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Have about £40 in CRC vouchers to use up and £30 from the other half as a present but wondering what to use it as an excuse to buy 😀
I want some new bars - wider and preferably carbon (for my wrists/elbow). Carbon 456 bike currently with Easton EA70 bars (just under 685mm as previous owner trimmed them a bit).
I was looking at the Easton Havens which are bloody light for their strength but is 710 enough and worth the expense over 685? Other option was wait for the Havoc carbons (750mm) - if they come out at CRC. Or just plump for some wide alloy bars as plenty around for about £40.
Also tempted to grab some SLX cranks while I can get them cheap for when my current chain rings on my LX cranks wear out. I admit one reason is cosmetic (rest of the bike is XT) but wondering if I will actually feel any difference or is it just marketing rubbish and should I just buy some new steel chain rings?
Do you really need to buy anything? Why not just sell the vouchers on here to someone, then stick the money away for when you need it.
I've been after some bars for a while so yes for those. Was decided I was going to buy Havens but then the Havocs came out with a more substantial width increase. + the other half is nagging me to use up the "£30 for something to buy for your bike"
Cranks no (just a cosmetic thing really as the LX ones look out of place - silly I know).
Havens are gorgeous and I felt the difference from 680. So much so I've just put matching width bars on my other bike.
On the cranks, I changed from some cheapy Truvativ to SLX and could actually feel that they were stiffer eventhough I'm only 8 stone. They were a lot lighter too. I know that this isn't the same as changing from LX to SLX though.
On the bars, I changed from some 680mm bars to some 745mm Sunline V1s (which don't feel harsh at all) and have since cut the down to 720mm which feels great but it all depends on both your size and the type of riding that you do.
Ragley Wisers. Lovely gloss black (or natural), 720mm and cheaper than Havens last time I looked.
I just got the carbon havens as previously had the EC70 bars with 685mm width and I noticed the difference, to me the havens are a much better width, also personally I think 750mm maybe a little wide for me especially on some of the trails I ride. My havens measured 715mm. Also got the 70mm haven stem to match which is also an improvement over the Thomson I had before. The bars would be a good purchase.
CRC are selling Nuke Proof Warhead bars (760mm) @ £35 at the moment, they are pretty light at 300g for 760 and even lighter when you chop them down to 730 like i have. they're great bars, run them on my my SX and on my HT. Fairly sure you can cut them down to 680mm if you wanted to 🙄
cut them down to 680! 😮
I was just looking at the Nuke proof but I really want to try some carbon bars as my right arm does take a battering on rocky descents. I like the low rise of the Eastons too.
Ragley - I was going to get some Wisers in carbon (black) but people saying they were flexy has put me off.
Easton stem - don't tempt me. Have just beefed up from a lightweight CNC to a Thomson (2nd hand) but am tempted by the Easton. I was wondering about moving down to the 55mm one.
750 does seem a bit wide...I have to admit I have just stuck some bar ends (I know, shoot me) on as I found them useful on my single speed.
I do a bit of twisty stuff (not that much) but mainly going up and down the mendip hills with some open flowing and very rocky descents more than dodging the trees in the woods.
Might try moving my grips out and sitting on the bike and seeing how it feels.
55mm Haven stem would be nice with the bars, I couldn't go that low due to lack of reach on my current set up. To me the 715mm wide Haven bars just feels a natural width, very comfy and plenty of control for the rocky fast descents. Putting your grips on wider would be a good idea to see what felt right for you.
Unless you're running rigid, you're not likely to notice an imrovement in comfort going from alloy to carbon bars. Carbon is good for damping out high frequency vibrations, but no better at helping absorb bigger hits. If your wrists are suffering, sounds like maybe your position is wrong (maybe bar shape/width?) or you need to set your forks up more suitably...
Personally, have moved from low rise Easton EA70's to Sunline V1's. I'm very fussy about bar shape, and don't get on with many, but if anything the Sunline V1's are an improvement to me! CRC were knocking em out cheap too recently.