So, I've been perserving with this for a couple of years but I'm about to admit defeat. I can't seem to set up the bars and STI's so that I'm comfortable in the drops and on the hoods, it seems to be one or the other.
I think (well, I know) that the problem is the angle of the 'hood' bit of the bars. With the base of the drops flat, the 'hood' bit is quite steeply angled down:
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I find this makes riding on the hoods really uncomfortable. With the bars tilted up to flatten this bit out, the drops are basically unusable.
I suppose what I'm after are bars where the 'hood' bit and the base of the drops are more parallel. But still with the ergo wiggle on the bend. And still quite wide. And maybe flared like the Bell Laps (and a moon on a stick 😉 )
Any ideas/options/opinions?
[url= http://salsacycles.com/components/cowbell_3/ ]http://salsacycles.com/components/cowbell_3/[/url]
not ergo bend, but still comfy and as Salsa say, designed for current STIs which one assumes bell laps aren't.
Ah, that's not a bad shout. Cheers.
Any other ideas?
I don't expect the lower part of the drops to be parallel to the ground. Normally they will be 10-20 degrees off that.
That's a lot more comfortable on the wrist while using the drop and puts the top part of the "hood" section more flat.
Fsa vero compacts were a revelation for me, never could ride on the drops, with these i climb on them, very very comfy
As seen here
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7671295890_5e8d95a8b8.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/7671295890/ ]the Cobley Hill ride[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/rocketdog/ ]rOcKeTdOgUk[/url], on Flickr
Planet X Strada compact don't have the ergo bend, put are much closer to parallel than the Bell Laps. I have a set on both road and CX - very comfy. An added bonus is that the bend from 'tops' to 'hoods' is very tight so you get a nice wide straight bit of top bar to grab onto - I find the large curve radius is uncomfortable on most bars.
FSA vero compact and PX Strada are very similar shape except for the bend radius I described above - which is why I changed from Vero to Strada on the road bike having experienced the strada on my CX 🙂
I have two Planet-x Strada bars and going for another set soon for the CX bike.
They suit me perfectly. and the top and bottom of drop are the way you want them
Strada seems to be a popular choice.
Can someone explain the difference between the shallow drop, compact lite and anatomic models?
I'll have your Salsa Bell Laps, I get on fine with them.
shallow drop and compact lite are, so far as I can tell, the same except the lite one is lighter.
anatomic is more like a traditional bar shape but with the 'ergo' flatter bits/shape to the bend.
i've got the shallow drop.