New Handlebar

[creadinger]

When I got my touring bike I realized a lot of things I don’t like about my older bike – a Fuji ‘Cross bike, which is now relegated to shorter functional trips and occasional commutes.

One thing I’d like to fix is that the handlebars flex on the Fuji when I’m pulling or pushing on them. I’m a big guy – 6’5″ 260 or so and I prefer the extremely strong no-flex feel of the Salsa handlebars I have on my tourer.

#1 – Is the flexing solely due to the handlebars or could it also be the stem?

I’d like to upgrade and while I’m at it I’m gonna get wider bars to accommodate my broad shoulders. Right now the big thing causing me to pause on this project is that the Salsa bars have a large diameter tube where it clamps to the stem.

#2 – Does the wider diameter Salsa tube mean I’ll have to get a new stem as well? A headset too possibly?

I only have experience with the stock bar that came on my Fuji and the Salsa bar that was recommended when I had my IF built so if you guys have any other suggestions I’d have happy to hear them.

Topic

[Dirt]

I don’t have the audio turned on, so I have no idea what this guy is saying. I will say that he’s got really huge arms and spectacular tattoos. There’s some value in that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-fG76hbx2w&feature=fvst

[txgoonie]

@Dirt 19361 wrote:

I don’t have the audio turned on, so I have no idea what this guy is saying. I will say that he’s got really huge arms and spectacular tattoos. There’s some value in that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-fG76hbx2w&feature=fvst

Ha! When I was teaching myself to wrap bar tape, I clicked on this video simply because I thought the Leopard Trek-ish bar tape color was awesome (and it wasn’t 10 minutes long). Turns out the video told me everything I needed to know. Except I like to put the finishing tape so it’s partly on the handlebar tape and partly on the bar. I like the idea of it being “sealed.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7TJ_hz_JSM

I happen to like Fizik handlebar tape, too — the suede-y, soft kind, though.

[Dirt]

@txgoonie 19369 wrote:

I happen to like Fizik handlebar tape, too — the suede-y, soft kind, though.

Amen, sista! That tape is AWESOME!!!

SRAM SuperCork is a close second. Not as light weight, but a little more padding. Quite durable too… and it is available in some color that I’m fond of…. slips my mind at the moment what color that might be….

[Author]

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