It doesn't do anything that the others don't, but it is another option that's more competitively priced than options from the likes of Pro and Vision. The only downside is the drops truncate rapidly after the curve, so you'll be riding more in the hook of the bar than on the bottom section unless you opt for some bar extenders (a useful upgrade if you want to ride more on the flat section).įinally, you could opt for the EC70 bar from Easton. Given that opting for a narrower bar will probably save you more watts than swapping from a round to an aero top section, this could be the best bang for your buck of any carbon bar. Prime has the Primavera bar, which is noticeably cheaper than most other options, has internal routing and comes in a greater range of widths (down to 36cm). Also be aware the drops kink outwards near their terminus at the base of the curve, putting the base of the drops wider for descending control, but keeping the frontal area more narrow. To my mind the flat version makes more sense, as if you're buying aero bars you're not planning on spending a great deal of time on the tops anyway, so making them more ergonomic is a little daft. There's a 'Flat' version with flat, wing-shaped hoods, or an ergo version where there is a slight rise after the clamp area, leaving the wings to slope downwards. If the Pro Vibe option isn't to your tastes then you could cosplay at being Wount Van Aert with a set of Vision Metron 4D bars. While alloy aero bars may offer performance advantages at a lower price point, for those with deeper pockets or a greater obsession with weight carbon aero bars are the way to go, if you're not going all in on an integrated cockpit. The main point of difference though is the drops, which feature a much more angled shape, giving you a long, flat section in the hook of the drops if that's where you like to spend a lot of time riding. The tops are ovalised and backswept, which I've always enjoyed on other Ritchey handlebars. If you want something a little more radical then take a look at the WCS Skyline from Ritchey. The similarly priced Short Reach Bars from Specialized will also work for most applications and come in an all-matte finish, in contrast to the glossy mid-section of the prime. ![]() The Prime Doyenne Lightweight Alloy bar is especially useful for smaller riders as it comes in a 36cm width, which isn't always easy to find, and has a reasonable price tag too. Unless you go for something from the fringes with a lot of flare, a lot of reach, or a larger drop they will all feel relatively similar, so you can focus more on things like weight, or which brand logo you want peeping out either side of your stem. I will allay any fears though having tried a tonne of compact drops over the years they are all extremely similar. It's where there are the most options out there, and consequently where there is the most potential for confusion. I suspect this is going to be the main event for many of you, especially if you're putting together a bike from the ground up. It's got a 4-degree outward sweep and semi-internal cable routing if you want to keep the front end a little neater. If you want a bit of a flare to the drops then the Bontrager Elite Aero VR-CF could be up your street. It doesn't have internal routing, but smaller riders may like this as it comes in a 36cm width. If you don't want such a wing shape, the PLT Compact Ergo from Pro is more of a traditional ergo drop, but with a more subtle flattening of the tops that's halfway between an aero bar and something ergonomically instigated. ![]() If the Vision Trimax Aero doesn't float your boat then you could look at the Prime Doyenne Aero, which is relatively cheap, has internal cable routing, a pronounced wing top section, and the drops extend rearwards further than many. ![]() Sure, there will be a weight penalty, but above a relatively sedate 15kph aerodynamics trumps weight, and as the relationship between speed and air resistance isn't linear, but a square, the faster you go the benefits multiply. You get the added benefit of increased aerodynamics, without the burdensome cost of carbon. From a price-performance ratio, this is probably the most cost-effective of all the categories.
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