Not only do these bars come in an array of widths ranging from 38 to 44cm (c-c), but the reach is quite moderate at 77mm and the drop is a comfortable 123mm. This means that the top of the bars are egg or tear-drop shaped, which is intended to give your hands a flatter, more comfortable surface to hold onto. The Ergonova Pro shares the same shape and drop characteristics that you'll find in the Team and LTD versions. And beyond the price issue, you get the supreme reliability of its AL7075 alloy construction, which keeps the weight reasonable at 265g (42mm width) while offering all the piece of mind that goes hand in hand with alloy bars. The Pro level offers the ideal balance between top-flight performance and feet-on-ground price. By carefully shaping the tubing to fit the shape of your hand in its various positions on the handlebars, the Ergonova provides a more comfortable perch for your paws during every stage of your ride. The 3T Ergonova Pro Alloy Handlebar does just that. With the ability to shape aluminum tubing just about any way they want, bicycle component manufacturers can shape aluminum to do amazing things, like reducing fatigue after hours in the saddle. You really can’t go wrong either way.Aluminum tubing has come a long way since the days when you could only get it in three shapes: round, round, or round. The only downside? The same bend can be had (along with another 30g or so, but without the flattened tops) in the $45 Omega Compact bars. Against $300+ carbon bars, the FSAs’ roughly $95 price tag makes them look like a bargain. While they can’t offer the vibration damping potential of a carbon bar, the invention popularization of wider rims, 25c tires, and more comfort-oriented frames makes this much less of an issue than it was even five years ago. While fit is inherently personal, I feel like FSA have really nailed the shape of these bars. The bars mate nicely with SRAM’s (previous generation) hoods and the drops’ ever-increasing radii provide plenty of hand positions on longer rides. The relatively shallow drops makes the transition from the tops or hoods less dramatic- and means that I spend more time tucked out of the wind than I would with a deeper bar. Ultimately, it’s the 125mm drop and slight (4 degree) flare that have made love the Energy Compact bars. Given their width, the bar’s graphics disappear under the tape, but that’s a minor complaint. The 31.8mm clamping section is a nice, accessory-friendly 120mm wide, and transitions comfortably to a semi-flat top. Despite coming in the bar’s widest width (44cm), our sample weighed in at 274g: 5g more than claimed for the 42 and within 40g of the brand’s $350 SL-K carbon bar. The real attraction here, however, is the Energy bar. While it may not be an obvious upgrade, the $100 Energy a no-brainer and should be considered before splashing out on bigger-name alternatives. Despite a weight that would put most carbon stems to shame, the Energy is most impressive for its stiffness- it is noticeably stiffer than the OEM Ibis stem it replaced. The matte/polished graphics are handsome- though a more neutral color option might be nice for some of the brighter bikes now available. 3D forged out of 2014 aluminum, the stem should be stronger than a similar-weight machined model (and kinder on the knees). And what better compliment to a nice new set of bars than a light, stiff matching stem? Hit the jump for more on FSA’s best alloy set.Ĭomplete with titanium hardware, our 100mm Energy stem hit the scales at an impressive 113g. While I hadn’t thought much about FSA’s aluminum offerings, the raves of a local shop owner about the near-perfect shape of the company’s shallow-drop Compact bars had me taking a closer look. Better still, giving racing’s appetite for handlebar destruction, going with metal ‘bars could even be considered Pro than destroying a set of carbon bars in your regular Tuesday night pileup crit. After all, it takes some time to decide if a bar’s bend is right for you- and several hundred dollars is a big commitment if things don’t work out. April 22 Update: Brifter and bar angles fixed!Īs much as we would all love to be riding around on carbon fiber wunderbars and unobtanium stems, our fiscal realities often dictate more… defensible purchases.
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