#Fsa wing pro road handlebar how to#
#Fsa wing pro road handlebar upgrade#

Especially if changing the width to narrower bars, or opting for aerodynamically shaped options. If you're riding with a cycling computer, lights, a GoPro or more, you may need to consider the available real estate for mounting this tech. Which handlebar will fit the most accessories? The only thing you need to do here is to ensure your stem and handlebars use the same clamping diameter. Older bikes (up to circa late '90s) will usually come with 25.4mm width.

Nowadays, most road handlebars come with 'oversized' diameter, which is widely accepted as 31.8mm. The clamping diameter references the diameter of the bar at the centre, where the stem clamps it in place. However, they are seen to be more fragile - they don’t bend or dent before they break, and are susceptible to being crushed by over-tightened stem bolts.Īlloy bars are typically a bit heavier and will provide a harsher feel than carbon bars, but don’t see any less performance - in fact, you will find alloy bars widely used in the pro peloton thanks to their durability and impact-resistance. Carbon bars are typically lighter, dampen more vibration than alloy, and can be moulded into an aero or ergonomic shape. The age-old question when it comes to bike components is alloy or carbon. Ergo bars seem to fall somewhere in the middle and feature a flat spot part of the way down the drop.īar shape is highly personal, and you want to look for bars which create the least amount of bend in your wrist when you grab the drops - how you like to position your hoods will also come into play. Compact bars are a bit straighter and put the hoods flatly in inline with the tops the bend into the drops is tighter, meaning it’s also higher. Traditional bars are what you expect to see on old school road bikes with a long gentle curve which creates a deep drop and a low position. The shape of the drops varies from brand to brand, but they are roughly divided into three categories. All in moderation though, as saving 10 aero watts won't benefit you if you lose 20 due to discomfort. Most people are better suited to a shorter drop because it doesn't require quite as much flexibility, but a lower front end should theoretically result in a smaller frontal area, which in turn requires fewer watts for faster speeds. Bigger riders will need a more extended reach while shorter riders will be more comfortable with a smaller figure.ĭrop refers to the distance from your tops to your drops. Reach is the distance from the horizontal part of the handlebar to the furthest edge of the drops and determines how far away the levers will be placed. When it doubt, consult a bike fitter for advice. Of course, everything in moderation, if your shoulders measure 40mm, a 48mm bar or a 32mm bar will probably leave you uncomfortable, but a couple of centimetres either way likely won’t leave you in pain. On the other hand, wider bars will offer more stability and may even open up your chest a bit to help you breathe. Narrow bars will help you tuck your elbows in for a more aero position, but they will also quicken the handling characteristics of your bike. However, this is just a starting point, and from there, you’ll need to take into account what you’re looking to achieve with this new set of bars. Traditionally, handlebar width has been determined based on the width of your shoulders, and the general rule of thumb in finding the correct size bars is to measure the distance between your AC joints (the bone that sticks out of the top of your shoulder.)

#Fsa wing pro road handlebar how to#

How to choose the best road handlebars for you What width handlebar do I need? If this is you and you simply want the best value for money, then you can't go far wrong at this price.

#Fsa wing pro road handlebar upgrade#

If you later decide you are happy with the position and want to upgrade to something with a little more performance in mind, you can proceed with confidence that the position is right for you.Īdditionally, for many people, a handlebar upgrade comes out of necessity after an accident. With sizes 40, 42 and 44cm available at such a low price, if you choose to switch back to your former position, you haven't wasted a tonne of cash on some carbon bars that you now need to try and sell on eBay. That's where these handlebars come into their own. If you're considering trialling narrower or wider handlebars for the first time, you probably aren't completely confident you'll like your new position, let alone the different handling characteristics. One of the most common reasons people choose to change their handlebars is for a different width. These alloy handlebars might not be aero in design, made from carbon fibre or come with newfangled cable integration, and at 340 grams they're far from light, but hear us out.