It starts with a casual observation. You hardly even noticed when it happened, but something shifted in your mind. A bit later the same observation is made again, this time in a slightly different context. It happens again and again and the observations layer atop one another like sheets of tracing paper that, when flattened together, form a complete picture.
And so, having gone almost completely unnoticed, an obsession is born.
My obsession over classic-bend bars has been developing slowly over the last two years or so, fueled by three principle factors (mimicking the pros, form, and function), and buffered by another (investment). The fuel for the fire included the observation that many of my favorite pros ride classic-bend bars, the FSA K-Wing bars I was riding didn’t allow for a very smooth routing of the cables from my Ergo shifters, and I was not satisfied with the quality if my shifting. On the other hand, I liked the scalloped area that the K-Wings offer, and I was reluctant to move away from a bar that I spent quite a bit of money on, especially for a bar that would also represent an investment and which I wasn’t sure I would like any better. However, those same scallops caused sharp bends in the cables which adversely effected shifting performance. Not to mention, I haven’t seen a pro riding K-Wings since, well, ever.
The classic-bend bars have been weighing heavier and heavier on my mind recently; my shifting has never been as good as I think it should be, and I have become increasingly convinced that the problem was the cable routing and that classic-band bars would likely resolve the issue. Also, both Brett’s and Marko’s latest build projects involved classic-band bars, and I love the look they offer. Add to that to the fact that I’ve recently grown especially tired of the angular look of the K-Wings, particularly in marriage with my 17-degree stem, and you’re asking for trouble.
Yesterday, a flurry of text message exchanges with Marko over bars sent my obsession over the precipice. That, combined with a particularly frustrating day at the office turned obsession into action; the Hand of Merckx guided me into a chance meeting wherein I ended up with a like-new 3T Rotundo Pro bar for less than half the retail value. No shipping, no waiting, just good-old-fashioned instant gratification. Impulse buy satisfied and bar experimentation available at a palatable cost, I disappeared into the basement to labor on my machine for a few hours to install the new bars. And, although rainy weather today will keep me from riding Bike Number One, shifting performance on the work stand showed a considerable improvement in the crispness and speed of the shifts, and sitting on the bike in the workshop seems to validate that the classic bend is indeed very comfortable. Both of those test seem pretty conclusive, obviously. And, most importantly, it looks Pro.
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@minion
Just laughed too loud at that. SWMBO enquired as to the cause of the mirth. I read it out. Apparently it's not actually that funny after all. Just thought you should know.
@minion @G'phant
I can verify G'phant's experience and conclusions...
@Oli
Huh, very interesting. You've earned your V-Jersey for the day!
About to recable my #1 and quite the conundrum - I have perforated Deda Traforata tape & Fizik Microtex glossy in my hands. Do I go patent leather shininess and deal with the likely slipperiness all 100*F summer long? Or, do I stick to the cork, which still is sharp as with the perforations?
@Ron
I've gone through two rolls of fizik split tape (half of it being the patent leather stuff) as it came with two of my saddles. I ultimately had to take it off. Not because of the slippery factor, I just think it's ugly. The regular microtex is the shiznet though. I'd go with the Deda if I were you, purely for asstitics.
Hey Marko, thanks for the feedback. I'm actually thinking of the perforated Deda on one bike, the glossy Fizik on another. I've used the microtex and love the look and feel, but it's a bit thin for my liking.
I was hoping the looks of the glossy would make it acceptable in my mind. Your asstitics opinion is noted. Undecided at this point, but good to know.
Ha. I just picked up some new fizik glossy black tape to match my saddle. Maybe I'll have to rethink that one.
@RedRanger
I'm with @Marko on this one; the only option for black Fizik tape is the microtex as the others all show the white trim of the padding when the bars are wrapped. Very unsightly.
For white bars, I use not the gloss, but not the microtex, but the in-between one that I can't name but I can recognize. It never gets dirty, is perfectly grippy, and has a great clean look.
so a black saddle and white tape is acceptable? I cant just buy a new saddle but I can exchange the black tape for white tape.
@RedRanger
Your tires are black, yes? I think it should be fine.
That is how I'm rolling right now (black tires, black saddle, white bars) and while I'm a known rule-breaker, I think it looks good - but my frame is painted black and white as well.
I do sort of wish that my saddle had some white in it, but it's usually under my ass and it feels way better than my old saddle, and I don't care too much at this current time.