|
Bicycle Handle Bars
Features for bike handle bars you may want
to look for?
Clamp Diameter: Typical bike handle bars are either 25.4mm,
26mm or over sized at 31.8mm (although there are a few other oddballs
out there). The 25.4 (1" ISO standard) is the old standby.
It does not fit into the 26mm stem without special shims, so beware.
The 26mm diameter is an Italian road racing standard. As part distribution
becomes more global we see alot more of the 26mm for sale. In the
high end bike handle bar market it is becoming the standard, particularly
for racing road bikes.
The oversized 31.8mm, is relatively new. It is designed to give
the rider a more rigid bar and firmer steerage, particularly for
a mountain bike handlebar. The most important issue is to make sure
that the bar you buy fits the bike clamp. You can destroy or distort
the bar tube or get inadequate clamping pressure and have your bars
shift at the most inopportune moment it they are not correctly matched.
On more expensive bars the area where the brakes mount and where
the bike clamp grabs, are textured for better clamping power.
Length: can vary anywhere from 37-46" Note that a flat
or riser handle bar length can be cut somewhat to customize to your
needs, but the drop (or road) handle bar cannot be adjusted, thus
you must buy the right length to start off with.
Cable Routing: Some bicycle handle bars have a recessed
channel for running brake and shifter cables. Other have choosen
to predrill holes in the bar for internal cable routing. Both methods
work and provide both a cleaner and more aerodynamic design.
Aero Clip-ons: if you think that you may want to use aero
handlebars, make sure that the bar design allows for this.
Weight: This can vary significantly with both design and
material used. A dropped
handlebar is typically the heaviest and a flat
tube the lightest, ranging from as little as 170 grams for a
Easton aluminum or carbon fibre handlebar to our childhood steel
special at something over 360grams. If you have a heavy bike to
start off with, it is a waste of time to spend big money on a super
light handle bar.. it will have little impact on the overall rideability
of the bike. Pick a bar that is in line with the quality of the
original bike frame... unless of course your plan is to upgrade
slowly (in which case plan for your perfect frame first).
Composition: The original handlebar was made from rolled
steel, but slowing corrosion has always been a challenge. For years
the traditional handle bar was chromed but as we have become more
aware of the environmental issues involved in using chromium, the
industry has been drawn towards newer models fabricated out of aluminum.
The wall thickness has had to be increased to offer the same strength,
but yet aluminum handle
bars still comes in at a lower weight than the traditional steel
bar, with nicer looks especially if it has been annodized
to create a protective finish. The next generation bars are being
fabricated from carbon fiber sometimes reinforced with fiberglass
or kevlar. Carbon fiber
handlebars do require some care and attention though.
Warranty: Warranty can vary significantly from nothing to
a lifetime for a high end Kestral Carbon/Aramid composite handle
bar. The warranty should give you some idea on the faith the manufacturer
has in its product... just make sure you file the documentation
if it has a long term warranty, so you'll be able to find it if
necessary.
All bicycle handle bars come with information related to appropriate
usage, including their life expenctancy and generally some dicussion
on how often you should inspect your bar for defects. Both aluminum
and carbon fibre particularly should be inspected after spills for
fractures, that can significantly weaken the overall structure.
I know only too well.. hit a slick ice spot the other day and in
the process of a pull out put a lot of weight on one side of my
carbon fibre handle bars and they snapped right at the end of the
handle grip! It was not pleasant and definitely added to my build
up of scar tissue.
Other articles of interest:
Cycling Handlebars:
design considerations
Aluminum Handlebars
Carbon Fiber Handlebars
Titanium Handle Bars
|
