OS handlebar

Some say it's stiffer, some say it's no change. Some say it reduces stress in the stem-bar interface, some say it's irrelevant. Some say it's a marketing move for new products and specification, some agree with this last statement. None of it is reason enough to avoid it. 😄

sogood said:

Some say it's stiffer, some say it's no change. Some say it reduces stress in the stem-bar interface, some say it's irrelevant. Some say it's a marketing move for new products and specification, some agree with this last statement. None of it is reason enough to avoid it. 😄

theres also a comfort/ergo factor. i've been riding some nice oversize carbon flat tops for the last 6 months, and over the summer built a very traditional bike that i put on a set of itm milleniums on. obviously on the hoods there is no difference but i now feel like i'm holding onto toothpicks when i'm on the tops (on the milleniums).

--brett

they're supposed to be stiffer and stronger for the same (or less) weight.

I guess it makes sense.

????

sideshow_bob said:

theres also a comfort/ergo factor. i've been riding some nice oversize carbon flat tops for the last 6 months, and over the summer built a very traditional bike that i put on a set of itm milleniums on. obviously on the hoods there is no difference but i now feel like i'm holding onto toothpicks when i'm on the tops (on the milleniums).

--brett

Are we referring to the same thing? My interpretation of OP's OS refers to the stem diameter while your reference is on those ergo wing bars, right?

sogood said:

Some say it's a marketing move for new products and specification, some agree with this last statement. None of it is reason enough to avoid it. 😄

Another reason that has been postulated is that it allows component manufacturers to consolidate their XC MTB and Road stem ranges, and produce stems for just the one bar clamp size, reducing inventory costs.

Having said that, there are some manufacturers who are making road specific or MTB specific stems. DH/FR is a whole different kettle of fish.

FWIW, for the riding I do, I don't mind being able to use a road stem on a MTB, and vice versa. It gives you some more felxibility if you like fiddling around with riding position, bike set-up, different frames etc.

n