[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

Steve, she could be having a bad day on the bike. A lot of riding is psychological. After riding years, you can learn to pur that aside and push on, but bonking is very real. Everyone if different. I can go out and do 40 hard miles without eating anything, but I sure don't feel 100%. For a 50 mile hard ride on Saturday, I have a Banana and a piece of bread and go like hell then eat when I get home. See if she will do better with the same amount of food next time. I know if I am going to have a bad day after the first 5 mile of riding. Most times, I keep going and overcome it. After sometime pushing hard, your body or you will forget about how bad the day is and push on once warmed up. Its a funny thing that I can't explain to you.

Earlier this year I started fasting. Most weeks I'll fast 2-3 days. There were days that I'd train for our 10k run after not having had anything but water for 24-36 or even once or twice, 48 hours. I managed to do it just fine. You can get used to working like that. I may not be at 100%, but I was really close. She didn't do any of that. There was also an issue during the ride that threw her off, so I think the two things combined may have combined to create what she experienced. I'm sure she'll be back to 100% in a time or two.

I have had all type of bars over the years, the one on Jeff's Cannondale seem to fit me best. Tell you the truth, after riding on those bar for a few days, they all feel the same. You get used to us. People like the shallow drop or compact bars is because they don't have to go so far into the drops breaking their backs. I have always ridden alum/ alloy bars and they seem to be just fine. I have carbon on my Time, and can't tell the difference. If they are too stiff (I like it that way so the bike can be thrown around without loosing energy)drop another 3 lbs on tire pressure. Hate the flat top handlebars. It puts my hands to sleep.

Those don't seem to be readily available for purchase, but I like them. There is a Cannondale C2 Ergo on Amazon for $29. Makes you wonder if it's fake, or seems more likely that it's a take off.
https://www.amazon.com/Cannondale-HBC2ERGO31-8X42BQ-Handlebar-Road-Ergo/dp/B00HHONEOQ

One of the things that I noticed that I forgot to put in my first post is that now that I'm getting the bike setup better and I'm getting stronger and more used to riding, I'm beginning to feel like the drops is a better place to be. I only very rarely ride on the flats. Most of the time, I'm on the hoods, but I'm starting to ride on the drops more and more and I like the feel. I am feeling it in my arms, shoulders and back a bit, but I just have to get stronger and get used to it. I am finding that when I'm on the hoods, my elbows want to angle out, but I'm more comfortable with my arms twisted so that my elbows point down. I'm working on that. It's not as much of an issue when I'm in the drops.

I found that Zipp makes some bars that look pretty similar. They make the Service Course 80 whether that's the SC 80 in 6061 at 320gm and $55 or the SC SL80 in 7075 at 260gm and $110. They look pretty similar. And Zipp seems to make decent quality stuff, at least, if their wheels are anything to go by.