Bar none...

Unbelievably said:

...🙄

What does one look for in handlebars?

How does one choose when the market is washed over
with IMO, too many choices...😕

The K-Wing is sooooo sexy!!

Xsmoker said:

The K-Wing is sooooo sexy!!

I couldn't agree more.
However,
If I was to pay such a price tag,
I'd be waiting till next fall for my wheel set...:o

Unbelievably said:

How does one choose when the market is washed over
with IMO, too many choices...

It helps if you know what type of bend you like (anatomic or traditional) and how deep of a bend you like.

Something stiff and tested, like Ritchey or Deda (Oh yeah, Chrissie present is Newton bar/stem, thanks eric (you wouldn't know him)). Ignore the weight. I also think the K Wing is beautiful. I am a fan of matte finishing.

Anyone with an opinion of what might make for a "classic" look?

Unbelievably said:

...🙄

What does one look for in handlebars?

How does one choose when the market is washed over
with IMO, too many choices...😕

Material
Width
Clamp Diameter
Drop Height
Style (Italian bend versus ergo)
Looks
Price

I go thru the above criteria with the last 4 not necessarily in that order.
With my current bar I ended up with a carbon- 42cm-O/S-medium drop-ergo-silver weave-flat top-$102 SRP bar.

Unbelievably said:

What does one look for in handlebars?

I'm probably still in the middle of my personal quest for the "best" handlebar ... but, what I look for is how my (Campangolo) shifters fit when the lower portion is positioned at the angle that I prefer -- not all bars are "equal" in this regard ...

I'm leaning toward going back to using a Cinelli 64 ... it's not the best, but it's a bar whose bend(s) I know ... the OTHER bars are not consistent in how wide the brake-mounting area is relative to their specified width ... and, most shops don't have the variety one needs to get a true idea; so, I (personally) have to resort to mail order and trial-and-error experimentation.

FWIW. For ergonomic bars, I must like ITM bars because I have five of them!

alfeng said:

I'm probably still in the middle of my personal quest for the "best" handlebar ... but, what I look for is how my (Campangolo) shifters fit when the lower portion is positioned at the angle that I prefer -- not all bars are "equal" in this regard ...

I'm leaning toward going back to using a Cinelli 64 ... it's not the best, but it's a bar whose bend(s) I know ... the OTHER bars are not consistent in how wide the brake-mounting area is relative to their specified width ... and, most shops don't have the variety one needs to get a true idea; so, I (personally) have to resort to mail order and trial-and-error experimentation.

FWIW. For ergonomic bars, I must like ITM bars because I have five of them!

Some bars flair out a bit in the drops, for example I had a set of 3TTT's 44 o-o that were 43 cm at the hoods and 44 in the drops. My Ritchey 42 (c-c) where noticeably wider at the hoods where I spend most of my time. IMHO, a bar is about as personal as a pair of ski boots. Sure, you'll get used to anything after a while, but nothing is better than having a perfect fit right from the start. I like Ritchey WCS, because with my Campy levers, I can set it up so the bar and the hoods make a perfect fit for my hands. I don't love there super ergo (humpy) drops of a few years ago, but the newer ergo shape is much better feeling. Try a few, and don't get hung up on brands. All the major manufacturers make a nice light stiff bar (3TTT, Cinelli, Deda, Ritchey, FSA, Oval, Easton etc..). Find one that suits you.

PeterF said:

Some bars flair out a bit in the drops, for example I had a set of 3TTT's 44 o-o that were 43 cm at the hoods and 44 in the drops. My Ritchey 42 (c-c) where noticeably wider at the hoods where I spend most of my time. IMHO, a bar is about as personal as a pair of ski boots. Sure, you'll get used to anything after a while, but nothing is better than having a perfect fit right from the start. I like Ritchey WCS, because with my Campy levers, I can set it up so the bar and the hoods make a perfect fit for my hands. I don't love there super ergo (humpy) drops of a few years ago, but the newer ergo shape is much better feeling. Try a few, and don't get hung up on brands. All the major manufacturers make a nice light stiff bar (3TTT, Cinelli, Deda, Ritchey, FSA, Oval, Easton etc..). Find one that suits you.

I forgot ITM. Fantastic brand as well.

Reynolds Anatomic CF bar is muy nice. And I'm about to switch to a Modolo Kurvissima KX in a custom bonded stem/bar thingee.

Ritchey Biomax II: blows serious chunder.
Zipp bars: nice, but they have too much drop for my tastes.

As for the "wing" type bars.....I don't see the benefit to such bars. The wing shaped tops can definitely limit where you place your brifters and the degree to which you can roll the bars.

alienator said:

Reynolds Anatomic CF bar is muy nice. And I'm about to switch to a Modolo Kurvissima KX in a custom bonded stem/bar thingee.

Ritchey Biomax II: blows serious chunder.
Zipp bars: nice, but they have too much drop for my tastes.

As for the "wing" type bars.....I don't see the benefit to such bars. The wing shaped tops can definitely limit where you place your brifters and the degree to which you can roll the bars.

I don't use aero bars when I ride but the flat top bars particularly like the K-Wing I used this summer felt incredibly comfortable when I hung my forearms out over the bars. Made me kick myself for staying with round bars as long as I did...

JS

bobbyOCR said:

Something stiff and tested, like Ritchey or Deda (Oh yeah, Chrissie present is Newton bar/stem, thanks eric (you wouldn't know him)). Ignore the weight. I also think the K Wing is beautiful. I am a fan of matte finishing.

how important is the .1mm difference between Deda bars/stems vs. the other major brands. Would it be okay to pair a Ritchey WCS OS stem 31.8 with a Deda 31.7 bar?

jrstevens said:

how important is the .1mm difference between Deda bars/stems vs. the other major brands. Would it be okay to pair a Ritchey WCS OS stem 31.8 with a Deda 31.7 bar?

I read somewhere (I'l look around for it..) that the actual size is 31.75. Most manufacturers round up to 31.8, Deda choses to round down.

jrstevens said:

how important is the .1mm difference between Deda bars/stems vs. the other major brands. Would it be okay to pair a Ritchey WCS OS stem 31.8 with a Deda 31.7 bar?

the manufacturing tolerances would mean half of their bars would be 31.8 anyway, maybe larger. Pete is right as well. 31.8 was used by one company, then everyone found it easy to say 31.8. Deda likes to be different. But to the point, it would be absolutely fine to pair a 31.8 stem to a 31.7 bar.