Zipp's Service Course XPLR 70 come in silver and are short reach/shallow drop. (70/115). I chose this bar as I'm using a long body Tektro brake lever(341) and my frames have a longer than usual reach. So with this riding with my hands on the top/middles is as entirely comfortable as the hoods and the drops as I still have lots of reach to stretch out in all positions. The middle is oval shaped and has a slight 4-5d flare back to it. Subtle but noticeable. I just can't see going back to a rounded middle type of bar. I also bought a Ritchey Skyline Comp(black only) which has a similar ergo top and small drop/reach, but haven't used them yet. These change in reach/drop slightly per width.
Zipp has some some other silver drop bars too. I'd like to try them all, but you know how that goes ...... The Tektro 341 "compact" lever has the same full body as the 340, but the lever itself is shaped different so it's easier to grab in the drops. They're marketed for small-er hands, but I find they mate perfectly with shallow drop bars, and I have XL hands. I'm not a fan of the bent/offset levers though as I think it flares out too much. It seems a solution to a non-existent problem, and creates a problem in doing so, doh ! As for the saddle position, sheesh. Well everything I ever thought about positioning oneself over the BB has been shown to be folly, so about all I can say is if you get the urge to move forward, just do it and see what happens. :-) On Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 8:23:11 PM UTC-5 ian m wrote: > If you, like me, prefer Nitto to all alternatives check out the M151. I > believe Soma sells that model as well. > > On Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 5:58:50 PM UTC-5 eitanz...@gmail.com > wrote: > >> You guys have given me multiple good handlebar suggestions! I think I >> will rule out the Specialized bars though, as they seem to come in black >> only. That's fine for the Breezer but for this bike, I really want silver. >> Looks like both the Ritchey Venturemax and VO Randonneur are both 31.8mm >> only. The Soma Highway One is available in 26mm--so by process of >> elimination may be the winner... >> >> --Eitan >> Los Angeles >> >> >> >> On Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 2:18:22 PM UTC-8 Elisabeth Sherwood >> wrote: >> >>> Oh, btw, for those who need to find something with absolutely the >>> shortest reach possible (and are okay with black handlebars and a 31.8mm >>> handlebar clamp), Specialized "Short Reach" bars have a 65mm reach! (And >>> the rest of the lovely shape as the Hover and Shallow Bend handlebars...) >>> They only come in 36cm, 38cm, and 40cm widths (which probably works fine >>> for most people who need ridiculously short-reach bars!) >>> >>> >>> https://www.specialized.com/us/en/short-reach-handlebars/p/156040?color=230922-156040 >>> >>> Cheers! >>> >>> Liz >>> Washington DC >>> >>> >>> >>> On Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 5:13:57 PM UTC-5 Elisabeth Sherwood >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I second Patrick's thoughts on the saddle position -- don't adjust for >>>> reach using the saddle position! Rather, get the saddle where you want it >>>> and then figure out how to get the bars in the right position. >>>> >>>> But, re. the Specialized Hover bars, don't forget that they feature >>>> 15mm of rise, while Eitan is finding that his handlebars are already too >>>> high! >>>> >>>> The Specialized Expert Alloy Shallow Bend bar features the same shape >>>> and 75mm reach of the Hover, but without the rise... But it remains less >>>> than ideal on a Riv because it's available only in black and with a 31.8mm >>>> clamp diameter. >>>> >>>> For that reason, I always return to the Soma Highway One handlebar! >>>> Available in silver, and in 26.0mm clamp diameters! (Same 75mm reach as >>>> the >>>> Specialized bars...) >>>> >>>> Liz >>>> Washington, DC >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 2:27:41 PM UTC-5 Patrick Moore wrote: >>>> >>>>> Ethan: Two suggestions: >>>>> >>>>> 1. Don't use saddle adjustment to adjust your bar. Get your saddle >>>>> where it should be for greatest comfort and pedaling efficiency -- saddle >>>>> height and setback in relation to the bottom bracket or crank axle is >>>>> where >>>>> I start my setup -- and then determine from saddle position where your >>>>> bar >>>>> should be, and choose stem and bar to suit. >>>>> >>>>> 2. For the ultimate in shortness and shallowness in a drop bar >>>>> (narrowness too, it seems), take a look at the Specialized Hover bar: >>>>> https://www.specialized.com/us/en/hover-expert-alloy-handlebars--15mm-rise/p/156001?color=230548-156001 >>>>> >>>>> It's ugly but it has essentially no ramps because the reach is so >>>>> short and it has a very shallow drop *with* a 15 mm rise at the stem >>>>> clamp. I used one of these on my erstwhile Medium 2012 Monocog (gave it >>>>> to >>>>> a friend) to get a drop bar more or less comfortable on a frame with (by >>>>> my >>>>> road standard) an immensely too long top tube (59.6 cm versus my >>>>> preferred >>>>> 56 or 57 cm). I tried it with several stems (expensive even with generic >>>>> MVS or whatever they were stems), going from 17* 9 cm to 30 or 35* 7 cm. >>>>> Still a wee bit far but much, much better. I went thru this bar and stem >>>>> contortion because even a Hover bar (mine was 44 cm) a cm or 2 too far >>>>> away >>>>> was better than any non-drop bar I could find. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 8:14:49 PM UTC-5 Ethan K wrote: >>>>> ... I already have the seat forward on the rails, btw. I will swap >>>>> the stem this weekend and see how that goes. Next would be handlebars, >>>>> going shorter reach and also narrower. (sounds like I shouldn't be afraid >>>>> of going even shorter.) I'm currently running a 46cm Noodle, which feels >>>>> wide in addition to long. When I swapped bars on the Breezer, I went with >>>>> shorter AND narrower, going from 44-42, and both of those changes helped >>>>> a >>>>> lot. >>>>> >>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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