"psycholist" <
[email protected]> wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
>
> >
> > My impression....no disrespect to Peter (from whom I bought wheels) and others here who feel
> > that carbon does not offer dampening, but my
> experience
> > is quite the opposite.
> >
> > I weigh 130 lbs and ride an aluminum/carbon frame. I also have a touch of carpel tunnel
> > syndrome, I think from training for so many hours on my Spinning bike and leaning on my hands. I
> > bought the Rams because I have lusted after them for the last 2 years; not for any performance
> > benefit,
> but
> > for sheer art. I think they are the prettiest things I have ever seen (I know, my husband tells
> > me I am a complete bike whacker.)
> Cat,
>
> I'm with ya on the carbon bar thing. The difference when I installed my Easton carbon bars was
> quite evident. I know there are SOOOO many here who will refute my observation because I can't
> quantify it. But I have two bikes that formerly had identical aluminum bars. I still ride both
> bikes, but on the one I now have the carbon bars. The difference is quite remarkable and
> noticeable on the tar and gravel roads I ride daily.
>
> But I'm sure others who have never ridden carbon bars will know more about it than I do.
>
> Bob C.
Hi Guys, I'm looking forward to doing the research myself. I just put Easton EC90 carbon fiber bars
and an Easton EC70 CF seatpost on my steel LeMond Tourmalet. Unfortunately, it will be a month or
two, before I'll get the chance. I'm in Wisconsin and I have an older bike that I will ride in
Spring, when the roads are still showing traces of salt.
I bought the bars [I got a great deal on them, Ebay] for numerous reasons, including the low weight,
and the shape of the EC90. I have had some numbing problems in my hands and the angled shape towards
the hoods, helps me keep pressure off some of the nerves in my hands. If they help with vibration,
it would be one more benefit. Although I use the gel pads that come with Specialized Bar Phat, which
I'm sure do more for relieving vibration than the bars possibly could. And I usually wear gloves,
last year Pearl Izumi White Line and for this year, I think I'm going to try the PI Gel Lites. So
I've got the vibration situation, covered.
I bought the setpost[another great deal] for weight reduction and I like the amount of setback. With
my original post, I had the seat all the way back. With the EC70, it is more centered.
Another reason I bought both them, is that I really like the way they look, the whiz bang factor;-)
The bars are wrapped with tape, so only I, or someone in the know would even be aware of them and
what they are, doesn't matter. I feel good about them and they will make me want to ride, even more.
Except for the wheels, which I am going to have built by a pro, I have been doing all the install
work [bars, shifters, cables, crank, and BB] myself, so there has been a great deal of satisfaction
and pride there too. I've said it before, but whenever I look at this bike, it screams "RIDE ME"!
A steel bike with Bar Phat, CF bars and post, should make for a bike that rides like a dream. The
only thing lacking is a CF fork, but I am happy with the steel one, for the foreseeable future anyway;-
) I can hardly wait;-)
Life is Good! Jeff
