[Closed] Carbon bars and maybe rims...sorry road again

Carbon bars: Maybe, expensive though

Carbon rims: I doubt it.

Decent bar tape and 28mm tyres at sensible pressures would be my suggestion.

(Assuming you've already tried your current tyres at sensible pressures...)

Bars will soften the ride, but not as well as extra bar tape or gel strips.
Wheels will more than likely make it worse.

Ok, I've got 28mm tyres at 90psi?.....i know that carbon bars helped on my MTBs...I'll maybe try them and better tape...and gel pads??

Raise your bars and bring them a little closer. Carbon bars will help, i dont use padded gloves but have a good position to take the weight off my wrists

Carbon rims will have no effect. A carbon seatpost will provide an improvement, however.

I wanted wider bars so figured I may as well go for carbon, 44cm bontrager race x lites with 2.5mm lizard skins DSP tape makes for a very comfy combo.

You can merrily drop below 90 psi in 28s unless you're really heavy or you're riding continuous potholes

pipiom - Member
Ok, I've got 28mm tyres at 90psi?.....i know that carbon bars helped on my MTBs...I'll maybe try them and better tape...and gel pads??

One thing at a time, see what works. What offers value for money vs snake oil.

I weigh 77kg, I can happily run my 28's at 70psi rear, 60psi front,

'Carbon' isn't magic, some cfrp parts are built to be flexy, some parts are built to be brutally stiff. It's not always easy to know what the designer had in mind... (If you can't try before you buy, it'll be an expensive gamble)

I use normally use 37mm road tyres and have been using 28s for the past 2 weeks. Just gone back to the 37s and it's like a magic carpet!

Maybe a tubeless setup? 65Kg and can happily run 25mm tyres at 60psi.

I didn't notice a huge improvement with a carbon bar.

'Carbon' isn't magic, some cfrp parts are built to be flexy, some parts are built to be brutally stiff. It's not always easy to know what the designer had in mind... (If you can't try before you buy, it'll be an expensive gamble)

This...

In the case of rims, I'm yet to come across a carbon rim that isn't trying to be as stiff as it possibly can. Carbon bars can often add a little comfort, carbon rims will usually take some away...

Assuming the fit on the bike is correct (this is way more important than anything else), then first try gel pads under some nice gel backed bartape, drop your tyre pressures a bit, and see how that feels. Carbon bars will make a difference but for the cost it's barely worth it to be honest.

If you're looking at changing your wheels anyway, there are "comfy" wheels and stiff/direct/harsh wheels out there. I'd avoid Fulcrum/Campag wheels if I wanted comfort, where Shimano wheels tend to have a softer/smoother ride in my experience. Tubeless helps quite a bit too!

How are you suffering? Where?

Cheers all, I've ordered the Giant Contact SLR bars and new tape for a start......I'll also reduce PSI a bit,see if that helps.
My bike has a carbon seat post,so that's covered.
Need to try everything because it's all a bit painful around the op site after yesterday's 51 miler (Manx roads don't help I fear)
Anyway thank you all for your sagelike as usual.

The other question is whether it's actually vibration that's the issue (if it is, then as recommended lower tyre pressures will help more than anything else). Maybe worth looking at your riding position.

If you don't mind me asking, what and where was the op - it might make a difference?

Op was on my shoulder, tore my bicep ligament high up, so that had to be cut and repositioned on my upper arm (tenodesis). And I had a straight through tear,about 4cm long, of my rotator cuff. So it's all screwed and sutured (op was July 13th)

Was worth asking then - a shorter and higher stem giving a higher position should put less load on that area (more load on your bum and you'll be less aero and slower, but those seem less important for now).

Cheers, that could be my next step, as I've got all sorts of other,neck/shoulder,issues as well. That's why my MTB's are raked to the max (not because I'm any sort of gravity rider)......I've got 2,rapidly crumbling, vertebrae, so a relaxed,more upright,stance is less painful.

Cheers, that could be my next step, as I've got all sorts of other,neck/shoulder,issues as well. That's why my MTB's are raked to the max (not because I'm any sort of gravity rider)......I've got 2,rapidly crumbling, vertebrae, so a relaxed,more upright,stance is less painful.

I would be looking to take the weight of your arms. When you ride on the hoods is there any Bend in your elbows? If not then your bars are too far away and possibly too low. I would start with a 1cm shorter stem on your new bars - and very nice they are too. I have them on two bikes. A shorter stem and raising even slightly can have big effects on comfort

I'm going to do just that TiRed, I've got two stems to try, one is 1cm shorter, so spot on for first shot.

If you haven't already I'd strongly recommend a bikefit. I spent £180 on a Retul fit earlier this year and it was the best use of money for riding I've ever had.
Foot position was tweaked, including shimming cleats so my knees track well. Saddle position changed but the biggest change was bar and control positions.
Pre fit I'd get lower back, neck & knee pain after about 3 hours but post fit as well as a 2mph increase in my average over my usual 40 mile loop consistently, I don't get any of those aches and pains. Even a 6hr 100miler with over 6000 ft of vertical ascending didn't trouble me other than tired legs & I'm pretty sure that's entirely down to the changes in position.

I had the bike fitted/adjusted just after I bought it at my LBS. I'm just trying to reduce the stress on my knackered old body.

A deep section carbon rims will make the wheel stiffer - a wider rim, fatter tyres and running tubeless is better. All the carbon road bars I've had made for a harsher ride as they're designed to be stiffer. Gel tape and mitts would be better.