Carbon bar and or stem suitable for cyclocross

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by JMack on October 2, 2009 at 6:01am

Cost is the most common reason not to use carbon that I have seen. And that is replacement cost after it breaks. I don't believe they are any more prone to breakage than aluminum when installed correctly, but if they do break obviously they are more expensive to replace. There is usually some discussion about the limited benefits of the vibration damping since you're running lower pressure tires.

That said, I run a set of FSA K-wings and have been very happy with them. And I just find that those bars in particular fit my hands very well and allow for comfortable positions.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hank on October 2, 2009 at 10:32am

I am building up a super light rig and contemplated this for a while. I ended up going with a scandium stem and aluminum bars. Google "carbon handlebars cyclocross" and you will find some crazy pictures and horror stories.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Mayhew on October 2, 2009 at 12:35pm

Are you going to unwrap the bars and inspect them every time you crash? Can you afford to replace them when you do crash? Stuff happens. You'll drop a bike over the barriers or get trampled during a start.

And perhaps cost is no issue to you. But if it is why not put the money towards something else that would actually benefit your performance? Do you already have a set of Typhoons and Rhinos? Got a coach? Why not hit a USGP?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jason on October 2, 2009 at 1:12pm

I have easton carbon bars on all my mtbs (3) and two of them are 2+ years old...no problems.

I have an easton carbon bar on my A bike and this is its second year--no problems.

Several team mates are running k-wings and specialized barmacs...no problems.

I also have carbon forks on all my cross bikes, with carbon steerers....no problems.

And I have a carbon 29er mtb....no problems.

I also weigh 220 pounds. :(

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JesseD on October 2, 2009 at 1:15pm

Most carbon stems are aluminium with a cosmetic carbon wrap and in the case of the ritchey wcs 4 axis matrix stem is heavier that that alloy version (according to excel sports boulder). Bars on the other hand are kind of a different beast all together. You could get a 185g carbon bar for $324.99 and up or you could get a 210g aluminium bar for $109.95 +/-.

The difference is about $215.00 or 25 grams

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JMack on October 5, 2009 at 6:50am

OK, so this discussion brings up a question that I have. Looking at the abundance of carbon in cross and mountain biking, it's hard to think that there is still some question of the reliability of carbon parts. Carbon is everywhere in Cyclocross. Frames, wheels, forks, etc. Is there a specific reason that handlebars are considered more of a problem than other carbon parts? Or do a lot of people think that carbon in general is a bad idea for cross?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Dolan on October 5, 2009 at 8:58am

If you're made of money, there's nothing wrong with carbon parts on your cx bike, but I really do think it's a waste. Carbon parts for road racing makes sense, because the races are much longer, and over a long race, counting grams might make a difference. CX races are so short, that the weight of your bike doesn't really matter that much overall. I don't think it's a reliability issue, but it seems like burning money to pay double for a carbon part just to lose a few grams.

You probably pick up enough mud in one lap to negate the weight savings.

• ▶ Reply