Want to Buy WTB dirt drops

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dean899

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Sep 8, 2013, 2:28:29 PM9/8/13
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Still looking for a original WTB dirt drop bar for a cx bike (i guess its that time of year) not concerned about condition as long as its usable. It will be put to use and not resold on flea bay or put in a parts bin..... the Midge I am using just doesn't "feel right"

Patrick Moore

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Sep 9, 2013, 4:37:51 PM9/9/13
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Curious: What doesn't feel right about the Midge? I tried on the Fargo -- described voluminously on list -- and found it the best of all the 6 or 8 different off road drop bars that I've tried over the years (including the original WTB). My problem with it was that with such short hooks I could not set it up with ends of hooks level to ground, which I must do to be comfortable. And after all is said and done, it was just too damned wide.

A desperate and, as I thought, merely interim replacement was a pair of 44 cm Nitto B 135 Randos going cheap on this list. I did not have high hopes. Lo and behold (Low and Behowld) they turned out to be as close as this sorrowful lower world allows to the perfect bar for the Fargo of all that I've used, and they are legion.


On Sun, Sep 8, 2013 at 12:28 PM, dean899 <monte...@gmail.com> wrote:
Still looking for a original WTB dirt drop bar for a cx bike (i guess its that time of year) not concerned about condition as long as its usable. It will be put to use and not resold on flea bay or put in a parts bin..... the Midge I am using just doesn't "feel right"

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dean899

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Sep 9, 2013, 4:59:28 PM9/9/13
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the short hooks seem to be the problem (I do not have them level to the ground but rather the ends slightly north of parallel) with my hands in the drops there just doesn't seem to be enough room to get comfortable. My hands are not huge but I want a little more room.... I always feel like I'm losing my grip.  Also I had a LD stem made and its a little taller than I like so the deeper drop of the WTB bar and roomier drops may be the ticket.

Mike Schiller

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Sep 9, 2013, 5:09:55 PM9/9/13
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Someone from Poland has some NOS WTB bars on Ebay  right now. The drop looks pretty deep on them from the pics. I tried the newer version WTB's,  the Midges, the Luxy's  and the Nitto RM013's before I discovered the Gary II bars. They are wide and not as  flared as the Luxy's and seem to be the magic shape for me.

dean899

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Sep 9, 2013, 10:38:31 PM9/9/13
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short hooks don't leave much room for my hands.  i have them mounted with the bar ends just north of parallel and i always seem to feel like im going to lose my grip.   i also have a LD stem that might be a little tall so the deep drop and larger bend would give me a better fit presumably

dean899

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Sep 9, 2013, 10:42:28 PM9/9/13
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The bars on ebay are not the original WTB bars..  have tried the new WTB bar and did not care for the ergo bend.   midge just doesn't seem to have enough room in the drops to keep me comfortable
'

sameness

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Sep 10, 2013, 4:04:29 AM9/10/13
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Those bars on Ebay just... don't... look... right? Maybe it's just the photos, but as Mike pointed out, the drops look perilously deeper than any original Dirt Drops I've ever owned or seen. Also, all were sleeved, not bulged a la the auction.

Not sure if you've ridden on Cunningham-era bars and attendant variations, but short of the Specialized BB-1, you might find the tops a bit too narrow for CX, esp. if you plan to run interruptor levers. Just my two bits.

(Those Nitto RM-013s are a readily available compromise if you're after both flare and tops.)

Jeff Hagedorn
Warragul, VIC Australia

Phil Bickford

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Sep 10, 2013, 2:10:01 PM9/10/13
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On Tuesday, September 10, 2013 1:04:29 AM UTC-7, sameness wrote:
Those bars on Ebay just... don't... look... right? Maybe it's just the photos, but as Mike pointed out, the drops look perilously deeper than any original Dirt Drops I've ever owned or seen. Also, all were sleeved, not bulged a la the auction.

Not sure if you've ridden on Cunningham-era bars and attendant variations, but short of the Specialized BB-1, you might find the tops a bit too narrow for CX, esp. if you plan to run interruptor levers. 

The most natural spot to handle the Dirt Drops were in the drops, (or from the drops to the ends Patrick) for me.  Riding on the hoods seemed too narrow, as well as on the tops, but then again that might be the spot a CX racer would spend most time - as low as one could get.
My experiences with the Midge is different.  All positions are comfortable, but, yeah they do still feel a little strange.
Phil B

dean899

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Sep 11, 2013, 6:16:01 PM9/11/13
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i always ride in the drops it gives me the most control on and off road. i had the ld stem made specifically for the purpose of bein g in the drops 99% of the time .  riding on the hoods or top of the bar puts me in a position that is too upright for CX. i can only hope to find a bar with enough drop and be a little more real estates in the hooks

Clayton

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Sep 13, 2013, 1:39:46 PM9/13/13
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I too, have found that a high stem is the way to go with wood chippers, et al. I have had several back surgeries and like to be in the drops most of the time for control. Sitting up straight as a pole with my hands on the tops is a nice bonus for comfort!

cyclotourist

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Sep 13, 2013, 7:45:45 PM9/13/13
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Here's a handy visual showing how dirt drops (lower case) are best set up:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclotourist/4576760855/


On 9/13/13, Clayton <treef...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NsyviQvsrVQ/UjNNyV72YBI/AAAAAAAAACs/SBpPDWpoikk/s1600/IMG_0219.JPG>
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Cheers,
David

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clayton bailey

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Sep 13, 2013, 10:11:56 PM9/13/13
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Thanks for the link!



From: cyclotourist <cyclot...@gmail.com>
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2013 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: [RBW] Re: Want to Buy WTB dirt drops
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Cheers,
David

"it isn't a contest. Just enjoy the ride." - Seth Vidal

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cyclotourist

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Sep 13, 2013, 10:20:32 PM9/13/13
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I'm here to help...
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