Best carbon handlebars

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gavin
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:33 pm

by gavin

Hey guys just wanted some opinion

I have a new TCR sl 0 coming next week

It has aluminium handlebars and when I weighed it in store today (m/l frame size)
Without pedals it came in at 6.3 kg

Wanted to potentially change the handlebars for a lighter set

Any thoughts on the best choices ?

I see Giant Alpecin use pro handlebars

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mpulsiv
Posts: 1384
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 9:17 pm

by mpulsiv

Here we go again, another thread with notorious topic "best". There's no "best" for anything in this world.

Modern aluminum handlebars are light and stiff these days. Before you spend ~$250, it's probably a good idea to weight what you are trying to replace. Wouldn't be a deal breaker when you carbon handlebars arrive and you find out that you just saved ~ 5 grams?!



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Last edited by mpulsiv on Sun Aug 07, 2016 12:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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McGilli
Posts: 373
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2015 6:57 pm

by McGilli

Sounds like you should have titles this thread LIGHTER carbon bars.... Sounds like you just want to lose weight. Everybody's 'best' is different on this forum...

mimason
Posts: 654
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:43 pm
Location: Florida

by mimason

SL0s are spec'd with carbon bars not aluminum so maybe you need to ask your shop whats up.

gavin
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:33 pm

by gavin

mpulsiv wrote:Here we go again, another thread with notorious topic "best". There's no "best" for anything in this world.

Modern aluminum handlebars are light and stiff these days. Before you spend ~$250, it's probably a good idea to weight what you are trying to replace. Wouldn't be a deal breaker when you carbon handlebars arrive and you find out that you just saved ~ 5 grams?!



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Mpulsiv thanks for the reply

I understand ..... Potentially the aluminium bars are already very light

I will get the weight of them from the shop first and compare .

Out of interest what is a typical weight for a set of handelbars ? ( ie not sure what a light weight would be )

gavin
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:33 pm

by gavin

McGilli wrote:Sounds like you should have titles this thread LIGHTER carbon bars.... Sounds like you just want to lose weight. Everybody's 'best' is different on this forum...



Mcgilli yes I appear to have titled my post incorrectly


Sorry for the error

I am a new member and very new to the forum so I guess lots to learn

gavin
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:33 pm

by gavin

mimason wrote:SL0s are spec'd with carbon bars not aluminum so maybe you need to ask your shop whats up.



Mimason that is worrying as I was in the store yesterday and with the physical bike and I was pretty sure they looked like aluminium and asked the shop owner who confirmed it had a carbon stem and aluminium bars .

I am based in the United Kingdom in London and perhaps the spec over here is different ?

mm1
Posts: 67
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:44 pm

by mm1

[quote="mpulsiv"]Here we go again, another thread with notorious topic "best". There's no "best" for anything in this [/quote]

Quite, the meaning of "best" depends on what you are looking for. I have a pair of 3T carbon bars in my shed that have only been ridden for 40 miles, for me they felt unbearably stiff and uncomfortable. My best bike now has an FSA carbon bar that is perfect..., for me. 2 other bikes have a butted aluiminium FSA bar with the same bend as the carbon bar and there is a slight difference in feel, with what to me to feels like very slightly less absorption of road "buzz". I have the same bend bar in plain guage alu on another bike (as an economy measure) and it is noticibly stiffer than the db alu and carbon bars of the same design, but still more comfortable than the 3T. None of the bars seem to make as much difference to comfort as tyre choice and pressure, but they do make a difference.

In summary, decide (or find out by accident) what handling qualities and feel you want and shop around.
Last edited by mm1 on Sun Aug 07, 2016 7:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

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mpulsiv
Posts: 1384
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 9:17 pm

by mpulsiv

It depends how much you'd like to learn. Some will charge a credit card after finding out that replacement can save merely 5 grams and some can do a deep dive and absorb slew of information http://blog.fairwheelbikes.com/reviews- ... bar-review

There's more than weight when it comes to handlebars. Narrow down the type (e.g., traditional or compact), reach, drop and sweep. Don't worry to much about deflection. Modern handlebars are stiff enough, whether it's aluminum or carbon. From time to time you will see threads with title "Chinese handlebars" where people report how noodly they feel. That's what happens when you buy open mold (no brand) crap from random eBay sellers.

If you are in process of shaving weight of your bike, weight everything and keep track in a simple spreadsheet.

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Last edited by mpulsiv on Sun Aug 07, 2016 7:08 am, edited 2 times in total.
Racing is a three-dimensional high-speed chess game, involving hundreds of pieces on the board.

:arrow: CBA = Chronic Bike Addiction
:arrow: OCD = Obsessive Cycling Disorder

gavin
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:33 pm

by gavin

Thanks mpulsive great link

Looking at the test the pro carbon bars performed really well and they were the choice of the giant Alpecin team

Also the zipp sl bars were very good so will investigate further

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cyclespeed
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Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2016 8:45 am

by cyclespeed

I'm loving my new 3T Aeronova bars. Light, aero, stiff enough for me!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0VZQoWNnAQ

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wheelsONfire
Posts: 6283
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:15 am
Location: NorthEU

by wheelsONfire

I would focus on the of shape the bar. Ride the bar you get and get a feel for it.
Then focus on if their is another shape you'd like better, another reach and drop.
After that, i would consider how relevant shaving grams is.
Honestly, most of this is in the head. Shaving weight will likely get you to buy lots of new components.
Perhaps even a new bike...
Bikes:

Ax Lightness Vial EVO Race (2019.01.03)
Open *UP* (2016.04.14)
Paduano Racing Fidia (kind of shelved)


Ex bike; Vial EVO D, Vial EVO Ultra, Scott Foil, Paduano ti bike.

mimason
Posts: 654
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:43 pm
Location: Florida

by mimason

UK site indicates contact slr bar. Thats carbon

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bi ... 957/90497/

wingguy
Posts: 4318
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:43 pm

by wingguy

gavin wrote:I am based in the United Kingdom in London and perhaps the spec over here is different ?


Nope. Giant SLR carbon bar, unless they've swapped it in the shop. Could also be that the salesman's a clueless monkey and was making it up as he went along.

wingguy
Posts: 4318
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:43 pm

by wingguy

gavin wrote:Looking at the test the pro carbon bars performed really well and they were the choice of the giant Alpecin team


They're also heavier than the Giant SLRs that come as spec.

by Weenie


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