloy from carbon, ask for a store credit for the difference. There is no reason you should be worrying about selling the bars that came on your bike and buying a new set. Let your LBS show you what customer service is all about.

[rhiannon008]

I appreciate your response and you have a great point! However, I bought the bike online from a certified Cervelo shop for 1,500 less than retail. Their policy is not to swap components for retail to retail value. Rather, they said they will order whatever components I need changed at wholesale prices. I don't mind selling the parts myself, because in the end I will actually be saving myself a bit of cash, both on the overall cost of the bike, as well as the components bought and sold. (if all of that makes sense) Trust me, I have done alot of research, and though a bit inconvenient, it is the most cost effective solution compared to the offers made by the Cervelo dealers in Colorado (yes, I have contacted them all).

So to return to my original question, anyone have a favorite compact, small drop and shorter reach, style bar (non-anatomic) either alloy or carbon that comes in a 38cm c-c size?

~Rhiannon

[ilima]

Ah, makes sense now.

ITM's Elle is an alloy bar. Comes in 38 c-c and 31.8.

Someone in Richmond is even trying to sell one.
http://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/416431091.html

Specialized Dolce is a woman's specific alloy bar that comes in 31.8 and 38cm. The center part of the bar is supposed to hep dampen vibrations.

Word of caution about short-n-shallow bars: you might not have enough room for your hand in the full-drop position. That's my main annoyance with this type of bar.

[ilima]

Just caught the non-anatomic. I think you are going to have a hard time finding a 38cm non-anatomic bar. Seems to be the case for all the 'chick' bars. I'm lucky as I take a 42cm so can find just about any bar in that size.

[DirtDiva]

These came on my bike. The website says they're anatomic, but they don't have that bump or flat spot that other anatomic bars have.

When I look more closely, it appears they don't have a US distributor.

[rhiannon008]

It's a shame that I can't find those bars here! They seem to be the shape and width I am intersted in. For curiosity's sake, what bike did these come on?

Thanks,

~Rhiannon

[dex]

Those look pretty similar in shape to the Bontrager FIT to me.

[DirtDiva]

One o' these, from Genius, a newish Kiwi company.

[pll]

I have Specialized Dolce Ergo Alloy bar (38cm) in my bike. They come with the 31.8mm clamp you look for. I bought them right off the Specialized web site. They seem to run out of stock quite frequently (I just looked), so keep watching them -- if my experience provides any guidance, they restock within 1-2 weeks.

They have a 132mm drop (the Poco has 140mm) and 75mm reach (the Poco has 70mm). Unlike the picture on the Specialized site, they came to in matte black, not silver.

[rhiannon008]

Hey all!

I think my handlebar search is finally over! In wondering around a LBS tonight, I came across a bar I had not before considered, the Bontrager Race Lite OS in a VR bend. The shape was super comfy (smooth transiton area from hoods to drops) despite its slightly deeper drop and reach numbers. This bar is almost as light as the carbon FSA's I am replacing, and much more affordable than the carbon bars that had been on my short list. For anyone interested, I think you can see these bars on many models of LeMond and Trek bikes. Thanks for all of the suggestions and advice!


~Rhiannon