Handlebars, cable routing etc.

Chris M said:

I started to use Deda 215 bars a long time ago, so long I am not even
sure what I used before. I think it was a Super Italia 260 by TTT or
ITM, but for sure I can't remember whether it had any grooves I am
sure it had at least one...

So, the dual groove Deda bars make routing very easy. Using aluminum
ferrules also adds to the flexibility of the configuration.

What I am thinking about is the Ergo (Campy) brifters that allow
running one or both off the cables along the front, where I would
prefer both in the back. I have been wrapping some custom shaped
spacing material to shape the grip in a tear-drop shape with the
trailing edge being where the extra build up gives me a more
comfortable shape to grip and rest my palms in.

The 2 things I want to ask about are whether there are any ways to
route the cable both along the trailing edge of the bars and the other
question is whether there are any products or ideas about augmenting
the shapes along the bar to shape it more like a molded carbon fiber
bar or at least to allow me ot shape it with the wedge shape I want. I
think I remember that there were some shims sold years ago when the
first "ergo" bends became popular. I do not care of the shapes that
reduce the variety of alternate bends as they seem to provide 2 or 3
"perfect" shapes but they also kill all of the possible positions in
between. A classic bed is fine with me and the only thing that makes
me want to improve upon the shape is the molded carbon fiber bars. Its
hard to swallow spending $200 or even more to get a shape that I want
and totaling along an extra few ounces that seem like a waste. I
actually had an idea for a bar design that is shaped like the ZIPP
ultra-light bars (around 160 grams) and the bar would include some
very light wedges that would alter the shape in to some of the more
comfortable moded shapes. This way you have the best of both worlds of
CF bars, an ultra-light that can be converted to the shape of a
different model and it would still be lighter than a typical molded CF
bar. It seems as though there are only a few bars that come close to
the Deda 215 (which I have in the traditional or deep bend (I can't
recall, it is not the Ergo bend, I just know that I am comfortable on
the tops and the drops no matter where I positions my hands. It must
be the shallow drop judging by how easy it is to get comfortable on
the drops with a fairly low bar height as measured from the top of the
bars).

Anyhow, I am looking for idea about shaping the bar either by re-
routing the second sable on the trailing edge and or using some kind
of sensible shim.

TIA

On a related note, I use synthetic cork tape and recycle it after
running it through laundry machine. Profile and similar works great. I
would like to find a solid red or red and black marbled colors. Any
suggestions would also be appreciated.

Chris M said:

I started to use Deda 215 bars a long time ago, so long I am not even
sure what I used before. I think it was a Super Italia 260 by TTT or
ITM, but for sure I can't remember whether it had any grooves I am
sure it had at least one...

So, the dual groove Deda bars make routing very easy. Using aluminum
ferrules also adds to the flexibility of the configuration.

What I am thinking about is the Ergo (Campy) brifters that allow
running one or both off the cables along the front, where I would
prefer both in the back. I have been wrapping some custom shaped
spacing material to shape the grip in a tear-drop shape with the
trailing edge being where the extra build up gives me a more
comfortable shape to grip and rest my palms in.

The 2 things I want to ask about are whether there are any ways to
route the cable both along the trailing edge of the bars and the other
question is whether there are any products or ideas about augmenting
the shapes along the bar to shape it more like a molded carbon fiber
bar or at least to allow me ot shape it with the wedge shape I want. I
think I remember that there were some shims sold years ago when the
first "ergo" bends became popular. I do not care of the shapes that
reduce the variety of alternate bends as they seem to provide 2 or 3
"perfect" shapes but they also kill all of the possible positions in
between. A classic bed is fine with me and the only thing that makes
me want to improve upon the shape is the molded carbon fiber bars. Its
hard to swallow spending $200 or even more to get a shape that I want
and totaling along an extra few ounces that seem like a waste. I
actually had an idea for a bar design that is shaped like the ZIPP
ultra-light bars (around 160 grams) and the bar would include some
very light wedges that would alter the shape in to some of the more
comfortable moded shapes. This way you have the best of both worlds of
CF bars, an ultra-light that can be converted to the shape of a
different model and it would still be lighter than a typical molded CF
bar. It seems as though there are only a few bars that come close to
the Deda 215 (which I have in the traditional or deep bend (I can't
recall, it is not the Ergo bend, I just know that I am comfortable on
the tops and the drops no matter where I positions my hands. It must
be the shallow drop judging by how easy it is to get comfortable on
the drops with a fairly low bar height as measured from the top of the
bars).

Anyhow, I am looking for idea about shaping the bar either by re-
routing the second sable on the trailing edge and or using some kind
of sensible shim.

Although much is made of cable grooves as a "feature", plain bars work
fine with Ergo if you have modern padded cork tape. We use regular clear
packing tape to keep the casings from drifting during wrap.

Nothing wrong with grooves but their omission shouldn't keep you from
riding.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Chris M said:

I started to use Deda 215 bars a long time ago, so long I am not even
sure what I used before. I think it was a Super Italia 260 by TTT or
ITM, but for sure I can't remember whether it had any grooves I am
sure it had at least one...

So, the dual groove Deda bars make routing very easy. Using aluminum
ferrules also adds to the flexibility of the configuration.

What I am thinking about is the Ergo (Campy) brifters that allow
running one or both off the cables along the front, where I would
prefer both in the back. I have been wrapping some custom shaped
spacing material to shape the grip in a tear-drop shape with the
trailing edge being where the extra build up gives me a more
comfortable shape to grip and rest my palms in.

The 2 things I want to ask about are whether there are any ways to
route the cable both along the trailing edge of the bars and the other
question is whether there are any products or ideas about augmenting
the shapes along the bar to shape it more like a molded carbon fiber
bar or at least to allow me ot shape it with the wedge shape I want. I
think I remember that there were some shims sold years ago when the
first "ergo" bends became popular. I do not care of the shapes that
reduce the variety of alternate bends as they seem to provide 2 or 3
"perfect" shapes but they also kill all of the possible positions in
between. A classic bed is fine with me and the only thing that makes
me want to improve upon the shape is the molded carbon fiber bars. Its
hard to swallow spending $200 or even more to get a shape that I want
and totaling along an extra few ounces that seem like a waste. I
actually had an idea for a bar design that is shaped like the ZIPP
ultra-light bars (around 160 grams) and the bar would include some
very light wedges that would alter the shape in to some of the more
comfortable moded shapes. This way you have the best of both worlds of
CF bars, an ultra-light that can be converted to the shape of a
different model and it would still be lighter than a typical molded CF
bar. It seems as though there are only a few bars that come close to
the Deda 215 (which I have in the traditional or deep bend (I can't
recall, it is not the Ergo bend, I just know that I am comfortable on
the tops and the drops no matter where I positions my hands. It must
be the shallow drop judging by how easy it is to get comfortable on
the drops with a fairly low bar height as measured from the top of the
bars).

Anyhow, I am looking for idea about shaping the bar either by re-
routing the second sable on the trailing edge and or using some kind
of sensible shim.

TIA

Hi there.

I have a drop bar with out grooves on which I mounted some Rego
levers. I have the 2 cables on the front of the housing. They fit the
bend of my fingers better than the grooved bar did. Hold your hand as
if you are gripping the bar. Look at the hand from the side. Notice
that the fingers do NOT have a perfectly smooth curve on the inside.
The middle section is where my cables rest. It feels very comfortable
and natural.

BTW, I did not have any bar wrap when I put those Ergos on that bike.
So I cut an old mtb inner tube in half lengthwise and used that as bar
wrap. It looks pretty good and is very comfortable and gives a good
grip. It looks almost like an extension of the Ergo hoods.

Cheers from Peter