PSA: Fred Bars.

Talk about anything.

Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew

Post Reply
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

For those wanting to fit aero bars, Keep Pedalling now have Fred Bars in stock - they're not cheap but they do allow you to fit aero bars to a mountainbike with decent results.

https://keeppedalling.bigcartel.com/product/fred-bar
May the bridges you burn light your way
User avatar
thenorthwind
Posts: 2574
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:07 pm
Location: Newcastle

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by thenorthwind »

I can see the sense in that, but
Bearbonesnorm wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 9:16 pm they're not cheap
:o you're not kidding!
User avatar
Bearbonesnorm
Posts: 23904
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
Location: my own little world

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by Bearbonesnorm »

I recall they were not far off that years ago when bought directly but yes - not cheap.
May the bridges you burn light your way
Lazarus
Posts: 3598
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2013 10:49 am

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by Lazarus »

is it just for the wee bar and the clamp or do you get the aero bars with it ?

If the former then Crikey, how much
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by ScotRoutes »

Doesn't that put the aero bars awfully close to your knees? I can't see how you'd get a decent stretched position with them that close to the steerer tube.
User avatar
Karl
Posts: 619
Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2014 12:27 pm
Location: Northern Peak District
Contact:

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by Karl »

They bring the aerobars closer and higher putting you in a comfy aero style position without the normal stress on the neck. Works really well. Knowing the price of low volume manufacturing its easy to see the cost, especially when they're shipped in as well.
User avatar
thenorthwind
Posts: 2574
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:07 pm
Location: Newcastle

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by thenorthwind »

ScotRoutes wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:00 am Doesn't that put the aero bars awfully close to your knees? I can't see how you'd get a decent stretched position with them that close to the steerer tube.
I'm guessing the idea is that aero bars are designed to give you a really low stretched out (aerodynamic) position, but for the likes of us just looking for more comfort with MTB geometry, further up and back is probably better.
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by ScotRoutes »

I've fitted aero bars to normal MTB bars and they do work, a bit. Worth one or two gears into a headwind. Even then though, they are nowhere near as low as they'd be on a road bike.

Whatever works, works. I'm just struggling to see it in this case
User avatar
PaulE
Posts: 746
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2016 9:05 am
Location: Sheffield

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by PaulE »

Current trend/thinking with aero bars on TT bikes is quite high though, using the hands to interrupt the airflow around the shoulders and face. Given the proportionally longer top tube on a mountain bike, I'd think these could end up pretty close to ideal? Not sure I've enough cash to buy some, but might get busy with the milling machine and TIG welder at some point to make an approximation
Lazarus
Posts: 3598
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2013 10:49 am

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by Lazarus »

Knowing the price of low volume manufacturing its easy to see the cost, especially when they're shipped in as well.
yes but its half a stem [ or a seat post clamp] welded to a short piece of handlebar - the base materials are not going to cost more than a fiver [ or a tenner to me at shop prices] and then its one small weld - I reckon you could make it yourself for £30 or less if you can weld and have a machine.
User avatar
Dyffers
Posts: 872
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:10 pm
Location: Darkest Dorset

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by Dyffers »

I can get the same position using Zipp Vuka bars with 50mm riser kit as the arm rest clamp is separate to the bar clamp so can be moved further backwards (I've no doubt there are other bars that are similar) as per this photo:

Image
User avatar
TheBrownDog
Posts: 2107
Joined: Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:46 pm
Location: Chilterns

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by TheBrownDog »

Unless I'm missing the point (which wouldn't surprise me) SJS Cycles do bar extenders that are very strong and would do the same thing. I think.

Image
I'm just going outside ...
User avatar
UnderTheRadars
Posts: 403
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2014 8:12 pm
Location: Stourbridge/North Col of North Worcestershire Alps

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by UnderTheRadars »

Another one here who always thought they were more for comfort than aero
Image
User avatar
johnnystorm
Posts: 3947
Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:55 pm
Location: Eastern (Anglia) Front

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by johnnystorm »

UnderTheRadars wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 3:39 pm Another one here who always thought they were more for comfort than aero
That was my understanding, it's not so much aero, it's getting the weight off your hands.

Re: The bar extenders/accessory mounts above, I'm not sure I'd trust that for 10hrs a day down the GDMBR...
Last edited by johnnystorm on Thu Jul 22, 2021 6:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image
User avatar
thenorthwind
Posts: 2574
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2016 6:07 pm
Location: Newcastle

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by thenorthwind »

TheBrownDog wrote: Thu Jul 22, 2021 3:01 pm Unless I'm missing the point (which wouldn't surprise me) SJS Cycles do bar extenders that are very strong and would do the same thing. I think.

Image
Good spot, but unless your stem is longer than 55mm, you're not getting the aero bars any further back. Unless you run it backwards, but then I suspect it would be too far back.
User avatar
Dyffers
Posts: 872
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:10 pm
Location: Darkest Dorset

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by Dyffers »

Bearbonesnorm wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 9:16 pm they're not cheap
They don't break the golden £1 per gram rule though... :lol:
Lazarus
Posts: 3598
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2013 10:49 am

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by Lazarus »

SJS Cycles do bar extenders
£20 so I guess my pricing was fairly accurate
here if anyone is intereted

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/accessories ... -mm-0-deg/
User avatar
TheBrownDog
Posts: 2107
Joined: Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:46 pm
Location: Chilterns

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by TheBrownDog »

Ive got one of those SJS bar extender things and have run it under my handlebars on a few bikes to give clearance for the cables. It's a bloody great lump of a thing with chunky welds. I'd happily use it as a stem for aerobars.*


* If you do this and you die that's on you
I'm just going outside ...
yourguitarhero
Posts: 461
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 9:03 pm
Location: Edinburgh

Re: PSA: Fred Bars.

Post by yourguitarhero »

Thought this was about Freddos. I'm out!
Post Reply