Just shortened the stem on both of my mountain bikes, and swiped the handlebars for one with more rise and backsweep. Age is real, and the new position allows me ti go further in comfort. If I was a roadie and the stack was too low I would have bought this in a heart beat and smiled with disdain to those who are bothered by such things. It's amazing how age makes you not give a crap about other people's perception...
I just changed the bars on my bike because at 67, a typical road geometry is too uncomfortable. I’m not going to win any TdF’s anytime soon, so I have FINALLY begun to prioritize comfort. But changing bikes every few years to accommodate the challenges of aging, ain’t happening. I have better/more important things to spend my money on!
True. I am only 55 but with ankylosing spondylitis my days of riding flat or slightly raise stems are numbered. Looks like an interesting product to look at putting on my gravel bike for not so distant future me.
You hit the nail on the head when you reference the need for us older guys needing a much more relaxed riding position due to flexibility issues. The bike industry are shit at making road bikes with frames us older guys are suited too. Frankly pathetic.
Ahh, I remember back in the good old days when I was young and hadn't destroyed my back yet with 30 years of heavy labor. I would have hated that bar then, but now I want to give it flowers and take it out to dinner. Wish me luck as a week from this morning I go under the knife to repair my spine! Maybe after I can go back to a more aggressive position on my bike. You would hate what I've had to do to my beloved Mason to keep riding pain free. Keep up the good work guys.
@@kennycube5126 First ride post-surgery was July 1st. Been logging 50-80 miles a week since. Feel great. That spinal fusion surgery was life altering. Thanks for asking. I haven't felt the need for this handlebar. Riding on the same setup.
@@marksondag2085 Yey! There is some good news in the world. Glad to hear you're clocking up the miles again. I'm out tomorrow cycling in the beautiful Gower 😁 Good times.
I'm about to turn 69 and I have a new bike with curly bars. I haven't ridden curly bars for decades and it just wasn't comfortable with the bars that came on the bike. I got the Redshift upper shelf and it is great. I'm not into speed, never was, but I am into biking comfortably. The more comfortable, the more and longer riding. If I want, I can always lower it by adding a shim to the lower bar later to see if I have adapted to curly bars once again. The drop and flare are less than the original bar and I like that too.
One year ago I bought my dream bike - Willier GTR Team, black with grey and red stripes. My first carbon bike. Beautiful, Ultegra works like magic but... previous owner(s) cut the steerer tube very short. I only have 10mm of spacers. Bars like one in your video would be a life saver if... it wasn't so wide and flared. I need 20-30mm rise to... be able to look ahead rather then down all the time
First off, they only look bad if you are a cork sniffing roadie. Those of us who aren’t riding to look like one of the cool kids don’t mind it at all. Also, these obviously aren’t made for roadies. Like much of RedShift’s gear, they are made for the gravel and touring rider who is looking for comfort over long rides. As a bike tourist, I love the multitude of hand positions you get with drop bars but I also prefer a much more upright position when riding a loaded bike for 70 miles. This is the perfect bar for people like myself.
Some thoughts: - Soma makes bars with significant rise and there's a 38cm option, previously I used the Specialized Hover bar - I went to a bikefit and bought the exact right sized bike, yet I still need a riser bar, because I'm a bit hunchback after spending nearly 30yrs behind the desk. For guys like me, products like this are godsend - But: c'mon, this is an aluminum bar, it is WAY too expensive I commented many times, but I'm happy to repeat myself again, I'd really like to see a video with James, focusing on these middle-aged body changes
I bought a bike used, and the previous owner cut the steerer tube just a little bit shorter than I would have liked. The Ritchey Corralitos bar, which has just 15mm of rise and a very shallow drop made a huge difference and improved my comfort significantly. I even had to lower my stem slightly, giving me just +10mm overall rise vs my previous setup. Sometimes that little bit of height adjustment is all you need instead of having to buy a whole new bike.
I've been running Soma Condor 2 bars with 50mm rise on my gravel bike. I like my bars even with my saddle (I'm old) and these bars allowed me to do that without exceeding the spacer limit on a carbon fork. Love 'em. The cross member on the Redshifts make them look like a BMX bar, and they have more flare than I like, so I'll stick with my Condors. But I'm glad to see the industry embrace riser drop bars, and not just 20mm models, which are basically cosmetic rise.
I got these bars and the suspension stem to make my road bike more comfortable also with wider tires and to use on my commute along tow paths and muddy lanes, I’m nearly 60 and love the relaxed feel of the bike 😊
Jimmy summarized its use cases quite nicely. Totally agree that it has its place. E.g. I bought a gravel bikepacking bike a few years back. Ghost endless road rage and in size M for my size I get about -10cm height from my saddle to my bars which is ok for 30-50km for me, but I usually ride 70-130 with some gravel in a day and it is just not for me. Swapping the bike is an option, but I would rather just go for something like that bar. I can also opt for 30 degree redshift stem, but to me it looks 'goofier' than the topshelf AND changes the steering more as well... P.S. You don't see the "doubledecker" up front if you have a handlebar bag 😁
Totally agree with your comment at 3:30... this is an incredible product for a changing fit over the years or too small a bike purchased (or steamer tube cut) situation. Though not a product for me currently, it might be!!! Well done RedShift.
Great video, and kudos for not just writing off a product like this. I just refurbished my old CX race bike from 12 years ago. When I last rode it, I was 28 and racer fit/flexible. Now I’m 40 and, well, less fit/flexible. I never expected to keep the bike that long, so of course I chopped the steerer. This bar might be exactly what I need to keep riding a bike that is very special to me.
I like this bar much better than the Specialized bar. By keeping the bar across the top it makes it very easy to add clip on aero bars. Plus with the additional rise in the handlebar I don't have to add a huge space under the aero bar armrests.
Thank you for the content and the fun you bring....first time watcher and now fan! I have a Surly LHDT and in my 50's just can't ride anymore do to lack of comfort. I just did a 500 mile tour and I had to reach for my mountain bike with long horn bars to do it. I put an order in with RS after watching this, and I have my fingers crossed that my road bike built for touring will no longer get passed over for my bigger slower Salsa MB on the next bike tour.
I like that there is the flexibility to go more upright if wanted / needed. Some times on multiday rides or as an older rider with unpredictable body aches, what feels good one day may feel miserable once your back starts to stiffen up. I also think the more interesting part of these bars is the top shelf where the stem is not in the way of accessory mounts so you can place some clip on bars to take the strain off your wrists as well as your light and a computer. I don't see this as much of a benefit for racers but for us old guys it looks really interesting and I plan to pick one up myself!
Don't forget Surly's 'Truckstop', with 30mm rise and a lot less flare. It's not just bike-for-life adjustments where riser bars are useful; injury can require quick and occasionally drastic changes to keep a bike rideable
There might be another way to use it. Mount it to your stem on the top part, it stays at a normal level than without rise, but you have now the bottom part to mount extra stuff or it could impede a bar bag from rubbing on your frame. But am not sure if that is an intended use case 😊
I'd imagine it was the story of creation: first they added the brace underneath for stabilizing handlebar bags or clamping lights and then decided to clamp the handlebar itself by this brace
I think this is a super smart product. But they do need more sizes. Narrower widths and less flare. But it is useful- Stems can only do so much for fit.
I bought a cross bike in (I think) 2013. It's a red and black Cube Cross Race Pro and it's lovely. I bought it however for commuting to keep the miles off my XT fitted Santa Cruz hardtail. This first thing I did was buy the Spesh hover bar to make it more comfortable for me. It's still being used for commuting as well as gravel riding and still has the bars on. I think the thing with these things is, we need to remember (as my mum would say). "One man's meat is another man's poison" so while some will hate it, some will go that's mint!
I noticed a lot of newer bikes (even basic ones) are going over to cables routed through the headset, which makes changing to a riser stem even harder. I mean who's asking for that on a hybrid?
I’m 6ft7 and agree with your comments 5 minutes in. I ride a 2XL canyon Grizl and the stack is 22mm lower than my old endurace road bike. With long legs I’m stretched out with a 9cm drop so this will certainly help me
You guys are going to love that super-stable bike stand! I really like my Feedback Sports stand, but it can get tippy with a heavy bike, so I ended up bolting a 2.5" u-strap to the floor and now I can slip the back leg under the strap and it is rock solid!
I think it would also be fair to say that this product is a godsend for some of us who are a bit more geezerly. I have these of these on my Surly Disc Trucker, which made it an absolute Cloud to ride. Cheers, gentlemen, and thanks for the review.
Ritchey ergomax bars are also similar. I have a set on my bike, super comfy. I used to hate the look of riser bars but as you get older and still want to ride there is no denying the comfort they offer. I’ll take comfort over a sore back anyway now! 😂
Oh I've missed these banter videos because Francis and Jimmy have very good chemistry. They give you good info in interesting ways. About the handle bars - a loot of people are going to like them. I HATE lots of weight on my hands. Everyone finds comfort in different ways.
If you're looking for more, Soma Condor (50mm) and Surly Truckstop (30mm) exist too. I opted to put a plus stem on a few years ago to make my endurance-flavored gravel bike more comfortable; there was... "interference" between my legs and stomach in the drops with the original -7 stem. It seems to work, and online bike fitting tool has my position right in the middle of "Comfort Dropbar" on the hoods, and the drops are usable without interference.
It is so you can mount your lights above the handlebar bags that usually mount somewhat above the stem height. I am currently having the same problem and finding a good mounting point for a handlebar moounted light is a pain in the butt. Also no fork mount points.
I bought a gravel bike , its extremely comfortable. I am not a 60KG 20-year pro, out of my mind on PEDS. Im a 51-year-old bloke who loves getting out on his bike, without the need to replace my spine every time I go out for a ride. :)
I don't think it looks bad at all. It is pretty neutral on looks, and the practicality of having space for tons of lights is nice. I could see this good for commuter style bikes where someone wants more hand positions than a flat bar offers - but want the semi-relaxed position. Happy to see this exists. I don't need it personally, as I am happy with my flat bar commuter and my new zippy road bike, but honestly if it was available when I bought my commuter I'd have considered it!
The thing is: not all of us who like drop bars like the aggressive roadie position as well. And good luck on fliping the stem on most of the new fully integrated bikes. I for one would actually appreciate a gravel bike with a geometry of a hardtail. Upright sitting. So this would kinda solve some of those wishes. Not for everybody, bit I’d say tue thing has a market.
I keep coming back to a LONG frame (mountainbike) with a short sterm and a heavily swept back trekking bike bar. The 40º outer grips, the negative º inward bit, it just works BOTH for my wrists. A shorter frame (road bike) and longer stem will probably work about as well.
I ride a city bike and a 160mm Enduro bike. If i buy a road/gravel bike and the bar is too low from the beginning, hence the steerer tube of the fork too short, i only have the options of more rise or a new fork. So i can see when they would come in handy...
Specialized hover bar has been around for a while and has various lift also, as well as the Ritchey Ergomax…both can be found cheaper and maybe lighter.
As someone who is staring at a 4-vertebrae spinal fusion in the future, the ability to get my position more upright will be absolutely needed if I'm going to continue to ride, and products like this will allow me to continue to ride without using one of those terrifying head tube extensions...
This is fascinating - I fit many recreational women cyclists, nervous women cyclists. I spend my life flipping stems and shortening stems and wishing the manufacturers recognised many women (not all) dont have the same body physiology as men. And so many are at the bottom of the size window..... Lots of us have long legs and v short torsos. Many dont give a damn about aesthetics, they want sustainability and they want to prevent injury. Add in age related functional shortening, hormone deficit affecting mobility....💥💥💥💥 personally cant wait to see these / try them. Reckon they will be super popular. Steve Hogg eat your heart out!
My only issue with this is the size of the clamping area. I wish they made it much wider so that you could mount a bar bag on the bottom in the usual place, freeing up the top for accessories.
Guys, thanks for reviewing this new piece of bike stuff. It would be great if you shoot a video about these handlebars with James Thomas - really interesting to hear his opinion as a bike fitter. And by the way, the most "relaxed" handlebar except these new Redshifts is Control Tech CLS FL0 Road Riser, because it not only has 20 mil of rise, but also 70 mil of reach that is practically one of the shortest on the market (the shortest I've found is 65 mil of reach).
I actually like the look of it. I had to transition to a flat bar gravel bike because of continued hand issues despite bit fitting and adaptions. But I continue to look for possible ways to get back on drop bars and this might actually do it.
Also agree with the 50+ age comment, especially if you’re trying to do long haul bikepacking. Some of the geometries just aren’t that doable. Especially if you have long torso but shorter limbs.
My Roubaix came with a Hover Bar. It was fine, but 44cm wide. I ended up replacing it eventually with a 38cm Deda Zero100. Even though I own a Roubaix, with its sproingy steerer, I don't really 'get' Redshift's products. I guess they're not for me, which is fine. I still wonder whether their springy seatpost causes pedal bob. I figure it must. There's a reason those have been tried over and over again by many brands over the decades.
What if you mount the bar using the top bar instead of the bottom like you did? Bar will be lower, like a normal one while keeping down the smaller portion to mount accessories without disturbing you 🤔
I love this thing! Since I sized down on my bike for the reach, then the stack became way shorter than I had to buy a whole new fork for this only to gain a couple of centimeters, but even with a new fork, I would still prefer a more relaxed position. I live in Amsterdam and I refuse to ride a granny bike as a daily driver, and this solution would be perfect. I know the bike manufacturer is producing more waste with mainly three sizes to fit all humans , which is ridiculous, but this product can make almost any bike fit more people or create a more relaxed position for riding on a daily basis. At least for me, anything that can make my bike more relaxed and comfortable so I can ride more is something I love, maybe not the price tag of this bar but still cheaper than a new fork :)
different angled and length stem would always be my fav. as it gives better opportunity to change angle of bars. with this one it would make the look even more weird...
My use case is the one Francis described: I bought my Cannondale R600 20 years ago when I was 45, but to ride it now I needed to flip the stem, which looks terrible from any angle. Otherwise, the bike works perfectly.
6 foot 5 and even find xl bike with 15mm specialized raise bar and lots of spacers is not enough. Would possibly consider this to have lower stack height.
Hi Francis, I love your videos! Always great fun even if the topic is not mine. Can you tell me what kind of camera strap you are wearing in this episode? I've been looking for something like that for ages.
it is a cool looking bar, to me. Reality is a high rise stem for $50 would do the same thing. I have TOS so I ride a tall stem. I also believe if reviews were not mainly focused on Race style tech and occasional featured (hint) more upright bikes for casual riders maybe we would stop buying race bikes that are the wrong size........love your channel
Another use case: I received a ostomy bag last year and especially in the beginning it was nice to sit in. More upright position on my Gravelbike. By now I am used to the bag and I am back on my aeroad doing stupid things 😅 But for people don't wanting to bike everything new, it is nice
Feels like this product exits to work in conjunction with their suspension stem that cant be flipped upside down to provide extra rise / doesn't come in a bunch of angle options.
1:30 was confusing as both my mountain bike and road bike clamping area (and ether side of the bar wheren you put stuff) is 31.8 mountain bikes went 31.8 more then 10 years before road bikes caught up. but hey putting a riser dropped bar on a gravel bike, weird. i just stuffed a 100mm reba in mine to give more rise and comfort hahaa
Using words like “furious” and “upset” about the look and design of a handlebar seems ridiculous to me. I just set up my gravel bike with the Ritchey Corralitos bar, which has 15mm of rise, 5mm of backsweep, and a very shallow drop. My bike now fits me perfectly: no hand numbness, no aching back, no stiff neck, and much more usable drops. I’m 68, been riding since age 19, with old injuries and body that, ahem, is showing its age. I still love to ride, but stopped being a “serious” cyclist about 15 years ago. I’m a dedicated unserious cyclist now, and enjoying the sport more than ever. If you don’t like the way my bike looks, don’t look at it.
Ritchey Logic also do the Ergomax range of bars with rise. But if you want a drop bar with rise, this Redshift one retains the ability to mount accessories. The bend required near the stem makes it hard to mount anything. The "crossbar" part is probably also required for strength with such a large rise. As for price, this is significantly more fabrication than a "simple" bent tube that is standard bars, so I can see why it's pricey. Certainly better value than high-end carbon bars.
It has it's place... on my CX bike! Can clamp my stem lower on the steerer, clamp on light, camera, etc. The only thing that's obscene about it is the price.
I can think of one more scenario where this riser handlebar could come handy. In Gen1 Canyon Grail in place of that double-decker handlebar! I’m not sure how long Canyon will supply crash replacement handlebars in the future but when they don’t supply them anymore, you are on your own if you happen to break your handlebar. The stack of the Grail is ridiculously low so standard handlebars won’t be a good fit. This is a scenario where this Redshift riser handlebar would be useful. Of course the aesthetics won’t be great but at least you could continue riding your bike.
I bought a Park bike working stand on Craigs List in the US. It is a professional stand with that base. I can attest to the fact that it is F-in heavy. Part of the deal was I remove it from his basement. Now in my basement, I think I will make the same deal if I ever want to sell it.
What bugs me about drop bars is there there're not an ergonomically correct spot on it to hold it, let alone support weight through hands, wrists and arms. Why, WHYYYY? When I hold the tops, my elbows are OUT. My lower arms at a strong diagonal. How am I supppsed to hold the bar now, or even rest my hand on it while the bike is rolling over terrain?
I just flipped my stem to get a bit more height on my handlebars. The Red Shift handlebars would have been an even better solution offering more comfort. I think they look boss. The price is high. But they are addressing a need that others are not.
It has not more but less space for accessories, because there are two welds in the way instead of one stem. Personally I hate it but I recognise it might work for some people.
I am not an old guy but I need this because my legs are abnormally long as compared to my arms. When my seat is raised, my arms are too far from the handlebar and vice versa.
You need to do a bike fit video with these. Being o much more upright, you may need to completely change your position and a completely different saddle would be needed.
Just shortened the stem on both of my mountain bikes, and swiped the handlebars for one with more rise and backsweep. Age is real, and the new position allows me ti go further in comfort. If I was a roadie and the stack was too low I would have bought this in a heart beat and smiled with disdain to those who are bothered by such things. It's amazing how age makes you not give a crap about other people's perception...
Right On.
I just changed the bars on my bike because at 67, a typical road geometry is too uncomfortable. I’m not going to win any TdF’s anytime soon, so I have FINALLY begun to prioritize comfort. But changing bikes every few years to accommodate the challenges of aging, ain’t happening. I have better/more important things to spend my money on!
Truth.
Age is real, indeed. I’m almost 40 and had to sell my beloved race bike, as I couldn’t ride it any longer without back pain
True. I am only 55 but with ankylosing spondylitis my days of riding flat or slightly raise stems are numbered. Looks like an interesting product to look at putting on my gravel bike for not so distant future me.
You hit the nail on the head when you reference the need for us older guys needing a much more relaxed riding position due to flexibility issues. The bike industry are shit at making road bikes with frames us older guys are suited too. Frankly pathetic.
Exactly this. And that'd because the bike industry are obsessed with performance/ racing side of cycling - not the ordinary riders.
Completely agree!!
As someone who likes to bodge old bikes together into something well performing that they were not intended for these bars were exciting to see.
Agreed! Old rigid mt bikes with these could be amazing.
@@markmarlatt1105 and they look way more pleasing to eye than current drop bars with similar rise like from surly and soma
Yeah. Or the bars that are on the specialized rubaix. Those are ugly. The ones from redshift are beautiful in comparison
Ahh, I remember back in the good old days when I was young and hadn't destroyed my back yet with 30 years of heavy labor. I would have hated that bar then, but now I want to give it flowers and take it out to dinner. Wish me luck as a week from this morning I go under the knife to repair my spine! Maybe after I can go back to a more aggressive position on my bike. You would hate what I've had to do to my beloved Mason to keep riding pain free. Keep up the good work guys.
Good luck bud hope youll be able to ride comfortably afterwards
Are you back on the bike yet? 😀
@@kennycube5126 First ride post-surgery was July 1st. Been logging 50-80 miles a week since. Feel great. That spinal fusion surgery was life altering. Thanks for asking. I haven't felt the need for this handlebar. Riding on the same setup.
@@marksondag2085 Yey! There is some good news in the world. Glad to hear you're clocking up the miles again.
I'm out tomorrow cycling in the beautiful Gower 😁 Good times.
This is ace for 90's steel gravel bike projects 🎉
I'm about to turn 69 and I have a new bike with curly bars. I haven't ridden curly bars for decades and it just wasn't comfortable with the bars that came on the bike. I got the Redshift upper shelf and it is great. I'm not into speed, never was, but I am into biking comfortably. The more comfortable, the more and longer riding. If I want, I can always lower it by adding a shim to the lower bar later to see if I have adapted to curly bars once again. The drop and flare are less than the original bar and I like that too.
One year ago I bought my dream bike - Willier GTR Team, black with grey and red stripes. My first carbon bike. Beautiful, Ultegra works like magic but... previous owner(s) cut the steerer tube very short. I only have 10mm of spacers. Bars like one in your video would be a life saver if... it wasn't so wide and flared. I need 20-30mm rise to... be able to look ahead rather then down all the time
First off, they only look bad if you are a cork sniffing roadie. Those of us who aren’t riding to look like one of the cool kids don’t mind it at all. Also, these obviously aren’t made for roadies. Like much of RedShift’s gear, they are made for the gravel and touring rider who is looking for comfort over long rides. As a bike tourist, I love the multitude of hand positions you get with drop bars but I also prefer a much more upright position when riding a loaded bike for 70 miles. This is the perfect bar for people like myself.
🎯
Umm excuse me, that artwork on that bike that you put in the stand at 7:23 is absolutely gorgeous!
Some thoughts:
- Soma makes bars with significant rise and there's a 38cm option, previously I used the Specialized Hover bar
- I went to a bikefit and bought the exact right sized bike, yet I still need a riser bar, because I'm a bit hunchback after spending nearly 30yrs behind the desk. For guys like me, products like this are godsend
- But: c'mon, this is an aluminum bar, it is WAY too expensive
I commented many times, but I'm happy to repeat myself again, I'd really like to see a video with James, focusing on these middle-aged body changes
I bought a bike used, and the previous owner cut the steerer tube just a little bit shorter than I would have liked. The Ritchey Corralitos bar, which has just 15mm of rise and a very shallow drop made a huge difference and improved my comfort significantly. I even had to lower my stem slightly, giving me just +10mm overall rise vs my previous setup. Sometimes that little bit of height adjustment is all you need instead of having to buy a whole new bike.
I've been running Soma Condor 2 bars with 50mm rise on my gravel bike. I like my bars even with my saddle (I'm old) and these bars allowed me to do that without exceeding the spacer limit on a carbon fork. Love 'em. The cross member on the Redshifts make them look like a BMX bar, and they have more flare than I like, so I'll stick with my Condors. But I'm glad to see the industry embrace riser drop bars, and not just 20mm models, which are basically cosmetic rise.
I got these bars and the suspension stem to make my road bike more comfortable also with wider tires and to use on my commute along tow paths and muddy lanes, I’m nearly 60 and love the relaxed feel of the bike 😊
The best part of opening my bike shop was the assembly of that stand. Congrats, you have arrived. 🎉
Jimmy summarized its use cases quite nicely. Totally agree that it has its place. E.g. I bought a gravel bikepacking bike a few years back. Ghost endless road rage and in size M for my size I get about -10cm height from my saddle to my bars which is ok for 30-50km for me, but I usually ride 70-130 with some gravel in a day and it is just not for me. Swapping the bike is an option, but I would rather just go for something like that bar. I can also opt for 30 degree redshift stem, but to me it looks 'goofier' than the topshelf AND changes the steering more as well... P.S. You don't see the "doubledecker" up front if you have a handlebar bag 😁
i think it looks cool AF!
Totally agree with your comment at 3:30... this is an incredible product for a changing fit over the years or too small a bike purchased (or steamer tube cut) situation. Though not a product for me currently, it might be!!! Well done RedShift.
Great video, and kudos for not just writing off a product like this. I just refurbished my old CX race bike from 12 years ago. When I last rode it, I was 28 and racer fit/flexible. Now I’m 40 and, well, less fit/flexible. I never expected to keep the bike that long, so of course I chopped the steerer. This bar might be exactly what I need to keep riding a bike that is very special to me.
As one who needs a "15 frame in length and "18 in height, it's either something like this, or a custom frame. Love it.
I’ve just bought a new Fairlight. I was really stuck between two sizes. An option like this really helps span the gap between frame geometry’s.
I like this bar much better than the Specialized bar. By keeping the bar across the top it makes it very easy to add clip on aero bars. Plus with the additional rise in the handlebar I don't have to add a huge space under the aero bar armrests.
Thank you for the content and the fun you bring....first time watcher and now fan! I have a Surly LHDT and in my 50's just can't ride anymore do to lack of comfort. I just did a 500 mile tour and I had to reach for my mountain bike with long horn bars to do it. I put an order in with RS after watching this, and I have my fingers crossed that my road bike built for touring will no longer get passed over for my bigger slower Salsa MB on the next bike tour.
So what's the reasoning behind these bars being so dang wide? I like that this is an option for people, but I don't understand that part.
Gravel and touring. More space for a bag. Compare: Ritchey VentureMax.
@@EditioCastigata But don't bikefitters always tell you you shouldn't get handlebars that are wider than your shoulder width?
@@Avioto If you tilt the STI the maths is different. Anyway, even if it were not, hard to argue against someone’s preferences.
I dont know. I am a bigger guy 97kg 193cm and 48-50cm drop bars are ideal for my shoulder width.
I like that there is the flexibility to go more upright if wanted / needed. Some times on multiday rides or as an older rider with unpredictable body aches, what feels good one day may feel miserable once your back starts to stiffen up. I also think the more interesting part of these bars is the top shelf where the stem is not in the way of accessory mounts so you can place some clip on bars to take the strain off your wrists as well as your light and a computer. I don't see this as much of a benefit for racers but for us old guys it looks really interesting and I plan to pick one up myself!
This is the premier bicycle youtube channel. Keep up the good work.
Don't forget Surly's 'Truckstop', with 30mm rise and a lot less flare. It's not just bike-for-life adjustments where riser bars are useful; injury can require quick and occasionally drastic changes to keep a bike rideable
I think it's a really cool bar. Wish it was available without the flare, or much less.
There might be another way to use it. Mount it to your stem on the top part, it stays at a normal level than without rise, but you have now the bottom part to mount extra stuff or it could impede a bar bag from rubbing on your frame. But am not sure if that is an intended use case 😊
I'd imagine it was the story of creation: first they added the brace underneath for stabilizing handlebar bags or clamping lights and then decided to clamp the handlebar itself by this brace
Diameter wouldn't be correct.
@@JeanFrancoisDesrosiers True, but 25.4 (I think they said) stems can be found, or you can use a shim. (I've used both on my 2001 MTB with 25.4 bars).
Amazing idea for £140 where accessory bracket cost 20 times less
@@JeanFrancoisDesrosiers yeah, probably. Would have been nice if it could be used this way though :-)
I think this is a super smart product. But they do need more sizes. Narrower widths and less flare. But it is useful- Stems can only do so much for fit.
I bought a cross bike in (I think) 2013. It's a red and black Cube Cross Race Pro and it's lovely. I bought it however for commuting to keep the miles off my XT fitted Santa Cruz hardtail. This first thing I did was buy the Spesh hover bar to make it more comfortable for me. It's still being used for commuting as well as gravel riding and still has the bars on. I think the thing with these things is, we need to remember (as my mum would say). "One man's meat is another man's poison" so while some will hate it, some will go that's mint!
I noticed a lot of newer bikes (even basic ones) are going over to cables routed through the headset, which makes changing to a riser stem even harder. I mean who's asking for that on a hybrid?
I’m 6ft7 and agree with your comments 5 minutes in. I ride a 2XL canyon Grizl and the stack is 22mm lower than my old endurace road bike. With long legs I’m stretched out with a 9cm drop so this will certainly help me
You guys are going to love that super-stable bike stand! I really like my Feedback Sports stand, but it can get tippy with a heavy bike, so I ended up bolting a 2.5" u-strap to the floor and now I can slip the back leg under the strap and it is rock solid!
I think it would also be fair to say that this product is a godsend for some of us who are a bit more geezerly. I have these of these on my Surly Disc Trucker, which made it an absolute Cloud to ride. Cheers, gentlemen, and thanks for the review.
Ritchey ergomax bars are also similar. I have a set on my bike, super comfy. I used to hate the look of riser bars but as you get older and still want to ride there is no denying the comfort they offer. I’ll take comfort over a sore back anyway now! 😂
Oh I've missed these banter videos because Francis and Jimmy have very good chemistry. They give you good info in interesting ways. About the handle bars - a loot of people are going to like them. I HATE lots of weight on my hands. Everyone finds comfort in different ways.
If you're looking for more, Soma Condor (50mm) and Surly Truckstop (30mm) exist too.
I opted to put a plus stem on a few years ago to make my endurance-flavored gravel bike more comfortable; there was... "interference" between my legs and stomach in the drops with the original -7 stem. It seems to work, and online bike fitting tool has my position right in the middle of "Comfort Dropbar" on the hoods, and the drops are usable without interference.
It is so you can mount your lights above the handlebar bags that usually mount somewhat above the stem height. I am currently having the same problem and finding a good mounting point for a handlebar moounted light is a pain in the butt. Also no fork mount points.
I have a G1 Canyon grail and it seems like a great replacement handle bar for the double decker
Looks like that Redshift bar could work as a replacement for the old Canyon Grail double decker handlebars
I bought a gravel bike , its extremely comfortable. I am not a 60KG 20-year pro, out of my mind on PEDS. Im a 51-year-old bloke who loves getting out on his bike, without the need to replace my spine every time I go out for a ride. :)
What about the 51 year olds who are out of their minds on PED’s? Different use case for them?
I don't think it looks bad at all. It is pretty neutral on looks, and the practicality of having space for tons of lights is nice.
I could see this good for commuter style bikes where someone wants more hand positions than a flat bar offers - but want the semi-relaxed position.
Happy to see this exists. I don't need it personally, as I am happy with my flat bar commuter and my new zippy road bike, but honestly if it was available when I bought my commuter I'd have considered it!
The thing is: not all of us who like drop bars like the aggressive roadie position as well. And good luck on fliping the stem on most of the new fully integrated bikes. I for one would actually appreciate a gravel bike with a geometry of a hardtail. Upright sitting. So this would kinda solve some of those wishes. Not for everybody, bit I’d say tue thing has a market.
I keep coming back to a LONG frame (mountainbike) with a short sterm and a heavily swept back trekking bike bar. The 40º outer grips, the negative º inward bit, it just works BOTH for my wrists. A shorter frame (road bike) and longer stem will probably work about as well.
I ride a city bike and a 160mm Enduro bike. If i buy a road/gravel bike and the bar is too low from the beginning, hence the steerer tube of the fork too short, i only have the options of more rise or a new fork. So i can see when they would come in handy...
Specialized hover bar has been around for a while and has various lift also, as well as the Ritchey Ergomax…both can be found cheaper and maybe lighter.
As someone who is staring at a 4-vertebrae spinal fusion in the future, the ability to get my position more upright will be absolutely needed if I'm going to continue to ride, and products like this will allow me to continue to ride without using one of those terrifying head tube extensions...
Dig it. You can mount your lights or accessories in the middle now.
Looks like the original DMR wing bar - obv this has drops on it as well.
This is fascinating - I fit many recreational women cyclists, nervous women cyclists. I spend my life flipping stems and shortening stems and wishing the manufacturers recognised many women (not all) dont have the same body physiology as men. And so many are at the bottom of the size window..... Lots of us have long legs and v short torsos. Many dont give a damn about aesthetics, they want sustainability and they want to prevent injury. Add in age related functional shortening, hormone deficit affecting mobility....💥💥💥💥 personally cant wait to see these / try them. Reckon they will be super popular. Steve Hogg eat your heart out!
I’d be more than happy to home your old stand. That’s the last piece (and a lot of other tools) to complete my home workshop! I’m based in Germany 🙏🙏
On those big drop bar 29er/mountain bikes, they’re designed where the drops are the primary position. This would work for bikes like that
I love them and need the rise for my 60 year old back. Thanks red shift.
My only issue with this is the size of the clamping area. I wish they made it much wider so that you could mount a bar bag on the bottom in the usual place, freeing up the top for accessories.
Guys, thanks for reviewing this new piece of bike stuff. It would be great if you shoot a video about these handlebars with James Thomas - really interesting to hear his opinion as a bike fitter. And by the way, the most "relaxed" handlebar except these new Redshifts is Control Tech CLS FL0 Road Riser, because it not only has 20 mil of rise, but also 70 mil of reach that is practically one of the shortest on the market (the shortest I've found is 65 mil of reach).
Should have wrapped everything apart from the bottom part with white bar tape to make it look like a handlebar moustache :)
this Handlebar was the solution to all my problems
I've just purchased some Surly Truck stop, 30mm rise. They are the badgers ....
I actually like the look of it. I had to transition to a flat bar gravel bike because of continued hand issues despite bit fitting and adaptions. But I continue to look for possible ways to get back on drop bars and this might actually do it.
Also agree with the 50+ age comment, especially if you’re trying to do long haul bikepacking. Some of the geometries just aren’t that doable. Especially if you have long torso but shorter limbs.
I've that Redshift are planning a more road-based version in smaller widths and only 10° flare.
Hmmm...
Surly makes a riser drop bar as well! They do the Truck Stop Bar
My Roubaix came with a Hover Bar. It was fine, but 44cm wide. I ended up replacing it eventually with a 38cm Deda Zero100.
Even though I own a Roubaix, with its sproingy steerer, I don't really 'get' Redshift's products. I guess they're not for me, which is fine.
I still wonder whether their springy seatpost causes pedal bob. I figure it must. There's a reason those have been tried over and over again by many brands over the decades.
Should be a perfect addition to my bikepacking bike.
]i have worried about my Canyon Grail with the hover bar, What do I do if the bar fails, This with a custom stem would probably do it.
Ritchey also makes the Ergomax bar which has a bit of rise
Don’t be scared of change , I’m up to trying it , I’ll take comfort any day especially on a bike when u riding over 30miles
You missed out the Surly Truck Stop bar in your list of riser drop bars
What if you mount the bar using the top bar instead of the bottom like you did?
Bar will be lower, like a normal one while keeping down the smaller portion to mount accessories without disturbing you 🤔
I love this thing! Since I sized down on my bike for the reach, then the stack became way shorter than I had to buy a whole new fork for this only to gain a couple of centimeters, but even with a new fork, I would still prefer a more relaxed position.
I live in Amsterdam and I refuse to ride a granny bike as a daily driver, and this solution would be perfect. I know the bike manufacturer is producing more waste with mainly three sizes to fit all humans , which is ridiculous, but this product can make almost any bike fit more people or create a more relaxed position for riding on a daily basis.
At least for me, anything that can make my bike more relaxed and comfortable so I can ride more is something I love, maybe not the price tag of this bar but still cheaper than a new fork :)
different angled and length stem would always be my fav. as it gives better opportunity to change angle of bars. with this one it would make the look even more weird...
Soma and Surly also both make riser drop bars!
Why not design the bars to clamp on the flat part of the TOP bar and use the lower appendage for knick knacks?
I use a hoverbar from Controltech, although they call it a riserbar
My use case is the one Francis described: I bought my Cannondale R600 20 years ago when I was 45, but to ride it now I needed to flip the stem, which looks terrible from any angle. Otherwise, the bike works perfectly.
6 foot 5 and even find xl bike with 15mm specialized raise bar and lots of spacers is not enough. Would possibly consider this to have lower stack height.
Hi Francis, I love your videos! Always great fun even if the topic is not mine. Can you tell me what kind of camera strap you are wearing in this episode? I've been looking for something like that for ages.
it is a cool looking bar, to me. Reality is a high rise stem for $50 would do the same thing. I have TOS so I ride a tall stem. I also believe if reviews were not mainly focused on Race style tech and occasional featured (hint) more upright bikes for casual riders maybe we would stop buying race bikes that are the wrong size........love your channel
Another use case: I received a ostomy bag last year and especially in the beginning it was nice to sit in. More upright position on my Gravelbike.
By now I am used to the bag and I am back on my aeroad doing stupid things 😅
But for people don't wanting to bike everything new, it is nice
Feels like this product exits to work in conjunction with their suspension stem that cant be flipped upside down to provide extra rise / doesn't come in a bunch of angle options.
1:30 was confusing as both my mountain bike and road bike clamping area (and ether side of the bar wheren you put stuff) is 31.8 mountain bikes went 31.8 more then 10 years before road bikes caught up.
but hey putting a riser dropped bar on a gravel bike, weird. i just stuffed a 100mm reba in mine to give more rise and comfort hahaa
Using words like “furious” and “upset” about the look and design of a handlebar seems ridiculous to me. I just set up my gravel bike with the Ritchey Corralitos bar, which has 15mm of rise, 5mm of backsweep, and a very shallow drop. My bike now fits me perfectly: no hand numbness, no aching back, no stiff neck, and much more usable drops. I’m 68, been riding since age 19, with old injuries and body that, ahem, is showing its age. I still love to ride, but stopped being a “serious” cyclist about 15 years ago. I’m a dedicated unserious cyclist now, and enjoying the sport more than ever. If you don’t like the way my bike looks, don’t look at it.
Ritchey Logic also do the Ergomax range of bars with rise.
But if you want a drop bar with rise, this Redshift one retains the ability to mount accessories. The bend required near the stem makes it hard to mount anything. The "crossbar" part is probably also required for strength with such a large rise.
As for price, this is significantly more fabrication than a "simple" bent tube that is standard bars, so I can see why it's pricey. Certainly better value than high-end carbon bars.
Another great video, after breaking my neck I would consider this bar. Just wondered what your mount /light combo was?
It has it's place... on my CX bike!
Can clamp my stem lower on the steerer, clamp on light, camera, etc.
The only thing that's obscene about it is the price.
Orbea make a riser bar too, 15mm riser for the one I have anyway.
Have one on my Avant. Great bar.
Can it be mounted on the "top-tube" and use the lower exclusively as an accessory mount?
It’s ideal for when you want a dropped top-tube to fit bags onto it.
I think it looks alright, similar to the bars on the Cervelo S5.
I can think of one more scenario where this riser handlebar could come handy. In Gen1 Canyon Grail in place of that double-decker handlebar! I’m not sure how long Canyon will supply crash replacement handlebars in the future but when they don’t supply them anymore, you are on your own if you happen to break your handlebar. The stack of the Grail is ridiculously low so standard handlebars won’t be a good fit. This is a scenario where this Redshift riser handlebar would be useful. Of course the aesthetics won’t be great but at least you could continue riding your bike.
damn that paint-job on the bike in the end is lit AF!
Custom Sharpie Design @cademedia , who done it?
I bought a Park bike working stand on Craigs List in the US. It is a professional stand with that base. I can attest to the fact that it is F-in heavy. Part of the deal was I remove it from his basement. Now in my basement, I think I will make the same deal if I ever want to sell it.
What bugs me about drop bars is there there're not an ergonomically correct spot on it to hold it, let alone support weight through hands, wrists and arms. Why, WHYYYY?
When I hold the tops, my elbows are OUT. My lower arms at a strong diagonal. How am I supppsed to hold the bar now, or even rest my hand on it while the bike is rolling over terrain?
I just flipped my stem to get a bit more height on my handlebars. The Red Shift handlebars would have been an even better solution offering more comfort. I think they look boss. The price is high. But they are addressing a need that others are not.
What is James's opinion on that?
James = explicit language
It has not more but less space for accessories, because there are two welds in the way instead of one stem. Personally I hate it but I recognise it might work for some people.
Good idea if you ask me, looks better than tons of spacers.
Awesome . At last I can take all the spacers out of my stem so I can go for the slammed look 👀 😂
This is perfect to turn a 90s MTB into a gravelbike.
I am not an old guy but I need this because my legs are abnormally long as compared to my arms. When my seat is raised, my arms are too far from the handlebar and vice versa.
You need to do a bike fit video with these. Being o much more upright, you may need to completely change your position and a completely different saddle would be needed.