Lieblingsleguan wrote:The reason for the riser bar is a bit different though. Specialized's reasoning is that the riser bar with the -17° (flat) stem is more aerodynamic than a non-rising bar with a -6° stem.
Agree that it looks beyond fugly and that you should go for an endurance geometry if the Tarmac doesn't fit. There are full-blown race bikes out there nowadays that would fit.
Yes that's the claim we've all heard, but when's the last time you've seen a 6/84deg stem on a Venge ViAS besides the Expert level bike with a conventional stem?
Let's see the aero claims with the hoverbar against a stack of spacers. Let's see how a larger frame that fits the rider without spacers works out aerodynamically.