ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 03/03/2014 07:58 PM |
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Is there any standard of measurement for comparing road bars? For instance, Zipp specs reach, drop, ramp angle, dropout sweep. I'm not sure what these all refer to or if manufacturers have apples to apples terms for spec'ing handlebars. What I really want to do is compare bars without having to physically see them to narrow down to one or two models. Ultimately what I want is a bar with an ergo hook (a flat section in the curve) and a long tail in the dropout. These seem to be mutually exclusive on what I can see in a shop. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 03/03/2014 08:15 PM |
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This will be an interesting thread to me, too.
In my experience, there is no DIN or ISO for bars. Even bar width, which should be the most reproducible measurement, varies, e.g. center to center vs. outside edge to outside edge. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 03/03/2014 08:40 PM |
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Chinook, that's "road bar measurement standards", plural. That "s" is important. The bicycle world could never survive on just one standard. 
Ben |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/04/2014 10:38 AM |
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Chinook.....unfortunately, there is no single "standard" as Ben notes. Some companies measure width center-to-center, some outside to outside, etc. Some have flare on their drops, others don't. Some have bars that are slightly swept back on the tops, others are dead straight.
All of these variations impact overall dimensions, especially when everyone uses different standards.
As for your goal of a flat section in the drops AND a long tail section extending from it.....good luck. I don't think such a thing actually exists. Problem comes back to geometry. You have a somewhat confined, adn loosely defined, space in which to work. You can't make bars too long, front to back, because you will start knocking your knees into them. When you use a flat / ergo section in the drops, you are effectively "cutting the corner". IOW, instead of going "out and around" like a classic bend, you are doing a straight(er) line between two points. But that doesn't allow you to then keep the tail section length the same as a classic bend.....otherwise youa re gonna start taling tissue samples of people's knees.
Hopefully I explained that OK....did that make sense? |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 03/04/2014 11:29 AM |
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Yeah, I understand why. Though I'm also quite sure I won't be in danger of scraping skin if my bars were a cm longer. Probably a more gradual transition out of the "ergo" part of the bars would be fine. I'm leaning toward the zipp sc 80 but haven't fondled one yet.
should be an improvement over what I have now:
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/04/2014 11:33 AM |
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Yeah, that looks like a good compromise. I like the looks of that bar.
I ahve a pair of Ritchey WCS right now that I have been very happy with....but I also spend almost zero time on the area you are concerened about. I'm either in the drops or on the tops or levers. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 03/04/2014 12:00 PM |
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I got a kick out of this description on CC:
"The drops have a 2 degree outward bend for more wrist comfort, which also minimizes bruised forearms while sprinting." |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 03/04/2014 12:01 PM |
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| All the different bends and drops and reaches is a big reason why I would never drop $$$ on a carbon bar. It is such a personal, fluid thing for me. |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 03/04/2014 01:59 PM |
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Keith, even bigger - I will never, ever have an integral bar/stem! (To get the bars just right, you have to rotate the whole bike? Yeah, you can adjust the seat to compensate, but keeping that rear wheel in the rotated position, 6" off the ground, is really hard.)
Ben |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 03/04/2014 02:24 PM |
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| The bar/stem combo just seemed to defeat the purpose. |
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| -----
It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Pin0Q0
Posts:229
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| 03/04/2014 02:28 PM |
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So it all points to the angle of elbows right? Then wouldn't height of the stem play a key role also? I say this because I've never paid attention to angle of the bar but instead focused on height, as I tend to find riding in the drops to be much more comfortable than riding on the hood, but the height has to be exact, and I usually achieve this with spacers at the stem so my elbow will measure about an inch away from my knee when pedal is at noon.
Width of bar is another story and is relative to shoulder width. Again at noon I've been told that you knee should be in line with your elbow. If elbow is inside of knee you are collapsing your lung and if outside you are putting too much weight on the wrist.
I am sure someone will correct me, but that has been my golden rule that has always worked for me, and hence why there are so many different standards.
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 03/04/2014 03:46 PM |
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Pin0Q0....it is all about personal comfort.
Boonen's position looks terrible to me. But obviously it works for him. The rules are designed to get you close, but it is up to the individual to really dial in their position. |
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| -----
It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Pin0Q0
Posts:229
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| 03/04/2014 04:21 PM |
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| Just sayin......technology makes you think, but it's emotions that make you react |
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