Core blimey, there was me thinking those 750-760mm wide bars were wide. Then along comes the likes of FSA and more recently Kore with this whopping 800mm flat bar conception.
Bring it on..
Yes we all know FSA/Gravity had their 800mm wide riser bar out months ago. What we haven't seen before is a super wide flat bar have we?
Element have a flat bar in proto type stage and it's around the 750mm mark. Truvativ have a flat offering about to be released and my old mates at Chromag (I've been running them for 6 months now) have had a flat bar out for what seems like years!
Landed today at Superfly Central we have the Kore Torsion 800mm wide bar. Now firstly I must apologize as I rushed to get these fitted to my new Mountain Cycles Test Rig. This will be the bedrock for all new and shiny bits that land at my door in what we will call project "Patonator".. In that rush I forgot to get them on the scales, school boy error I know. You know what it's like though, new bike bit lands and your like a dog with two dicks.
Stats wise you will need a 31.8mm clamp to hold on tight. Made from 2014 T6 Double Butted Aluminum they should hold up well even with that extra leverage on the ends.
There's a 4 degree up sweep and a 9 degree back sweep which from above and sat in the cockpit looking straight down these look and feel like any "normal" wide bar! It's only when you look straight on they really stand out or "flat" should I say.
Now at a pub brawling 5ft 6ins tall I ain't got the longest legs in the World and as I said in one interview asking for tips/hints, "Never ride a bike with wheels bigger than your inside leg". Referring to our 29" weirdo relatives of course. That also means my arms are already at a reach disadvantage. That said I perched myself on top of these beasts and they actually feel pretty good.
The only downturn and especially here in the U.K is that a lot of our courses are tight and twisty through the trees. That is slowly changing as we've shown the way at the NPS - National Points Series that I run by marking them wider and having multiple line choices whenever possible.
Testing out the Chromags
What I did notice at first with my original Chromag flat bars is the lower riding height. Great in the corners and you're closer to the floor so that bit more stable. Just watch out on the jumps and drops, it took a while to correct her from some impromptu nose dives. All good now though.
Should this month's tip be to wear gloves or even those ones with padded knuckles? Up to you, I've said enough,
Except where to get these from:
UK -
www.bob-elliot.co.uk Tel: (0044) 01772 459887
States - J & B Importers (Dealer Sales Only)
Tel +1-800-666-5000
sales@jbimporters.com
Never, ever clip in..
Si Paton..
www.Descent-Gear.com Oury Lock-On Grips £14.99
I run 690mm FUNN bars (I'm guessing they were cut? I don't know, second hand bike) and even these are bordering on too big - the bike hardly fits through the door into the house, into the elevator, etc, and I've had more than one close call in the tight and twisting sections of certain trails. I guess I just prefer smaller bars.
