Accessories	Bicycles	Parts	Specials	Tools

In West Newton Since 1952 - On The Web Since 1995

Search HarrisCyclery.com Search WWW

Handlebars, Tape, and Grips from Harris Cyclery

Drop Handlebars	Moustache Handlebars	Upright Handlebars	Time Trial Handlebars
"Æro" Clip-ons	Bar Ends	Handlebar Grips	Handlebar Tape

Upright Handlebars

New! Butterfly "Trekking" handlebars HB003 $24.95 These upright multi-position handlebars are very popular with European touring cyclists. They fit standard ISO stems with a 1" (25.4 mm) clamp. Working diameter of the bars is 7/8" (22.2 mm) so they work with "mountain bike" type brake and shift levers. See Tom Deakins's article on these.
Nitto Aluminium North Road Bars HB108 $44.95 Japanese version of the classic handlebar used on English 3-speeds. These have a longer straight section (140 mm), making them more compatible with modern brake levers and grips. The standard 1" diameter clamp area is compatible with most stems, and is heavily knurled to prevent slippage. Reach is 50 mm, Drop is -85 mm, the ends of the bars are 125 mm behind the center of the stem. 70 degree grip area, 50 cm width (center-to-center.)
New! Pyramid Aluminium North Road Bars HB1095 $24.95 Economy version of the classic handlebar used on English 3-speeds. These have a longer straight section (140 mm), making them more compatible with modern brake levers and grips. The standard 1" diameter clamp area is compatible with most stems, and is heavily knurled to prevent slippage.

Drop ("Road") Handlebars

Types of drop handlebars:

Clamp Diameter

All bars shown here use the ISO standard 1 inch/25.4 mm stem clamp diameter unless marked otherwise.

There are six clamp diameters for drop handlebars, where they fit into the stem, but only 3 are common:

• 25.4 mm (1 inch) is the ISO international standard for all types of handlebars, and is the most common size for drop bars as well. Most of the bars we sell use this clamp size. If you want to use a 25.4 mm bar in a 26.0 stem, we sell special shims for the purpose.
• 26.0 mm is the Italian national standard. Because Italian handlebar and stem brands are so popular, even many bars from other countries have adopted this size, and many people consider it to be a de facto "road" standard.

  Most expensive drop bars and stems are this size, or the slightly smaller 25.8 mm variant (those are interchangeable.)

• 31.8 mm (1 1/4 inch) is a relatively new "oversized" standard increasingly seen on high-end bars and stems. See the QBP Special Order Cataloguer for these.
• 26.4 mm is the obsolete Cinelli proprietary size, used by Cinelli until sometime in the late 1990s.
• 25 mm is the obsolete French size. We have a limited selection in our French Parts Section.
• 15/16" is the obsolete English size for steel handlebars.

Grooves

• Traditional handlebars have no grooves, providing a nice round grip area. They work with all types of drop bar brake levers and shifters.
• Single-groove handlebars have a groove in the front of the bar to receive the brake cable with modern "æro" brake levers. These grooves are not at all necessary, since you don't rest any weight on the front side of the handlebar.
• Double-groove handlebars have a second groove in the upper-rear of the top section. This is intended to receive the shift cable if you use Campagnolo Ergo brifters. The second groove is a nice feature if you use Ergos, but if you don't, it just makes the bars less comfortable. Unfortunately, a shockingly large number of new bikes come with double-groove handlebars but not with Ergo shifters. This is a really bogus arrangement, in my opinion.

"Anatomic" vs Traditional Bends

Traditional drop bars are gracefully curved, and work quite well for most riders. The Italian company Modolo staged a bit of a marketing coup in the late 1980s with their so-called "Anatomic bend" handlebars. These have sharpish angles instead of gentle curves. Some people like the resulting positions, but many of us prefer the more versatile traditional curved designs.  

 

Nitto 115 handlebars $44.95 Very nicely finished, made in Japan drop bars with standard 25.4 mm centers. These are the traditional "Mæs" bend, no flats, bumps nor grooves. Our most popular model. Reach is 100 mm, Drop is 140 mm. Available in 40 cm, 42 cm or 45 cm widths (center-to-center.) Nitto 105 handlebars $44.95 Smaller version of the 115. Reach is 65 mm, Drop is 140 mm. 37 cm width.
Nitto 177 "Noodle" Bars 42 cm & 44 cm $54.95 HB105 46 cm & HB106 48 cm $82.95 (Wider sizes heat treated for extra strength) Very nicely finished, made in Japan drop bars with Italian size 26 mm centers. No flats, bumps nor grooves. The special characteristic of the Noodle Bar is that the tops have a backward sweep that puts the corners about 1 cm farther back than a standard traditional "Mæs" bend Silver, 4° flare out, flat hand perch, and the top curves back a bit The width of this bar does not include the flare outs of the ends of the bar. Reach is 96 mm, Drop is 140 mm. Available in 42 cm, 44 cm. Also available in extra wide 46 or 48 cm widths. The wider sizes are more expensive because they're heat treated for extra strength.
Nitto 135 Randonneur Handlebars 42 cm width HB1021 $44.95 45 cm width HB1023 $44.95 Similar construction and finish to model 115 above, but in the classic touring "randonneur" style. Bar slopes upward from the center to the corners; the drops are splayed outward a bit. Reach is 105 mm, Drop is 120 mm.
Nitto "Moustache " handlebars $79.95 These were specially designed for the cult classic Bridgestone "XO" series bikes. You'll want a taller stem with a shorter extension than you'd use with conventional drop bars. These are available in a choice of stem clamp sizes: ISO standard stems (1"/25.4 mm). Italian ("road") size 26.0 mm The bar is 15/16"/23.8 mm diameter to fit drop-bar type brake levers. Most people use these with handlebar end shifters. Reach is 95 mm, Drop is 45 mm. 51.5 cm width only.
HB4005 Nitto Time Trial Handlebars 26.0 mm clamp $54.95 "Cow horn" handlebars for time trial bikes, also popular for urban fixed gear use. 42 mm width.
HB402 Nitto Pursuit Handlebars 26.0 mm clamp $54.95
Similar to the "Cow horns", but with less forward extension. Popular with urban couriers. 42 mm width. New! Pyramid HB403 "Cow Horn" Handlebars Handlebars 26.0 mm clamp $24.95
Economy version of "Cow horn" handlebars for time trial bikes, also popular for urban fixed gear use. 42 mm width. Flat, non-polished finish.
Nitto Handlebar Shims $11.95 These beautifully made stainless-steel shims let you use a standard 25.4 mm (1 inch) diameter handlebar in an Italian size (26.0 mm) stem.

Accessories	Bicycles	Parts	Specials	Tools

This site also features many
useful articles by Sheldon Brown
and others.

Articles by Sheldon Brown and others
Harris Home	Beginners	Brakes	Commuting Lights	Cycle- Computers	Do-It- Yourself	Essays
Family Cycling	Fixed Gear Singlespeed	Frames	Gears & Drivetrain	Bicycle Humor	Bicycle Glossary	Bicycle Links
Old Bikes	Repair Tips	Tandems	Touring	What's New	Wheels	Sheldon Brown

Feedback? Questions?

We also have a page of selected links

Web site by Sheldon Brown

Ordering Feedback? Questions?

URL: http://harriscyclery.com/handlebars

Copyright © 2005, 2007 Harris Cyclery