Road handlebar advice - which new ones?

[jay clock]

I think I have slightly damaged my bars in travelling (hard to measure but fairly sure). The bars I have are these http://tinyurl.com/26tyefo EA50 Easton bars which have a very generous recess for the cables. I bought some EA70 bars like these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/easton-ea70-ergo-road-handlebar/ to replace them but the description of "double grooves for brake and gear cable routing" in fact proves to be a tiny line about 0.5mm deep. Also they weigh 11g MORE than my EA50s and are about 2cm narrower at the lever mount point in spite of both being "44cm centre to centre".

So back to the drawing board. I need nice quality bars with a cable recess (will consider carbon but then will replace the stem to match!) in a wide size and that have round profile NOT aero as I need to fit my tribars on. Any ideas or comments? The bike is a BMC see here http://mybmc.weebly.com/#

Cheers and many thanks

Jay

 

[Tollers]

Centre to centre is usually measured at the end of the drops, but sounds strange that youre EA50s are narrower. Are you certain the 70s really are 44cm?

Also, not sure why a recess is so important. My best bike uses Richey WCS carbons with no recess. I've routed the cables on the underside of the bar and don't notice them.

If you want to add tri-bars, i'd avoid carbon as tri extensions would put a large compressive force on the handlebars.

How about FSA Wing Pro compact alloy?

 

[e-rider]

I recently bought the 2010 version of the EA50 in 46cm width and I've never been happier. They are the best shaped bars I've ever used and at the bargain price of £26 from wiggle what more can I say! Fairly light too considering the price tag.

The groove for the cables isn't very deep but it doesn't need to be does it? It is there to just guide the cable (which I tape in place as well) and you end up with a really comfortable shape bar to grip.

The 46cm width is the biggest selling point for me - great for large men with broad shoulders.

 

[fossyant]

Big fan of Ritchey stuff - got a Comp bar and Pro stem on my commuter.

 

[monkeypony]

I'm using Deda Zero 100 bars on all my road/cross bikes at the moment. Very light, comfy shallow drop and not too expensive.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I have these fitted to both my tourer (Omega) and road bikes (Wing Pro). Superbly comfy. Don't get too hung up over cable grooves. Wrapped properly you won't notice whether or not it is there.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=50187

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=44752

 

[jay clock]

Thanks for the help. I prefer a deep groove as I like a nice "round" feel to the bar. It seems odd that the EA70 is described as double grooved when it clearly is not.

Anyway after you replies and some avid googling I have come up with this Ritchey bar from Evans here http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ritchey/pro-carbon-matrix-road-bar-ec021512 at a knockdown price and matching stem from here http://www.shinybikes.com/bikes/ritchey-pro-carbon-matrix-4-axis-stem.html?printable=Y

Thye look nice - not real carbon - some fancy words about mixing alloy and carbon - suspect it is Fablon overlay!.

Will preport back once they get here and are fitted. My next worry is that my XMas pressie is a bike fit and they tell me I have it all wrong and need to replace everything!