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Flatbar vs dropbar

Started by robalert · · Last activity · 11 posts · 1,909 views

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01 / Original postFlatbar vs dropbarrobalert · 7 Mar 2006 02 / This pagePosts 1–11Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #11gclark8 · 8 Mar 2006

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Original section
Australia and New Zealand
Published
7 March 2006
Last activity
8 March 2006
Original author
robalert
Posts
11
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Public discussion
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1,909
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Hydration

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  1. Original post
    robalert
    Archived post
    #1

    ok... here is a heated topic

    i own a CRX1 and wondering if there is any advantage to a drop bar... if so in what way?

    I have been riding with roadies and find there is little difference until I try to climb standing. I am finding even with barends, I am feeling cramped. Sitting and spinning is fine.

    I suppose it is all relative, and maybe I should just work on my fitness. On a recent Meadowbank to Bobbin Head ride, I had no probs keeping in front of the pack and climbing as well. Furthermore, my bro who is an avid enduro MTB rider, smoked everyone up the hills on his 12yr old Bianchi MTB running Panaracer Fire XC tyres!

    Since my bike is an 06, it is advantageous for me to sell soon if I upgrade to an OCR1

    The other thing I need to tell you, I have a preexisting back injury... that is why I originally bought a flat bar....

    Don't get me wrong, the flat bar is fast! and very stable downhills....

    some of the specs on the CRX is....
    compact cranks 34/50 FSA Gossamer
    Ultegra running gear
    R550 rims
    carbon forks
    carbon seat post...
    and i run 700x23C Maxxis UnCategorie for max speed

    ah yes, I was also wondering... how much difference would i notice from the OCR1's rear carbon triangle?

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  2. gclark8
    Archived post
    #2

    If you want to try drops, I have a spare pair of Road Ends:
    http://www.endless-innovations.com/mall/dynamic.asp?Category=BarEnds

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  3. roshea
    Archived post
    #3
    robalert said:

    i own a CRX1 and wondering if there is any advantage to a drop bar... if so in what way?

    I have been riding with roadies and find there is little difference until I try to climb standing. I am finding even with barends, I am feeling cramped. Sitting and spinning is fine.
    ......


    If by cramped you mean the width of the bar, I feel more cramped with drop bars on the road bike than with barends on the MTB. If you mean the length of the bars (ie how far you can reach forward), then maybe longer / curved barends is a better option for you.

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  4. Al R 1955
    Archived post
    #4

    [quote="robalert"]ok... here is a heated topic
    I have been riding with roadies and find there is little difference until I try to climb standing. I am finding even with barends, I am feeling cramped. Sitting and spinning is fine.
    QUOTE]

    Cause CRX has a short top tube. Blades have TT about 30 to 35 mm longer for = size bikes

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  5. gclark8
    Archived post
    #5
    Quoted post said:

    Cause CRX has a short top tube. Blades have TT about 30 to 35 mm longer for = size bikes

    Yea right, thats why I bought two Stem Risers (in black) today. One for a CRX 2 rider over 55!! The top tubes on All Giant and Avanti flat bar bikes are way too long for older riders!!

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  6. Al R 1955
    Archived post
    #6
    gclark8 said:

    Yea right, thats why I bought two of these (in black) today. One for a CRX 2 rider over 55!! The top tubes on All Giant and Avanti flat bar bikes are way too long for older riders!!

    I suppose I had better make the most of my "youth" cause 55 is only 5 years away.
    My blade will be worn out by then so will keep shorter TT in mind when the time comes.
    Is the attachment a handle bar riser??

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  7. nerdag
    Archived post
    #7
    robalert said:


    i own a CRX1 and wondering if there is any advantage to a drop bar... if so in what way?

    I have been riding with roadies and find there is little difference until I try to climb standing. I am finding even with barends, I am feeling cramped. Sitting and spinning is fine.


    Drops improve aerodynamics - provided you're travelling fast enough. A position in the drops reduces your frontal area dramatically over riding upright on the hoods.

    Hands gripping the hoods are useful for standing climbs (much like barends on a flat bar)... although I would imagine you'd feel more cramped on a narrower drop bar. I almost never climb in the drops - I find far more comfortable and efficient to climb on the hoods.

    robalert said:


    The other thing I need to tell you, I have a preexisting back injury... that is why I originally bought a flat bar....


    You could also quite easily set up a drop bar roadie to accomodate the back injury (choose a high rising stem), although you probably won't ride in the drops as much as you would do on the hoods, in which case you're kind of defeating the purpose of a drop bar roadie anyway.

    robalert said:


    ah yes, I was also wondering... how much difference would i notice from the OCR1's rear carbon triangle?


    Not much difference IMHO. It may feel more comfortable than an aluminium one, although I haven't felt any appreciable difference on the bikes I have tried.

    Maybe I just don't ride hard enough for it to matter much?

    HTH,

    nerdag

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  8. robalert
    Archived post
    #8
    gclark8 said:

    If you want to try drops, I have a spare pair of Road Ends:
    http://www.endless-innovations.com/mall/dynamic.asp?Category=BarEnds


    where do you get these from?

    the site doesn't seem to allow u to purchase

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  9. robalert
    Archived post
    #9

    man, is this overkill for a FBR... $4K

    specialized.comSBCBkModel.jsp

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  10. gclark8
    Archived post
    #10
    robalert said:

    where do you get these from?

    the site doesn't seem to allow u to purchase

    I called them on the phone, they shipped twice, so I have 2 pair.

    http://www.endless-innovations.com/mall/dynamic.asp?Category=BarEnds

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  11. gclark8
    Archived post
    #11
    robalert said:

    man, is this overkill for a FBR... $4K

    specialized.comSBCBkModel.jsp

    No its OK. We have Giant TCR carbon flat bar bikes over here. 😄
    They have Shimano Ultegra/R770 10 speed equipment.

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