Are good 26.0 handlebars extinct?

[the mayor]

Time to replace the bars on my bikes.
Can't find any good ergo 44c-c bars with a 26.0 clamp.( can find some heavy low end stuff)
Anyone know of a stash?
Or is it time to give up the Syntace 99 stems and go 31.8?

[DaveG]

Time to replace the bars on my bikes.
Can't find any good ergo 44c-c bars with a 26.0 clamp.( can find some heavy low end stuff)
Anyone know of a stash?
Or is it time to give up the Syntace 99 stems and go 31.8?

not quite extinct but definitively on the endangered species list. Deda still makes them. A search of Deda handlebar 26.0 turned up some options

[oldandtired]

Second that, Deda 215

[FBinNY]

As others said, they're getting scarce. In fact, decent aluminum bars are getting harder to find as the market forces drive to carbon. Those still making aluminum bars are moving to the 31.8mm stem diameter, so they can fit what's now becoming a default standard.

BTW- I still have a small number of Oval Concepts 26mm aluminum bars and stems if anyone needs.

[tihsepa]

As others said, they're getting scarce. In fact, decent aluminum bars are getting harder to find as the market forces drive to carbon. Those still making aluminum bars are moving to the 31.8mm stem diameter, so they can fit what's now becoming a default standard.

BTW- I still have a small number of Oval Concepts 26mm aluminum bars and stems if anyone needs.

I agree with everything except the part about the market moving to carbon bars. They will always be there but a good set of alloy bars are equal in every way but price. With only a very very slight weight penalty.

Check Ritchey. The WCS line of alloy bars are supurb.

[the mayor]

I'm a fan of Ritchey bars....but they are all 31.8 now according to an email from them.
Might be time to Ebay my Syntace stems and move up to 31.8

[oldandtired]

Here you go

Universal Cycles -- Handlebars & Upgrades > Road Handlebars > All 26.0 Bars

[the mayor]

Here you go

Universal Cycles -- Handlebars & Upgrades > Road Handlebars > All 26.0 Bars

Been there...
Unless I want hipster dufus fixie bars....all the good stuff is gone.

[steelbikerider]

Try these guys
Deda 215 Handlebar, 26.0mm
All they had when i bought last summer were shallow drop.

[the mayor]

Try these guys
Deda 215 Handlebar, 26.0mm
All they had when i bought last summer were shallow drop.

Says they are the round bend....I want ergo....but I'll give them a call. Thanks

[MerlinAma]

Time to replace the bars on my bikes.
Can't find any good ergo 44c-c bars with a 26.0 clamp.( can find some heavy low end stuff)
Anyone know of a stash?
Or is it time to give up the Syntace 99 stems and go 31.8?

I've got Ritchey ergo bars 26.0 on my bikes.

Really sad to hear these are no longer available.

[PRB]

You can still find some new Ritchey 26.0 bars on eBay.

I think Salsa still makes 26.0 bars and they seem to be decent quality. I have the Bell Lap on my CX bike; the ergo shape/angle is very similar to the Ritcheys.

[tarwheel2]

I've got some used Ritchey ergo bars 26.0 and 44 cm wide, both black and silver. Send me a PM if interested

[the mayor]

thanks for the offers for used bars.....but that's what I'm getting rid of.
I change out my bars...whether they are carbon or alloy....every few years.
I'll be putting 6 used bars up on Ebay soon ...or maybe I'll put them in the classifieds here.
Ridden by an old man....never crashed

[mcjerry]

Why change out handlebars??

[the mayor]

Why change out handlebars??

They can break.
Even if never crashed.
I have broken a few in crashes...both carbon and alloy.
BUT...I have had 2 alloys fail that were never crashed. 1 about 1/2 inch from the stem and 1 about 1/2 inch below the brake lever ( which was caused by salt build up under the tape)

[SystemShock]

To the OP: Could be worse. You could, like me, want 26.0 alloys in a medium- or deep-drop ROUND classic bend (i.e. not the 'variable radius' or 'egg-bend' that's suddenly the rage).

Try finding a lot of those these days, especially with grooves.
.

[Pierre]

I do have a stash. Will check what I have in that size - they don't sell high when I list them on ebay, so these are not the highest priority things to sell, and as a result they are piling up.
As somebody mentions above, round bend is much more difficult to find.

[Quattro_Assi_07]

They can break.
Even if never crashed.
I have broken a few in crashes...both carbon and alloy.
BUT...I have had 2 alloys fail that were never crashed. 1 about 1/2 inch from the stem and 1 about 1/2 inch below the brake lever ( which was caused by salt build up under the tape)

Wow, I've got over 30 years of cycling under my belt and have never had a handlebar actually break on me, even those that I've crashed on. My original 1982 Miyata Pro still has its original Dura Ace handlebar. I'd like to see someone try and replace that every few years! Ain't gonna happen!

[the mayor]

Take a look at the 'handlebar corrosion" thread. There's a pic there that looks like my bikes when I remove the tape.

[Pierre]

OK, I just checked: in 44 c-c 26.0 with anatomic bend, I have a Ritchey Pro, an Easton EC90 carbon, and... a 3T Prima 199. I thought I had only cheap stuff, but these are all pretty nice bars. If interested, email pierre dot moreels at gmail

It's pretty simple why these are hard to find - this is a large size, few people use it. Most handlebars I come across are 42 c-c or 42 end-to-end.

[biminyrd]

Tarwheel2
Do you still have the bars.? I can't pm you.

[FBinNY]

Tarwheel2
Do you still have the bars.? I can't pm you.

I still have a number of NOS 26mm road bars and stems, mainly from Oval Concepts. You can email me via the link on the Chain-L.com site.

[biminyrd]

thanks, but i'm specifically looking for Ritchey bars.

[FBinNY]

thanks, but i'm specifically looking for Ritchey bars.

You're welcome, good luck. I too miss 26mm bars.