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Bike Related: Aluminum Bars 101 - When is flex too much?

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  1.  
    •  
      CommentAuthorMax is NOW!
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008 edited
     

    So I've decided that my bars are now unsafe.
    As few have heard already, my bars flex too much. This, coupled with about a week of them "creaking" (not from stem), raised my suspicions.

    It wasn't until today when riding that I noticed they really just felt "bad".

    Upon inspection, I had a sense they weren't looking right. I measured some points on them and found that they, indeed, we're crunched, as per the photos below.

    I tried to get a "straight on" shot of the bars as best I could. You can see on the photo without the grid, there is something eerily "off" about the bars"
    After lining up the photo and using the grid, it becomes clear that there is serious vertical crunching.

    Now, when I noticed this terrible crunching, I realized it could have been from my few falls. However, if you notice the yellow lines (same width), the crunching doesn't seem to have effected the horizontal position of the drops. It is a completely vertical crunch. There is also the simple differences in steel and aluminum. Aluminum is more prey to steady fatigue, whereas steel is weaker to sudden strikes.

    This means one thing.
    I'm too much man for my bars.

    If these were steel, I would try bending them back. However, they are aluminum. And as aluminum they will undoubtedly break very soon being so flexed out of shape. They are not safe to ride.

    So much for aluminum......
    Anyone believe me about wearing out parts now?

    • CommentAuthorkrystenr
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    Oh god, I love that you used the bold action on that line. You're just too much of a man, Max. But I believed you to begin with.

    •  
      CommentAuthormizake
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    oh damn. yeah, bad news right there! the right side is totally bent (left side, if facing)

    •  
      CommentAuthorfreebird
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    Scary.

    Try some Major Taylors, or if you're feeling flush, Deda Velocitas. If you can even flex those, you've got serious crushing power.

    •  
      CommentAuthorbschultz
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    Oh noes! That's a shame, as they look awesome.

  6.  
    mizake:

    oh damn. yeah, bad news right there! the right side is totally bent (left side, if facing)

    I think it's actually the right side (left side when facing) that is crunched.
    If you notice, the actual bar metal looks odd on the side. AND my number one use for the drops is pulling up for leverage on sprinting.

    But yea, just look at how pleasant the curve on the left (right when facing) is compared to the other.

  7.  
    freebird:

    Scary.

    Try some Major Taylors, or if you're feeling flush, Deda Velocitas. If you can even flex those, you've got serious crushing power.

    I had the Major Taylors for about a week. They are much too large for me. Although they say the bars should be shoulder width, I can't do it. I need to pivot in to hold my bars. It forces my knees in, instead of out, when pedaling.

    •  
      CommentAuthorfreebird
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    They go from like 38 to 48. What size did you try? I only ask because I really like my 44's, and they're a great indestructo bar for the money. I guess they do have kind of a weird shape, though.

    What's next Max?

    •  
      CommentAuthormizake
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     
    Max is NOW!:
    mizake:

    oh damn. yeah, bad news right there! the right side is totally bent (left side, if facing)

    I think it's actually the right side (left side when facing) that is crunched.
    If you notice, the actual bar metal looks odd on the side. AND my number one use for the drops is pulling up for leverage on sprinting.

    But yea, just look at how pleasant the curve on the left (right when facing) is compared to the other.

    that's what i said!! lol

  10.  

    The Deda's are next. Unless I see some B123s for cheap.
    Yea, the Taylors I had were 42 I believe but still too big. The drops swing out and I need my hand next to my knee in sprints.

    •  
      CommentAuthormizake
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    i've got big nitto drops that i've been using for 4 years approximately. lots of sprinting, crashes, and falling on top of, and they're in great shape.

  12.  
    mizake:
    Max is NOW!:
    mizake:

    oh damn. yeah, bad news right there! the right side is totally bent (left side, if facing)

    I think it's actually the right side (left side when facing) that is crunched.
    If you notice, the actual bar metal looks odd on the side. AND my number one use for the drops is pulling up for leverage on sprinting.

    But yea, just look at how pleasant the curve on the left (right when facing) is compared to the other.

    that's what i said!! lol

    Can I blame my colorblindness for this one?

    •  
      CommentAuthormizake
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     
    Max is NOW!:
    mizake:
    Max is NOW!:
    mizake:

    oh damn. yeah, bad news right there! the right side is totally bent (left side, if facing)

    I think it's actually the right side (left side when facing) that is crunched.
    If you notice, the actual bar metal looks odd on the side. AND my number one use for the drops is pulling up for leverage on sprinting.

    But yea, just look at how pleasant the curve on the left (right when facing) is compared to the other.

    that's what i said!! lol

    Can I blame my colorblindness for this one?

    just this once haha

    •  
      CommentAuthoryetti_core
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    max you should be a weather man or sportscaster with those graphics.

    • CommentAuthorSkidMark
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    Steel Nitto pista bars cost less than aluminum ones.

    •  
      CommentAuthorzelah
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    yeah i'd go with steel nitto b125 or 123 depending on how much drop you want. that shit is a little heavy but basically the stiffest bars period

    • CommentAuthorstumptown
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    quit half assing it and just get these already.

  18.  
    stumptown:

    quit half assing it and just get these already.

    for serious. them bars don't bend or flex. they just go 'crunch'.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTHOR4LIFE
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    Or just say fuckit and get the REAL good shit:

    http://www.eastonbike.com/PRODUCTS/BARS/bar_track_ec90_'05.html

    • CommentAuthorstumptown
    • CommentTimeMay 6th 2008
     

    ^ ^ ^ word. I gotta say I lust after the IRC ones more though, even if the Eastons are more popular and established.

  21.  

    max, the bars you are using are the one you got from me yes? they are not heat-treated. try any heat-treated alum nittos or even the steel nittos. have you seen the soma "walker" bars? steel

    • CommentAuthoryonderboy
    • CommentTimeMay 7th 2008
     

    That creaking means there's a crack forming somewhere. Check around the bar clamp. I'd definitely retire those bars, or you might find yourself riding home one-handed (of this I can speak from experience).

    The Deda bars are super stiff, but the drop is pretty deep for everyday riding and they need an oversized stem. They have a 215 deep that has about 20mm less drop and a 26.0 clamp. But they've got cable grooves, so you'll have to give them the full wrap treatment. Another alternative is the Cinelli Mod Classic. UniversalCycles has a bunch of them NOS right now. They're not made from the same aluminum as the Dedas, so they won't be as stiff.

    Really, any bar is going to flex if you crank on it enough. But if Pros can use them without catastrophic failure, it should be good enough for us mere mortals (provided we keep upright ;).

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