philip bailey wrote:
>I do like the cost of most 25.4 bars and stems (before multiple $10 shims
>for various paraphernalia), but 26 bars will be much easier in fitting items
>properly. I also think that 26mm should be proper ergo grip, especially for
>larger males. The OS 31.8 bars are still just 26mm where the hands grip it,
>and are just reinforced at the stem for stability (no real difference except
>price and subjective feelings).
I'm afraid you're confused. The 25.4, 26.0 and 31.8 dimensions only refer to the middle of the bar, the bulged area that fits into the stem.
Whatever the middle dimension, basically all aluminum bars are 15/16"
(23.8 mm) at the drops and where the brake levers clamp on.
>So 26mm is effectively state of ergo art
>(like fat Waterman ball point pens), so 25.4 bars are obsolete as far as I'm
>concerned (but maybe not someone with smaller grips would think so).
Nothing to do with grip size. 25.4 mm (1 inch) is the ISO standard
bar/stem interface. It is also the size used on all normal upright
bars and most older drop bars.
>It will
>be a huge jump from the 22.2mm I'm used to on my 1971 Supercourse. Nitto!
No, it's only 1.6 mm or 1/16".
In drop bars, the 22.2 mm (7/8") size was used for steel bars, with 23.8 mm (15/16") for aluminum bars. Steel drop bars are extinct now, so 23.8 mm is the only game in town for modern drop bars.
Some of the "oversized" bars 31.8 mm ( 1 1/4") clamp size are fatter _above_ the brake mounts, but from the brake mounts down, they're all the same standard 23.8 mm. They have to be, or they wouldn't fit standard brake levers.
Sheldon "Numbers" Brown
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