flat road bars

[CannonChick]

Hi there.
I was at a bike shop in Vegas this week and saw some super-cool handlebars... they were flat on top, carbon fiber with the stem built in. I noticed that the pro racers dont seem to be using these. There must be a down side to this type of bar or the people that can afford them would be using them, right? At $500 a pop, I want to be sure they are worth the money... any input or experience with this type of bar?
thanks!

 

[gruppo]

With the built-in stem, they limit your options for changing the angle and height of your bars.

 

[gclark8]

Sounds like TT bars, like these? http://www.nytro.com/bike-tt-bars.html

 

[CannonChick]

Sounds like TT bars, like these? http://www.nytro.com/bike-tt-bars.html

nope, not tt bars, they were the shape of regular road bars but the top portion was flat instead of round.

 

[CannonChick]

With the built-in stem, they limit your options for changing the angle and height of your bars.

Ah! You're right, the angle of the bar can't be changed. Good point.