Bending and flaring road bars for ATB set up - Advice needed

[M-Power]

Bear in mind aluminium doesnt 'just snap', its inert until stress has been applied. This changes the composition of the material, the grain and so on - this can be riding everyday so if you were to do it, I'd use new or unused bars.

Good points. Humm. Been a lot of interest in drop bar set ups on FB recently, which is not helping prices :facepalm: A set of WTBs sold for nearly £170 last week...fuxx that with shipping and import.

 

[mattr]

Re: Re:

Yeah, I have read a few posts in other threads saying the same but also people used to bend Cinelli bars bitd without issue.

FWIW the aluminium used in bars today is a whole different kettle of fish to what you might have found in the 70's or 80's.
Far more alloying elements, far more thorough heat treatment and far more accurately drawn.

All makes them very light, very stiff and very prone to work hardening.

I know i crashed and then bent back a pair of 66's when i was a kid, used them until i had some cash, and bought new ones. Pulling the tape off revealed a lovely spiral fracture starting where it'd been bent back. The stuff now you can't even crash/bend without putting all sorts of creases and cracks in it.

 

[M-Power]

Re: Re:

Yeah, I have read a few posts in other threads saying the same but also people used to bend Cinelli bars bitd without issue.

FWIW the aluminium used in bars today is a whole different kettle of fish to what you might have found in the 70's or 80's.
Far more alloying elements, far more thorough heat treatment and far more accurately drawn.

All makes them very light, very stiff and very prone to work hardening.

I know i crashed and then bent back a pair of 66's when i was a kid, used them until i had some cash, and bought new ones. Pulling the tape off revealed a lovely spiral fracture starting where it'd been bent back. The stuff now you can't even crash/bend without putting all sorts of creases and cracks in it.

Huuuuuum...food for thought there. The bars I was thinking of bending are road Cinelli's from the mid 80s. I think from a safety perspective it's prolly a non starter then. I guess il just have to stump up for a nice purpose made bar then.

 

[hamster]

How about On-One Midge? Typically around £15-20...

 

[M-Power]

How about On-One Midge? Typically around £15-20...

Great suggestion....but can't find one in 25.4 clamp size though only 31.8mm !!! I'd happily get and on-one or a Salsa Woodchipper. They look so comfy for mixed riding.

 

[531brazed]

Re:

I recently visited OWL bike charity in Sawston near Cambridge, They get a lot of donations of old bikes, have shelves full of salvaged spares. Most of it very ordinary but they get a surprising amount of goof stuff too. If you sent them a picture of what you want Im sure it will turn up at some point and you can make a donation for it.

Good place to go for a restoration project.

 

[M-Power]

Re: Re:

I recently visited OWL bike charity in Sawston near Cambridge, They get a lot of donations of old bikes, have shelves full of salvaged spares. Most of it very ordinary but they get a surprising amount of goof stuff too. If you sent them a picture of what you want Im sure it will turn up at some point and you can make a donation for it.

Good place to go for a restoration project.

Awesome tip which I will follow up 531 Brazed !!! Any excuse to go to Cambridge will do and it's for such a good cause, the Papworth Trust.

 

[Rampage]

Bear in mind aluminium doesnt 'just snap', its inert until stress has been applied. This changes the composition of the material, the grain and so on - this can be riding everyday so if you were to do it, I'd use new or unused bars.

Good points. Humm. Been a lot of interest in drop bar set ups on FB recently, which is not helping prices :facepalm: A set of WTBs sold for nearly £170 last week...fuxx that with shipping and import.

Do you have a link to that auction?

 

[M-Power]

Bear in mind aluminium doesnt 'just snap', its inert until stress has been applied. This changes the composition of the material, the grain and so on - this can be riding everyday so if you were to do it, I'd use new or unused bars.

Good points. Humm. Been a lot of interest in drop bar set ups on FB recently, which is not helping prices :facepalm: A set of WTBs sold for nearly £170 last week...fuxx that with shipping and import.

Do you have a link to that auction?

Item number is on there. Crazy price with shipping and import on top :shock:

 

[Rampage]

Re:

Thanks.
Mine are much newer version so presumably not worth as much. Shame!