thank you, I had a great laugh at your vests choices, again. and also due to the entertaining content. Can one realy blame crazy on someone else, if one feels it so bad, It's probably in one's head too .
Alloy takes away the anxiety of needing to tighten your stem face plate bolts to the specified torque. Very overlooked pain in the ass with carbon. In my opinion
I was doored by a car on my carbon frame bike and it split the frame nearly in half and absorbed a lot of the impact into the carbon. I flew on my back but ended up being okay. I think I would have been far more seriously injured on my titanium bike because it would not have crumpled and I would have taken a lot more of a beating. It's not always a good thing depending on the type of crash to have a very durable frame. It's the same reason that automobiles have crumple zones.
@@MikeMPharmaCyclistfair point, but have to admit my Titanium just rides sweet and won’t buy based on an accident like that. But it is a fair point. I do a lot of bike packing and carbon issues seem to happen at every event I go to and never see any with metal of any significance. Stay safe out there.
One thing to note about carbon bars. Few of them are certified for use of clip-on aero bars (TT bars) and the ones that are tend to be a lot more expensive.
Ok, so the concept of good enough is just good enough is absolutely true. Most of us will never race or ride professionally where a difference would be noticed. Most of the time alloy is good enough for what it's for. That's having a good time on a bike. However, I did find a carbon handlebar/stem combo from Bontrager for $200 and it saved 250 gr. off the Tom Ritchey alloy stem and handlebar that came on the bike. That's half a pound and that kinda matters. Truth is that I can't really feel a difference BUT they're sexy as hell and I simply love them. To your point, they do make me feel warm and fuzzy. The next 100 mile ride that I do might be faster and a little more comfortable but I still love the things just for there looks. Is it worth it? Debatable.
"Truth is that I can't really feel a difference BUT they're sexy as hell and I simply love them. To your point, they do make me feel warm and fuzzy. The next 100 mile ride that I do might be faster and a little more comfortable but I still love the things just for there looks. Is it worth it?" Same "logic" back-in-the-day with Spinergy Rev-X. Despite so many of them shattering into pieces I had a customer insist on a replacement pair when the alloy rim separated from the carbon. When asked if he would keep riding them until one exploded and injured him, I got "the look". Then there were the titanium stems..and the CNC'd aluminum seatposts... it was time to get the f__k out of bike retail for me!
just retired an aluminum frame with a cracked chainstay. did try to braze it, but the aluminum was too thin. got 150000km out of it, road and mixed terrain riding
If you're an athlete, trained to the max, competing against others who ride the sponsored very best they can get, it makes sense to grab even the small margins at the diminishing returns end of the spectrum. And rich people can just throw money at fancy stuff for the bragging rights. But for most people carbon for this part is going to be a waste of money and resources.
My hot take (or rather small pet peeve) is that alloy does not equal aluminum. Steel is an alloy too! I think Big Al used alloy as a marketing term cause it sounds cool. Anyways thanks for the comparison. Do seat posts next!
As someone with a degree in welding technology….. I agree. (Nickel) alloy handles could cost thousands of dollars and weigh more than Carbon. Alloy is intentionally used for its ambiguity.
I had a rigid MTB back in the day that I put a set of carbon bars on, they gave the ride a subtle muted quality. These days, I'm extremely judicious about where I spend money on bike parts. Carbon bars are among the worst uses of money on a bike.
I appreciate the amount of faffing that you had to do to make this video. Also, I completely agree about the emotional response to “feeling” the difference, and that perception is a key component. I have plenty of bikes but only one is carbon from top to toe and I feel like the mutts nuts when I ride it, even though I know I’m not
You can live 1,000 lives turning down single use plastics at every turn and it wouldn’t offset even 20 minutes of the plastic waste produced in a place like, say, the Changning District in Shanghai
Fully integrated cockpits are the pits! I can live with internal, downtube routing for brakes and shifters. But I need flexibility around the bars, for adjustments, part swaps and travel. Cheers
Carbon can be formed into more shapes than alloy. That can be good or bad depending on your personal fit. If special and slight weight savings is your thing, go for carbon. If you are bikepacking and headed into the deep, backcountry you may wish to look at alloy. Strong if you happen to dump your heavy bike and don’t want a broken bar to contend with.
@davehoover8853 the idea that carbon can take more complex shapes than metal(of any kind) is proven untrue by 3d printing tech. 3d printing is far more exact than the human error involved in carbon layup and the shapes metal can be printed in are becoming limitless.
Speaking of cold. Aluminum will definitely remove heat from your hands way faster than carbon. I really notice the effect from my brake levers since they are not covered by bar tape. Thanks for the great video!!😎👍🏻
I would love to see two whole bikes set up (frame + finishing kit) where one is carbon and one is not like with the handlebars in this video but extended to the whole bike. I think it would be interesting to see the difference.
I was really surprised by your results and feel like it depends a lot on different factors. For example, I commute to work by a road/endurance bike. My old bike had 28mm tires, tubes (so higher pressure) and the only carbon part (from stock) was the fork. Changing the seat post from aluminum to a really cheap "china" seatpost from amazon, made out of carbon made a really big difference in comfort immediately. Maybe it depends on what's your staring point is. The more "damp" your bike already is (tubeless, Big Tires, Carbonwheels, amount of spokes etc.) the less value you get from certain carbon parts. I'am not a scientist, but I could also see one reason, why it Made a bigger difference in my case, that most of my weight is sitting on the saddle, compared to the handlebars.
I just sold my first bike on buycycle (based on the recommendation of this channel) and I have to say, it was shockingly easy. I will definitely do it again. Also, love me some Forrest Park.
@@larryt.atcycleitalia5786 Ah, that side of the experience I cannot speak to. Sorry you had a bad one. Nothing like a sucky transaction to ruin a good time.
Ritchey Corralitos Comp 50s good enough for me on the roadish bike. Short drop, short reach and they are wide. Now spend a lot more time in the drops and it's fun.
Takes about 500g to feel a small difference when I was fit, sprint/climbs/efficiency etc. Also switched from cheap carbon to cheap alloy forks, couldn’t feel a difference. Tyre width/pressure/bar tapes made a real difference.
I've ridden both before on MTB, but honestly I couldn't tell you a massive difference. Certain carbon bars have *slightly* more flex, but you can also achieve that with 31.8 aluminum bars (or the vibracore bars that have foam inside). I saw a Seth's bike hacks video many years ago of his friend crashing and getting stabbed with the snapped carbon bar end, which has kinda spooked me from riding them ever since. Honestly ride whichever you prefer! I'm glad to save a little money and not worry too much about marginal vibration damping (tires and wheels probably make a bigger difference in these areas anyway).
For real, one of my friends snapped not just his Whisky No.7 seat-post during normal pavement riding, even though it was trail rated. Unlike some of their bars, these were not subject to recall and he installed it with a torque wrench. It cracked diagonally towards the top, razor sharp edge, could have sent him to the ER if things shook out different.
I’m running: Joseph Kuosac Handlebar for Bromptons - Mid Rise - 25.4mm Clamp - Silver. Originally, 600mm wide but cut to 560mm, oh and they’re aluminium. Love your creativity input & music choices ❤
I picked up some carbon riser bars for my commuter. I’ve always had alloy bars for the past 35 years. I really like the carbon feel, just a slight flex and dampening of the vibrations. For me, they are money well spent, and the torque wrench to properly tighten was worth buying too
I am using VentureMax WCS Al (Two tape layer for cushioness, 52cm at bottom) and then some no name Aero carbon bars (only one tape layer, 42 or 44 cm) on my second gravel . Weight wise, does not matter much but I swear the carbon ones MUCH MORE comfy due flexibility and vibration absorbtion. I think the more pressure you use for your tires, the more differences you will feel riding.
$40 carbon gravel bars off AliExpress… I wasn’t sure they were gonna hold up or even feel that good but I’ve extremely happy with them after 2500ish miles
The spirited cyclist :) With my gravel bikes I tend to go aluminum, road bikes mostly fancy carbon, depending on the build and purpose. I fall a lot more often on my gravel rides, hence the alu bars.
I have heard talk that Alloy bars will be a bit more comfortable on long rides. I was told this after buying a used bike with lots of upgraded carbon parts, brake calipers, cranks, etc but the bars and stem were alloy. What I'd don't get is why major brands have all decided that carbon bars cost at least $300.
I don't like the modern gravel style gravel bars. I've spent an entire 40 years on road bars. After 1000 miles putting up with the rediculous flare pushing my elbows out, I bent them square. Another 1000 miles later, I ditched the 48mm bars for 42mm road bars. Wide bars feel sluggish and slow response even for my Adventure/ really road touring bike. Anatomical bars always looked hideous to me! Alloy only guy for aluminum bike. Carbon can be cracked much more easily, leaving you stranded. 80grams saved won't help much with loaded panniers! 105 kg rider.
I hope you recycled the aluminum bars you "bent square" so some poor guy didn't end up with them on his bike!!! I hate all that flare, sweep, rise, etc too so they get replaced with aluminum road handlebars with a decent bend, shape and drop.
On my full squish trail bike, I swapped the One Up carbon 20mm rise bars for the same bars in aluminum and 35mm rise, I did notice a little more vibration with the aluminum after a full day of riding, but it wasn't a big difference.
I have 42cm Ritchey Ergomax Comps on my Norco Search XR Steel. Got them for like $45 and love them. I like the slight rise & backsweep plus the more flat tops. Tough to beat around $50
Alloy is the way to go, obviously thats just my take though. I run an aluminum frame so its already reasonably light to me, i was more concerned with my cassette weight far before my bars.
I think as tires get fatter, the comfort advantages of carbon fiber become much less noticeable, since fat tires absorb so much of the harsh vibration to begin with. Beautifully made review, however I would be interested if you could tell the difference on a skinnier tire bike. All roads are not smooth, back in the day I noticed a huge difference when I went from Italian steel to carbon fiber. Some road imperfections that would completely catch me off guard on my steel bike were hardly noticeable with my carbon fiber bike. But this was also a time when everyone was running very skinny tires compared to today.
My aluminum handlebars that came stock on my carbon gravel bike after a little over 2 years are showing corrosion from the sweat that collects where my hands rest on the hoods. So naturally this winter I’m researching a replacement and carbon is attractive to me unless my perception is wrong that carbon doesn’t corrode from sweat. So this comparison review was great and relevant info for me. But still leaves me wondering if I am right or wrong about carbon and sweat corrosion?
I am running alloy Cowchippers on my dropbarmtb and love them. I have actually stopped buying CF for frames or parts all the same. The cost to value just doesn't add up to me as a recreational rider.
I have Bontrager Carbon bars with gel inserts on a GT Grade carbon elite. I figured with rear compliance it would be good to match the front. They won't expensive £90ish off Ebay. I suspect the compliance is marginal. Mind you we have very nobbly harsh tow paths. Gel inserts are good.
For bars, I'm definitely going with alloy, but those cheap aliexpress seatposts help me save about 100g compared to similarly priced alloy parts and that's where I'm going with carbon. Basically, it's all about comparing how many grams per buck you save.
My thoughts on finishing kit is…. Buy the cheapest deda/fizik I can get my hands on, usually. But then my entire winter bike - a 105/ultegra equipped Fairlight Strael was a bargain basement parts bin special which cost me £650 to put together. An entire bike, or two handlebars? Hmm….
My own experience with drop and flat handlebars is that in 31.8, aluminum is perfectly fine or even superior (for flat). In 35, carbon is king, but as far as I know there aren't really any 35 drop bars.
7:01 Physically these (carbon) feel the same as the other ones (aluminium), maybe that is not a surprise. That was a surprise. I was thinking that the carbon bars might provide more comfort, like a carbon frame. There are quite a few carbon fibre bars that are half the cost of the aluminium ones, from China.
A part of the equation that can't be included in a video like this is long term durability. I have no evidence one way or the other, but I'd expect alloy to have a higher chance of surviing a crash intatct that carbon fiber. That could entirely be an emotion based opinion though as I've never used anything carbon for any lenght of time to have even a single data point.
Ban Carbon! Bicycles are not rocket surgery! Aluminum can be recycled into other cool things, carbon cannot. If we all went back to metal everything would we stop enjoying bikes, I think not... would there be less plastic bikes and bike parts in landfill, I think so! Plus, if you really need "fancy" there is TITANIUM! Also recyclable!
This is quite simple to figure out.. granted if you are not a "slayer of grams." I f you have an alloy frame then seat post and handle bars in carbon can give you some comfort in vibration dampening. But if you frame and wheels are carbon then having an aluminium handle bar is not gonna be a problem as far as discomfort goes.
love those bars...sold them to buy the ergomax carbon...Expensive! but I found them on some obscure but legit German website for 50% off. But! internal routing for cables/brakelines mean more $ at the bike shop unless you are comfortable doing it yourself
I wanted the new Deda Alaners RS carbon integrated bars on my Colnago C64 race bike, but it was an early C64 so would not fit as it had no D-shape steerer, so could not take cables/wires! I now have ENVE carbon bars & stem!
Alloy bars do not last forever - if you are sweaty they can corrode under the bar tape. If you don’t crash them the carbon has a significantly longer lifespan. Carbon bars normally have more complicated shapes to enhance comfort. Most pros will run alloy bars - because when you crash them they are much more likely to be rideable afterwards…
totally made up. pros get free equipment because teams are sponsored. if you dont have sponsors paying for equipment THEN YOU'RE NOT A PRO.. that's a perk of being a pro. none of them care about stuff being rideable after a crash, teams will have many replacement bikes.
Every bit of weight savings on a bicycle is going to feel insignificant when listed as X amount of grams. I think using percentages puts weight difference + costs into better perspective. But that said, I also don’t care about weight and love my venture max alloy bars.
My own experience with flat bars when switched to carbon was less hand buzz, and numbness on longer rides involving mostly paved roads. I didn't notice any difference in regards to flex even pedaling standing up. For reference AL bars were spank and carbon trail 1. Ride fully rigid mtb...
Thank you for this timely video Dustin. I have been thinking about swapping my alloy seatpost to the fancy carbon version that comes on the more higher end versions of my current ride. Now I'm not!
Honestly I have both and cannot tell a difference. Maybe just better shape. Carbon bars are a flex 😂. Actually even my carbon gravel bike feels just like my old Scandium bike. Plus for alloy bar is that you can clamp a bike packing bag without worry.
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thank you, I had a great laugh at your vests choices, again.
and also due to the entertaining content.
Can one realy blame crazy on someone else, if one feels it so bad, It's probably in one's head too .
I’m miss “And the ride, by the numbers.” Anybody else?
Totally
Yep!
Yes !!
100%
yep
It's sort of a weird benefit, but I like carbon bars in the winter because they don't suck the heat away from your hands as quickly.
that's why I like carbon lever blades. Spent many winters freezing my fingers to alu lever blades.
I just got pogie lites. They’re a game changer for the winter since your hoods will stay insulated from the cold. Super warm.
Not weird at all...
Alloy takes away the anxiety of needing to tighten your stem face plate bolts to the specified torque. Very overlooked pain in the ass with carbon. In my opinion
I have never snapped an allow bar. Can't say the same for carbon. The durability for me is always the winning argument.
I was doored by a car on my carbon frame bike and it split the frame nearly in half and absorbed a lot of the impact into the carbon. I flew on my back but ended up being okay.
I think I would have been far more seriously injured on my titanium bike because it would not have crumpled and I would have taken a lot more of a beating. It's not always a good thing depending on the type of crash to have a very durable frame.
It's the same reason that automobiles have crumple zones.
I have... catastrophic!
@@MikeMPharmaCyclistfair point, but have to admit my Titanium just rides sweet and won’t buy based on an accident like that. But it is a fair point. I do a lot of bike packing and carbon issues seem to happen at every event I go to and never see any with metal of any significance. Stay safe out there.
One thing to note about carbon bars. Few of them are certified for use of clip-on aero bars (TT bars) and the ones that are tend to be a lot more expensive.
Good point! I have the aluminum bar reviewed here and I slapped extensions on without actually checking if that's allowed. Thanks for the reminder😅
Ok, so the concept of good enough is just good enough is absolutely true. Most of us will never race or ride professionally where a difference would be noticed. Most of the time alloy is good enough for what it's for. That's having a good time on a bike. However, I did find a carbon handlebar/stem combo from Bontrager for $200 and it saved 250 gr. off the Tom Ritchey alloy stem and handlebar that came on the bike. That's half a pound and that kinda matters. Truth is that I can't really feel a difference BUT they're sexy as hell and I simply love them. To your point, they do make me feel warm and fuzzy. The next 100 mile ride that I do might be faster and a little more comfortable but I still love the things just for there looks. Is it worth it? Debatable.
"Truth is that I can't really feel a difference BUT they're sexy as hell and I simply love them. To your point, they do make me feel warm and fuzzy. The next 100 mile ride that I do might be faster and a little more comfortable but I still love the things just for there looks. Is it worth it?"
Same "logic" back-in-the-day with Spinergy Rev-X. Despite so many of them shattering into pieces I had a customer insist on a replacement pair when the alloy rim separated from the carbon. When asked if he would keep riding them until one exploded and injured him, I got "the look". Then there were the titanium stems..and the CNC'd aluminum seatposts... it was time to get the f__k out of bike retail for me!
just retired an aluminum frame with a cracked chainstay. did try to braze it, but the aluminum was too thin. got 150000km out of it, road and mixed terrain riding
you didn't recycle it!? GASP! (i am kidding, btw)
Alloy. Richey has an even cheaper venturemax model that lacks the top aero grip. I rock the Corralitos which has an even more shallow drop. Chef kiss!
If you're an athlete, trained to the max, competing against others who ride the sponsored very best they can get, it makes sense to grab even the small margins at the diminishing returns end of the spectrum.
And rich people can just throw money at fancy stuff for the bragging rights.
But for most people carbon for this part is going to be a waste of money and resources.
I’m running aluminum Nitto noodle 48s on all my bikes. I’ve tried other bars, but this is my jam.
If your Noodles aren't 48s, idk wtf u're doing
noodles are the shit
My hot take (or rather small pet peeve) is that alloy does not equal aluminum. Steel is an alloy too! I think Big Al used alloy as a marketing term cause it sounds cool. Anyways thanks for the comparison. Do seat posts next!
Aluminum could be pure but steele is by definition an alloy.
And a lot of people forget about magnesium bikes too.
As someone with a degree in welding technology….. I agree. (Nickel) alloy handles could cost thousands of dollars and weigh more than Carbon. Alloy is intentionally used for its ambiguity.
@@MegaSpartan007 I would buy a VAAST if an A/1 frameset was available.
I honestly did not know this. Thank you
Ergon gravel bar tape for actual damping…so amazing
I had a rigid MTB back in the day that I put a set of carbon bars on, they gave the ride a subtle muted quality. These days, I'm extremely judicious about where I spend money on bike parts. Carbon bars are among the worst uses of money on a bike.
I appreciate the amount of faffing that you had to do to make this video. Also, I completely agree about the emotional response to “feeling” the difference, and that perception is a key component. I have plenty of bikes but only one is carbon from top to toe and I feel like the mutts nuts when I ride it, even though I know I’m not
Excellent comparison DK ! I’m All alloy , all the time !!
Thanks Chuck!
should do the same for an identical frame such as Chekpoint SL vs ALR
This is an awesome idea! I'll see if I can figure out how to make this happen but I really like this one
I second this
you asked.....bars are as follows.....Nitto/Sim Works Little Nick--Crust/Nitto Shaka--RedShift Kitchen Sink--Crust Nullar--All Aluminum.
7:28 DK walking up stairs rounding the corner was hella convincing. Kudos for the creativity!
Alloy flat bars on all five of my bikes (two folders, two hybrids, and one hybridized steel roadie.) They work for me, period.
Carbon is, ultimately, single use plastic - so that’s a no from here.
Just been searching to find someone commenting on the most important difference. Thank you.
I love my 2020 Scott Addict RC20 carbon
You can live 1,000 lives turning down single use plastics at every turn and it wouldn’t offset even 20 minutes of the plastic waste produced in a place like, say, the Changning District in Shanghai
Carbon fiber can be recycled through chemical digestion or pyrolysis. The organics can be recovered and down cycled or used to generate energy.
A point that I have been making every chance I get, thanks!
Fully integrated cockpits are the pits!
I can live with internal, downtube routing for brakes and shifters.
But I need flexibility around the bars, for adjustments, part swaps and travel.
Cheers
I'm on the alloy Ritchey on my carbon Giant cyclecross bike. Love the bars. But I'm not obsessed with weight. Great video comparison Amigo!
I’m currently running the aluminum Velo Orange Granola Bars and couldn’t be happier.
Carbon can be formed into more shapes than alloy. That can be good or bad depending on your personal fit. If special and slight weight savings is your thing, go for carbon. If you are bikepacking and headed into the deep, backcountry you may wish to look at alloy. Strong if you happen to dump your heavy bike and don’t want a broken bar to contend with.
@davehoover8853 the idea that carbon can take more complex shapes than metal(of any kind) is proven untrue by 3d printing tech. 3d printing is far more exact than the human error involved in carbon layup and the shapes metal can be printed in are becoming limitless.
Speaking of cold. Aluminum will definitely remove heat from your hands way faster than carbon. I really notice the effect from my brake levers since they are not covered by bar tape.
Thanks for the great video!!😎👍🏻
I would love to see two whole bikes set up (frame + finishing kit) where one is carbon and one is not like with the handlebars in this video but extended to the whole bike. I think it would be interesting to see the difference.
I was really surprised by your results and feel like it depends a lot on different factors. For example, I commute to work by a road/endurance bike.
My old bike had 28mm tires, tubes (so higher pressure) and the only carbon part (from stock) was the fork.
Changing the seat post from aluminum to a really cheap "china" seatpost from amazon, made out of carbon made a really big difference in comfort immediately.
Maybe it depends on what's your staring point is. The more "damp" your bike already is (tubeless, Big Tires, Carbonwheels, amount of spokes etc.) the less value you get from certain carbon parts. I'am not a scientist, but I could also see one reason, why it Made a bigger difference in my case, that most of my weight is sitting on the saddle, compared to the handlebars.
I just sold my first bike on buycycle (based on the recommendation of this channel) and I have to say, it was shockingly easy. I will definitely do it again. Also, love me some Forrest Park.
Buycycle might be good to SELL, but it sucks to BUY from them. Never again! How long before they tank?
@@larryt.atcycleitalia5786 Ah, that side of the experience I cannot speak to. Sorry you had a bad one. Nothing like a sucky transaction to ruin a good time.
Ritchey Corralitos Comp 50s good enough for me on the roadish bike. Short drop, short reach and they are wide. Now spend a lot more time in the drops and it's fun.
Takes about 500g to feel a small difference when I was fit, sprint/climbs/efficiency etc. Also switched from cheap carbon to cheap alloy forks, couldn’t feel a difference. Tyre width/pressure/bar tapes made a real difference.
I've ridden both before on MTB, but honestly I couldn't tell you a massive difference. Certain carbon bars have *slightly* more flex, but you can also achieve that with 31.8 aluminum bars (or the vibracore bars that have foam inside). I saw a Seth's bike hacks video many years ago of his friend crashing and getting stabbed with the snapped carbon bar end, which has kinda spooked me from riding them ever since.
Honestly ride whichever you prefer! I'm glad to save a little money and not worry too much about marginal vibration damping (tires and wheels probably make a bigger difference in these areas anyway).
For real, one of my friends snapped not just his Whisky No.7 seat-post during normal pavement riding, even though it was trail rated. Unlike some of their bars, these were not subject to recall and he installed it with a torque wrench. It cracked diagonally towards the top, razor sharp edge, could have sent him to the ER if things shook out different.
Alloy warrior. Ritchey on road and gravel, so comfortable. Then again, both the road and gravel bike are an alloy frame aswell.
I’m running: Joseph Kuosac Handlebar for Bromptons - Mid Rise - 25.4mm Clamp - Silver. Originally, 600mm wide but cut to 560mm, oh and they’re aluminium.
Love your creativity input & music choices ❤
I picked up some carbon riser bars for my commuter. I’ve always had alloy bars for the past 35 years. I really like the carbon feel, just a slight flex and dampening of the vibrations. For me, they are money well spent, and the torque wrench to properly tighten was worth buying too
STEEL is also alloy, dont use alloy as a short term for aluminum.
But carbon is not an alloy so for this comparison it is accurate enough...
Steel is also carbon
@@MsFinkxzSteel contains carbon (tiny percentage). It is mostly iron.
@@oerthling oh wow I had no idea
Consider the Coefficient AR Handlebar. The shape of the "flats" of the bars is huge improvement in riding comfort.
Certified scientist here. Important question, what glasses/shades are you riding in? They're epic.
AL is slightly more environmentally friendly? No dude, AL is infinitely more environmentally friendly.
Alloy is all I’ve known but have always wanted to try carbon. So this video will help
Me greatly.
🤜❤️🤛
Your bike collection is spectacular….the Wiilier and Salsas…omg…my vision blurs out with envy and disbelief 😂
I am using VentureMax WCS Al (Two tape layer for cushioness, 52cm at bottom) and then some no name Aero carbon bars (only one tape layer, 42 or 44 cm) on my second gravel . Weight wise, does not matter much but I swear the carbon ones MUCH MORE comfy due flexibility and vibration absorbtion. I think the more pressure you use for your tires, the more differences you will feel riding.
$40 carbon gravel bars off AliExpress… I wasn’t sure they were gonna hold up or even feel that good but I’ve extremely happy with them after 2500ish miles
You are so rad, running a Wahoo insert with the Coros Dura
The spirited cyclist :) With my gravel bikes I tend to go aluminum, road bikes mostly fancy carbon, depending on the build and purpose. I fall a lot more often on my gravel rides, hence the alu bars.
If You really need to win a race- carbon.
For the rest: alloy
I run the Ritchey Comp Venturmax. All the same features as the regular plus flat tops for aer... for comfort. Its nice on the hands.
I have Venturemax Comp which are only about £40 and only slightly heavier - never felt the need to buy anything more expensive.
Got the same and they are just great....wish I'd gone for the 400 and not 420s but they are so comfy on the drops and hood angle is spot on.
I have heard talk that Alloy bars will be a bit more comfortable on long rides.
I was told this after buying a used bike with lots of upgraded carbon parts, brake calipers, cranks, etc but the bars and stem were alloy.
What I'd don't get is why major brands have all decided that carbon bars cost at least $300.
I don't like the modern gravel style gravel bars. I've spent an entire 40 years on road bars. After 1000 miles putting up with the rediculous flare pushing my elbows out, I bent them square. Another 1000 miles later, I ditched the 48mm bars for 42mm road bars. Wide bars feel sluggish and slow response even for my Adventure/ really road touring bike. Anatomical bars always looked hideous to me! Alloy only guy for aluminum bike. Carbon can be cracked much more easily, leaving you stranded. 80grams saved won't help much with loaded panniers! 105 kg rider.
I hope you recycled the aluminum bars you "bent square" so some poor guy didn't end up with them on his bike!!! I hate all that flare, sweep, rise, etc too so they get replaced with aluminum road handlebars with a decent bend, shape and drop.
I have the first gen on my CX bike and second gen on my adventure bike. Both are aluminum . LOVE those bars. Especially second gen with the wide top.
Just got some carbon Bullhorn bars, And I love the compliance over the rough Bay area roadways
On my full squish trail bike, I swapped the One Up carbon 20mm rise bars for the same bars in aluminum and 35mm rise, I did notice a little more vibration with the aluminum after a full day of riding, but it wasn't a big difference.
I have 42cm Ritchey Ergomax Comps on my Norco Search XR Steel. Got them for like $45 and love them. I like the slight rise & backsweep plus the more flat tops. Tough to beat around $50
Ritchey wcs components are the best and usually a first and final choice. Love Tom Ritchey
Sakae Ringyo World Randonneur - on several bikes.
Alloy and add redshift for comfort costs the same as only the carbon bar. Who wins that battle?
Is that Mass Effect background music?
Alloy bars. Kitchen sink with all the fixin's. A sofa for my hands
Alloy is the way to go, obviously thats just my take though. I run an aluminum frame so its already reasonably light to me, i was more concerned with my cassette weight far before my bars.
I think as tires get fatter, the comfort advantages of carbon fiber become much less noticeable, since fat tires absorb so much of the harsh vibration to begin with. Beautifully made review, however I would be interested if you could tell the difference on a skinnier tire bike. All roads are not smooth, back in the day I noticed a huge difference when I went from Italian steel to carbon fiber. Some road imperfections that would completely catch me off guard on my steel bike were hardly noticeable with my carbon fiber bike. But this was also a time when everyone was running very skinny tires compared to today.
It's long been known that pro road riders often opt for aluminum handlebars because they are less likely to break in a crash.
My aluminum handlebars that came stock on my carbon gravel bike after a little over 2 years are showing corrosion from the sweat that collects where my hands rest on the hoods.
So naturally this winter I’m researching a replacement and carbon is attractive to me unless my perception is wrong that carbon doesn’t corrode from sweat.
So this comparison review was great and relevant info for me. But still leaves me wondering if I am right or wrong about carbon and sweat corrosion?
If you're weenieing out your bike 85 grams can be one of the bigger components to save weight with a long with cranks and seatpost.
Cool! Can you do seat posts next please?
I am running alloy Cowchippers on my dropbarmtb and love them. I have actually stopped buying CF for frames or parts all the same. The cost to value just doesn't add up to me as a recreational rider.
Carbon only on MTBs. The vibration reduction is crucial.
Never tried carbon on road.
6'6 , 225lbs.
wheels and seat post, those are the only parts on my adventure rig that are carbon.
And the bars I run are the widest model of the Dajia far bar.
You should have tried the Ritchey Beacon, way better than the Venturemax. The "Comp" versions of both are only around $55.
"are you an alloy warrior or a carbon fiber... fill in the blank?" Fiend. Fiend is the word you're looking for
im deff a fiend
I have Bontrager Carbon bars with gel inserts on a GT Grade carbon elite. I figured with rear compliance it would be good to match the front. They won't expensive £90ish off Ebay. I suspect the compliance is marginal. Mind you we have very nobbly harsh tow paths. Gel inserts are good.
For bars, I'm definitely going with alloy, but those cheap aliexpress seatposts help me save about 100g compared to similarly priced alloy parts and that's where I'm going with carbon. Basically, it's all about comparing how many grams per buck you save.
Running Redshift Kitchen Sinks, I dig em.
My thoughts on finishing kit is…. Buy the cheapest deda/fizik I can get my hands on, usually. But then my entire winter bike - a 105/ultegra equipped Fairlight Strael was a bargain basement parts bin special which cost me £650 to put together. An entire bike, or two handlebars? Hmm….
Which one is better in the long run or in an emergency
My own experience with drop and flat handlebars is that in 31.8, aluminum is perfectly fine or even superior (for flat). In 35, carbon is king, but as far as I know there aren't really any 35 drop bars.
For the record, steel is an alloy. Bikes are never made from pure titanium; they are made from alloys.
7:01 Physically these (carbon) feel the same as the other ones (aluminium), maybe that is not a surprise.
That was a surprise. I was thinking that the carbon bars might provide more comfort, like a carbon frame.
There are quite a few carbon fibre bars that are half the cost of the aluminium ones, from China.
A part of the equation that can't be included in a video like this is long term durability. I have no evidence one way or the other, but I'd expect alloy to have a higher chance of surviing a crash intatct that carbon fiber.
That could entirely be an emotion based opinion though as I've never used anything carbon for any lenght of time to have even a single data point.
My carbon 3T carbon bars have survived several crashes and well over 120,000kms.
alloy fatigues, thought, too. Carbon wouldn't, theoretically. As long as you don't crash...
Carbon bars are for dentists and professional racers
in my experience carbon bars feel way stiffer than alloy on the road which I prefer so much. also its way warmer to
Is the background music the same as the one used in Dark 5 videos, and their related channels?
Liking the Willy Wonka glasses! Nice video 👍
Ban Carbon! Bicycles are not rocket surgery! Aluminum can be recycled into other cool things, carbon cannot. If we all went back to metal everything would we stop enjoying bikes, I think not... would there be less plastic bikes and bike parts in landfill, I think so! Plus, if you really need "fancy" there is TITANIUM! Also recyclable!
This is quite simple to figure out.. granted if you are not a "slayer of grams." I f you have an alloy frame then seat post and handle bars in carbon can give you some comfort in vibration dampening. But if you frame and wheels are carbon then having an aluminium handle bar is not gonna be a problem as far as discomfort goes.
I think if you’re riding an alloy frame maybe carbon bars, fork and seat post would more of a difference. Maybe?
love those bars...sold them to buy the ergomax carbon...Expensive! but I found them on some obscure but legit German website for 50% off. But! internal routing for cables/brakelines mean more $ at the bike shop unless you are comfortable doing it yourself
I wanted the new Deda Alaners RS carbon integrated bars on my Colnago C64 race bike, but it was an early C64 so would not fit
as it had no D-shape steerer, so could not take cables/wires!
I now have ENVE carbon bars & stem!
Flatbar test next? with the width and hand position you would notice more?
Alloy bars do not last forever - if you are sweaty they can corrode under the bar tape.
If you don’t crash them the carbon has a significantly longer lifespan.
Carbon bars normally have more complicated shapes to enhance comfort.
Most pros will run alloy bars - because when you crash them they are much more likely to be rideable afterwards…
totally made up. pros get free equipment because teams are sponsored. if you dont have sponsors paying for equipment THEN YOU'RE NOT A PRO.. that's a perk of being a pro. none of them care about stuff being rideable after a crash, teams will have many replacement bikes.
@@bulbangs I think the point about the bars surviving a crash was that you can actually finish the race on your bike.
I have aluminium HB because i live with 1 bike, and i wanna attach aerobars.
Every bit of weight savings on a bicycle is going to feel insignificant when listed as X amount of grams. I think using percentages puts weight difference + costs into better perspective.
But that said, I also don’t care about weight and love my venture max alloy bars.
My own experience with flat bars when switched to carbon was less hand buzz, and numbness on longer rides involving mostly paved roads. I didn't notice any difference in regards to flex even pedaling standing up. For reference AL bars were spank and carbon trail 1. Ride fully rigid mtb...
Very interesting and makes total sense. I wonder if it's more pronounced on flat bars, then drop bars?
Yeah...i want my 50mm deep wheels in AL.. (to say that some thing and forms you simply can't make in AL).
Recovering weight weenie here & I got say I've spent more than that $2 pre gram saving weight : / #JusSayin'
Thank you for this timely video Dustin. I have been thinking about swapping my alloy seatpost to the fancy carbon version that comes on the more higher end versions of my current ride. Now I'm not!
Should have done a dubbel blind, put on the steering thing and ride it without knowing if it's alloy or carbon and see if you can geuss which is which
I'm rocking pig iron bars on my everyday bike quite heavy mind
Let me just go on and like every comment on this video.❤
Honestly I have both and cannot tell a difference. Maybe just better shape. Carbon bars are a flex 😂. Actually even my carbon gravel bike feels just like my old Scandium bike. Plus for alloy bar is that you can clamp a bike packing bag without worry.
Bob thank you for this report. I feel validated by your similar experience 🫡
I have a cheap set of carbon bars all I can say is that they don’t fill so cold on a cold day and that’s the only difference I can fill between them