Elantr025

Hi,
Im in the process of building up a Gunnar Sport with steel frame and now im trying to
decide on my handlebars. I am 5 11 170 and average size hands but want a bar with
a wide beefier grip on top, around the hoods. I am more a recreational biker and NOT a
racer.
What bars here are really popular choice for ideal comfort??

I was looking the Nitto 177 Noodle
Salsa Short and Shallow
Salsa Bell Lap

Or other suggestions would be appreciated!

Michael

gorshkov

whatever bars you g with, you can double-wrap the bars to increase the thickness and add more padding.

truman

I love my WTB mountain drops for multisurface touring and commuting.

positron

comfortable (properly set up and properly adjusted) bars shouldnt need extra padding unless you have abnormally large hands. I use leather on mine with no issues at all.

best bars IMO are randonneur bars or anything with an outward flare.

Cyclebum

1+

Stock handle bars are really not large enough for any but the smallest hands. Reminds me of steering wheel diameter on old cars. Double wrapped bars are much more ergonomically friendly for most hands. Real important when you're riding 5 or 6 hrs a day for days on end.

LeeG

Specialized gel wrap. I like regular road bars with shallow drop , flared, ergo, aero, rando, betto, zeppo, dingo bars don't do it for me.

https://www.specialized.com/zz/en/bc/...jsp?spid=56846

fietsbob

in Drop bars, Randonneur bend .. top surface comes up and offers shape conducive to hold there for hours, particularly if fattened up with padding like grab ons
on the tops..

or,

Trekking bars .. as a type.. all sorts of hand holds without the up and down.
a near and far, instead..
still can crouch in the headwinds. figure 8 bend.

ClemY

I prefer Nitto 115 bars. Pretty good reach, not too much drop, 45 cm wide.

cyccommute 

Riiight. Try dealing with the first three fingers on both hands being numb for 6 or 7 weeks. That's happened twice to me following tours. The last time was in 2003. I put Aztec Vibwrap under my tape in 2005 and haven't had any issues since.

Edit: Oops. It was the 3 outside fingers on both hands.

cyccommute 

The Bell Lap is the most comfortable bar I've used in a long time. It has a natural bend that puts your hands in a comfortable position when on the hoods. The transition from the top of the bar to the hoods also has a nice radius to it that seems more natural to me.

Booger1

Handlebars are like seats,you have to try them until you find one YOU like.Lots of people love drops,I hate them.

lubers

+1 on those WTB mountain drops I have them on both my bikes.

kayakdiver

I really like the FSA Omega Compact. Really comfortable touring bar for me. Shallow drop and comfortable bend when I do use the drops. It also has a really nice transition for my hands on the hoods. Tops are nice as well but not flat like the FSA Wing that I don't like.



FSA Omega Compact Road Bar

FSA (Full Speed Ahead) Omega Drop Handlebar. Shallow Drop bars with the newest-generation Compact Design for improved reach and performance with today's control levels. 4 degree outward bend.
Omega Compact
4 degree outward bend
Bar Clamp Diameter: 31.8 mm
Width Measurement: Center
Bar Reach: 80 mm
Bar Drop: 125 mm
Drop Bend Style: Round
Aero Bar/Cross Lever Diameter: 31.7/31.8
Bar Top Style: Round
Material: AL-6061-T6
Color: Black

fuzz2050

I just got back from a quick tour with my dirt drops, the Origin8 Gary bars, they resemble a more flared version of the WTB version, less drop, more flare and a wider base.

They were wonderfully comfortable off road, but got a little uncomfortable on road; I just couldn't get them set up high enough on my current bike for long term comfort.

It depends on what your doing, and what your preferences are. As booger said, just find what works for you.

tacomee

It's really a matter of personal choice, but I like the FSA compact bars as well.... and I also like the FSA headsets (orbit), stems, and seat posts. Don't get carbon... just the middle of the line alloy stuff. It's cheap, well made, and well designed. Go with the 31.8 mm bar.... it's stiffer and lighter than the the old 26 mm. Good luck with your build!

cyclist2000

I'm one of those people, I prefer my drop bars. my favorite are the FSA wing. I like the large flat area on top, this is very comfortable for me.

positron

I said properly set up.

you were compressing your median nerve which runs under the thenar muscle on the meat of your palm (base of thumb).

this happened because you were supporting too much weight with your hands.

raise your bars and move your seat back a bit. (or keep too much weight on your hands and add padding to spread out the pressure, thus alleviating the neuropathy you describe)

your solution is like telling people with numb testicles to get a squishier seat.
my solution is to set up the seat properly...

Just saying.

valygrl

I really hated the Salsa Short & Shallow's "ergo" bump in the bends. Did the opposite of what it's supposed to, made my hands go to sleep.

I like the bar shape that came on my Trek 520, with a flat section in the bends. (Looks like they have since changed them, too bad.) Same shape as on my road bike, which are these Easton bars
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&langId=-1&catalogId=10551&productId=1086806&cm_mmc=$%28referrer%29$-_-Bike%20Parts%20&%20Components-_-EASTON-_-50-7763&CSE=GooglePS&mr:trackingCode=60120E2E-503A-DF11-BAA3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

I agree w/Booger1 - it's trial and error finding the ones you like. at 5' 11" you probably don't need short and shallow dimensions on your bar.

cyccommute 

Sorry but the bike is properly set up. Yes, I know all about not supporting too much weight with my hands, holding myself up with my abdominal muscles and my saddle is already as far back as it can go. The saddle is also dead level.

Compression isn't the only, or even main, cause of cyclist palsy. It is also caused by vibration and inflammation of the ulnar nerve which runs under the arm from the outer 3 fingers to the elbow. The inflammation occurs at the wrist or the elbow. Dampening the vibration goes a long way towards alleviation of the problem. Thin tape or thin padding on the bars does little to dampen vibration and you can't really hold your self up with your abdominals all day.

Yes, the adjustment is part of solving the problem but so is padding. Telling people otherwise...to use your analogy...is to tell them to get rid of the saddle to solve the numb testicles problem. But then numb testicles have never been an issue for me when riding. Numbness in the nether regions is usually further forward... at the end of the dangly bits.

BigBlueToe

Okay, that's just too much information.

Bike Hermit

The On One Midge bar is my all time favorite. Very ergonomic position for the hands on the hoods. Super wide with a shallow drop. The bars accept bar end shifters, but the dropped part of the bar is not very long making it sort of hard to ride in the drops.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/45715354@N06/4210970255/in/set-72157622939076367/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/45715354@N06/4210968413/in/set-72157622939076367/
Also like the shape of the Nitto Dirt Drop. Kind of narrow on the top though, I wish I had gone with the wider version.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/45715354@N06/5370676080/

fietsbob

If you run Brifters, then the bar in # 13 is made for them.

nun

A nice wide set of Nitto Noodles with a good quality wrap, Fizik or Brooks if you want to get retro/expensive. Some put gel underneath some don't. Try it both ways

tacomee

One more thought about bars on a light touring bike (also something to think about on a loaded tour bike as well. How the bar is might be way more important than the shape of the bar. Personally I set my hoods level with the top of the saddle... higher than most of my roadie buddies. But I also use shallow drop bars and ride much of the time in the drops (many roadies set their bars way lower and never use the drops)

It's really about your body and riding style.

Maybe you can get help setting up the bike from your LBS? Getting professional help fitting a good bike, and your Gunnar Sport is very good bike, is a great idea. Good luck!

sstorkel

For drop bars, I've found nothing that works as well as the 3T Ergosum and Ergonova handlebars.

I originally started buying them because they were rumored to be a bit less stiff (= more comfortable) and quite a bit lighter than the FSA Omega Compact. I dunno about the stiffness part, but they sure are nice! Managed to score a carbon set of Ergosum bars for $80 during a sale: they look stunning, but there's no way they're worth the retail price...