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I fancy trying some flared drops and the obvious ones seem to be cowbells. However the Ritchey equivalent can be had a bit cheaper and seems to be lighter so got me looking into other brands and I stumbled across the giant connect XRs, which are alot cheaper, lighter than salsa but don't specify how much flare, anyone use these, or can suggest anything different/better?
They'll be for my Cotic X which will be mainly for cross duties although once I sell my road bike the idea is to use it for both with a spare set of wheels.
Also what would dictate the width I should go for? Coming from mtb it seems logical to get as wide as possible, is that the case or does it depend on shoulder width or some other body measurement?
Cowbells are slightly flared, 12 degrees, a nice intro to flares and about the amount I like, (tried more, prefer less), if you want a cheap way to experiment the Giant Connect XR Drops are about £16 and actually a really really nice shape, a few mm less drop than cowbells, same reach and flare is about the same, not actually listed in the specs in degrees but looks almost identical to my eye.
EDIT - [url= https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/gear/product/2015.giant.connect.xr.drop.handlebar/572/62016/ ]https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/gear/product/2015.giant.connect.xr.drop.handlebar/572/62016/[/url]
or here [url= http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Connect-XR-Drop-Road-Handlebar_74864.htm ]http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Connect-XR-Drop-Road-Handlebar_74864.htm[/url]
Width will be personal preference, naturally it'll be narrower than any of your MTB bars, its a mix of anatomy and preference though. For Road 38cm-42cm is 'normal' <38 is 'narrow' and 44-48cm is 'wide', but for general purpose, CX and a bit of mixed surfaces people often go a bit wider so not unusual to see bars 2-4cm wider than you would run on the road, and with very flared designs even wider again.
One thing worth checking is how the widths are measured, some manufacturers measure centre-centre at the top, some centre-centre at the drops, and some measure outside-outside at the tops or drops so especially for flared bars check as you might not be getting what you think you are!
Thanks amedias, alot of info there! The bars on there atm are 44cm centre to centre and I wouldn't want any narrower so I'll stick with that size and try out the giants I think
Raced with inverted Soma Sparrow bars in a 48 cm. Hands only in one position, but it is a perfect position, angled at. About 45 degrees. I swapped stem to match. This for conversion of an mtb.
Looking at photos of race photos, I note hardly anyone riding on the drops, so my position is better than hoods but not as aero as the unused drops. Photos available on request 😉
I have a pair of Soma Junebugs on my cx / gravel bike if your thinking of other suggestions.
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/688/20007867483_4d38229962_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/688/20007867483_4d38229962_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/wu2xWt ]P1000429[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/82598458@N05/ ]jamesanderson2010[/url], on Flickr
Also the Luxy bar which is proper flared for proper drop bar mtbing!
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7543/15770891910_7ed82b9d3f_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7543/15770891910_7ed82b9d3f_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/q2BWHu ]december 003[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/82598458@N05/ ]jamesanderson2010[/url], on Flickr
Had Bell Laps (46cc=52 at the drops!) then 44 Cow Bells.Tbh I never rode on the drops when racing cx (apart from coming down Pen Y Ghent) so the flare was irrelevant.
Have got salsa woodchippers on my Dirty Disco (bought it used and they were on it) I was dubious thinking they were trendy/niche gimmick but have come round to loving them. Nice and comfy in all positions, and good control on and off road.
Midge bars on my cx, great for proper off road riding and technical bits, some people find the drop extension too short but it's never bothered me. Pretty marmite though in terms of look and feel.
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Less extreme, narrower Soma Portola on my road bike
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I have a set of Ritchey Evomax Comp bars on my Jamis Renegade, they have a 12 deg flare and to be honest I don't really notice the flare.
Comfy though.
Got some woodchippers, yet to fit, recently. They feel lovely whilst stood holding them in the kitchen.... I fear they may be too wide in reality. I didn't pay a great deal for them though, and should get my money back if they're not for me...
I've recently fitted a pair of genetic digest bars to my London Road.
Really comfy and I now use the drop part far more than the hoods which was all I used previously. They are very much like on-one midge bars but longer on the drop section so far more room. Pretty wide though so probably a no no for roadies but it's more of an all rounder for long Ridgeway rides.
Not a bad price at £35 ... Very light too.
Got cowbells on my >x< 