46cm to 44cm Noodles?

[Mike]

Hey, I'm curious if anyone has downsized their Noodles and what their
experience was. I run 48cm Noodles on my LHT and really like them for
that bike, espcially when clinbing with a load or climbing on dirt/
gravel. My Hilsen has 46s and they seem perfect for that bike. My
rando bike has 46s but I'm considering 44s and wondering how it'll
impact steering. The bike is low-trail with a Berthoud front bag. The
frame size is 63. I'm about to do some work on the bike and figure
this might be a good time to try a narrower bar.

I was originally going to put some Soma Hwy 1 bars on it but feel
those just aren't the right bar. I feel like they're too short and
shallow for that particular bike.

Thanks,

Mike

[PATRICK MOORE]

I reduced from 46 to 42 cm Noodles on the Fargo and like them much, much better -- they feel much more "natural." This holds even for riding off road on twisting singletrack. I am not huge but I am not petit: an Asian (ie, six footer-Anglo-equivalent torso) 5'10" in bare feet wearing a 42 regular. Then again, I like the 37 or 38 (flaring to ~41) Maes Parallels on my Riv roads.

In other news: lowered said 42 Noodles some 2+ cm recently with a new stem serendipitously found in my next-door-neighbors "parts to dispose of" box and find the new position even better than before: more weight on the front end while on flats, ramps and hoods, thus better handling and a more secure feeling. The bar has the same reach to ends of hoods, to center of clamp and to mid-point of hooks.

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-------------------------
Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM
For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRW
http://resumespecialties.com/index.html
-------------------------

A billion stars go spinning through the night
Blazing high above your head;
But in you is the Presence that will be
When all the stars are dead.

Ranier Maria Rilke, Buddha in Glory

[J L]

MIke,

I recently made a switch from 44cm nitto noodle bars to 42cm.  I ride frames in the 52-55cm range and I can certainly tell the difference.  The riding posture I have is not the same, the feel of the bike is not the same and the hand positions I use are not the same.  I can't say that in my experience I have noticed anything better or worse, just different.  I didn't expect the reach from the back of the bars to the brake hoods to feel so noticeably shorter but it does.  Although I didn't notice a pos/neg change to the steering and handling I did end up going through a readjustment period with bike fit after changing them.  I increased the length of the stem I was using to compensate, for example.

JL

[Mike]

Thanks JL and Patrick. I wondered if I were to go for narrower bars if
I'd feel the need to gow ith a longer stem. If I switch I'd probably
keep the same stem at first.

Patrick, are you using the Grand Bois Maes bars? I compared them to
the Noodle and, if I remember correctly, the reach was longer,
although I think the drop may have been the same. I can easily check.

--mike

[J L]

I think the experiences Patrick and I wrote about are similar.  Same stem with lower bars would garner a similar result to new stem at same height.  I actually lowered my bars after the switch too, not but much though.

[Mojo]

I remember the good old days when small guys and women used 38cm bars, medium guys 40, and bigger guys 42cm.

 

I tried a pair of 46 Noodles on my LHT and liked them, the first time for that bar and that width. So eventually I bought another pair for my road bike. There they felt too wide, perhaps because the bike is lighter and more responsive. I just put on some 44cm and they feel better. No change to handling, just a slightly narrower arm postion that fits me better. Perhaps a 42cm would feel better yet? I don't plan to spend more money and time to find out. I think I will just ride and quit the fine tweeking. I am 6ft, 180lbs, and ride 60-62cm frames. 

 

[PATRICK MOORE]

Mike: I am using the Maes Parallel and not the Maes Professional: tighter bend, flatter ramp. 125 mm drop, 115 mm reach.

JL: I first switched from 46 to 42 without changing the stem; the results were very good. Lowering the bar circa 2 cm with a 90* stem 2 spacers above headset instead of an upjutter sitting directly on the hs made it even better, though different.

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[PATRICK MOORE]

Mike: see the difference here: http://www.compasscycle.com/handlebars.html

Note that VO has a bar almost identical to the Parallel that comes in a 42, which I assume means c-c at the brake lever clamps.

BTW: VO also has a rando bar that also has the 115 mm reach and 125 mm drop but with a bit of rise on the flats: does anyone have anything similar, at least 38 cm c-c at clamps? I want to swap out the SR 185-type bar on the trike with something a bit higher (don't want to change the stem if I can avoid doing so and the stem is close to max height).

[PATRICK MOORE]

I am looking for something much like this: 

http://www.compasscycle.com/handlebars_gb_rand.html

On Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 3:19 PM, PATRICK MOORE <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:

BTW: VO also has a rando bar that also has the 115 mm reach and 125 mm drop but with a bit of rise on the flats: does anyone have anything similar, at least 38 cm c-c at clamps? I want to swap out the SR 185-type bar on the trike with something a bit higher (don't want to change the stem if I can avoid doing so and the stem is close to max height).

 

[Mike]

My friends Josh and John run the GB randonneur bars and love them. I
don't think they'd work for me with all their bends. I'd probably give
the Maes Professionals a try first (http://www.compasscycle.com/
handlebars_gb_maes_1970.html).

I hate to geek out on this but both the Noodles and the GB bars are
rather pricey and I want to make a somewhat informed decision.
Initially I was hesitant to get the Maes because the reach is 2cm
longer but I hadn't thought about how because they are narrower that
might compensate for the extra reach.

--mike

> For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRWhttp://resumespecialties.com/index.html

> -------------------------
>
> A billion stars go spinning through the night
> Blazing high above your head;
> But in you is the Presence that will be
> When all the stars are dead.
>

> Ranier Maria Rilke, Buddha in Glory- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Steve Palincsar]

On Sun, 2012-04-22 at 15:20 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote:
> I am looking for something much like this:
>
>
> http://www.compasscycle.com/handlebars_gb_rand.html

So what's wrong with exactly that one?

[PATRICK MOORE]

$$$, or lack thereof.

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[Michael_S]

It's interesting how different bikes feel with the same bars. I just built up an "87 drop bar 23 inch frame Stumpjumper for rough stuff riding and touring. On that bike the 46cm Noodles seem narrow. On my Randonneuring bike and my  Ram (now sold) they felt perfect. On the Stumpjumper, which used a new bar, I actually checked the width just to make sure.  For me, the 1st time I tried the 46 wide Noodles after a lifetime on 44's it was a OMG moment.

~mike

[BCDrums]

How about this randonneur bar from Nitto at Harris Cyclery:
http://harriscyclery.net/product/nitto-randonneur-handlebar-45-cm-width-1347.htm

It's a third less expensive than the GB, and it comes in 42 & 45cm
widths. I am using the 45 and I like it.

BC

On Apr 22, 9:10 pm, PATRICK MOORE <bertin...@gmail.com> wrote:
> $$$, or lack thereof.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 6:55 PM, Steve Palincsar <palin...@his.com> wrote:
> > On Sun, 2012-04-22 at 15:20 -0600, PATRICK MOORE wrote:
> > > I am looking for something much like this:
>
> > >http://www.compasscycle.com/handlebars_gb_rand.html
>
> > So what's wrong with exactly that one?
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> > "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
> > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com.
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> > rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
> > For more options, visit this group at
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>
> --
>
> -------------------------
> Patrick Moore, Albuquerque, NM

> For professional resumes, contact Patrick Moore, ACRWhttp://resumespecialties.com/index.html

[bicyclebill]

I'm also using the Harris/Nitto randonneur bars and like them. Mine
are the 42 and they suit my needs in daily traffic. I'm fortunate
that Harris is my LBS!

Good luck,
Bill

On Apr 24, 8:26 am, BCDrums <bcdr...@comcast.net> wrote:
> How about this randonneur bar from Nitto at Harris Cyclery:http://harriscyclery.net/product/nitto-randonneur-handlebar-45-cm-wid...