Wow, that CX bike is incredible. Did you ever hear from anyone else with a fillet-brazed Bontrager cyclocross bike?
To stay on topic - cutting the sweep ends off flared drops is inadvisable, and the Portola bars are very similar to the RM-3s, Midge, and original WTB. I had a LeMond for a while with Portola bars. that was stolen. Here’s a $20 Midge bar in SF: https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/bop/d/san-francisco-on-one-midge-bar/7560429801.html Philip Sonoma County, Calif On Sun, Dec 11, 2022 at 8:12 AM 'Bikie#4646' via RBW Owners Bunch < rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com> wrote: > Drew, Philip & others, > While this is not a Rivendell, the bike does sport the Soma Portolas in > this discussion. They are on a Bontrager CX that I commissioned from Keith > Bontrager in 1989: > > https://flickr.com/photos/bikecrazy-paul/albums/72157704888845842/with/33876168088/ > Ironically, when I built it up, used the original WTB Dirt Drops - also a > part of this discussion - with a custom filet brazed stem by Steve Potts. > (I'm covering all the bases here!) > http://www.cyclofiend.com/cx/2010/cx057-paulgermain0410.html > Being an east coaster, my only experience with the bars (and bar end > shifters) was a short ride on Jacquie Phelan's Cunningham Indian while she > was in Massachusetts for the first Ross Stage Race in 1986 -1987. That's > why the bars are truncated like that. I had figured on some tight trail > rides for the bike, but I wound up using it more for fire roads. (I > regretted cutting them, so did an update on some of the components a few > years ago.) > Essentially, the shallow drops make them more accessible for doing > shorter, more demanding riding than road stuff, in my opinion. > Paul Germain > Midlothian, Va. > > On Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 1:52:04 PM UTC-5 Drew Saunders wrote: > >> Steve Potts has reintroduced a new version of the original WTB dirt drop, >> which Soma is selling: >> >> https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/steve-potts-original-dirt-drop-bar-31-8-60cm-5910 >> >> I have the real original WTB bars, bought in 1999, on my Ibis Mojo, and I >> would definitely get these new ones if I had the space for another bike. >> >> Drew >> On Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 9:29:59 AM UTC-8 wboe...@gmail.com >> wrote: >> >>> Check out WhatBars <https://whatbars.com/> to compare profiles for many >>> of the offerings out there. As I recall, the Portola is a similar profile >>> to the Ritcheys I like, except I needed 31.8 instead of 26. >>> >>> Will >>> >>> On Sat, Dec 10, 2022 at 10:34 AM Pancake <abe.g...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> Soma Portola - https://www.somafab.com/archives/product/portola-bar >>>> 56cm wide at the flared ends but 45.5cm on the hoods >>>> Meets your 26mm diameter requirement. >>>> >>>> That’s where I landed when I was looking for a similar change (wider, >>>> more flared noodle, less drop, less reach). They’ve been great. Though like >>>> another poster, I just swapped them for Albatross bars (though upside down >>>> and with bar ends mounted in the middle so I get a hood like position). >>>> I’ve tried RM-013 and noodles, the the Portola was the best so far. I’m >>>> also curious about the 600mm Towel Rack but haven’t tried it. >>>> >>>> Description from soma: >>>> This bar is similar to our June Bug dirt drop bar, except it uses a >>>> 26.0mm center and comes in a narrower width. Nice option to try for >>>> adventure touring, trail riding or commuting. 112mm drop. 65mm reach. Grips >>>> have a slight flare. Width at lever mounting area: 41cm (53cm size), 45.5cm >>>> (56cm size) approx. - Polished 6061 T6 aluminum - 53 and 56cm widths >>>> (measured center to center at bar ends) - 26.0mm center >>>> >>>> On Friday, December 9, 2022 at 6:36:15 AM UTC-8 bjmi...@gmail.com >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hey everyone! >>>>> I posted earlier about reach in converting to a wider bar and decided >>>>> to start a different conversation to get opinions on wide-ish, flared >>>>> drops. >>>>> >>>>> I like the Nitto Noodle quite well, but I think I do want a little >>>>> flare and I don't want to bend them myself. So what's good out there? I'm >>>>> tempted by the Crust Towel Rack, but I'd love to hear what you all like. >>>>> >>>>> If it helps/matters, the kind of riding I do with the bike it's going >>>>> is casual rails-to-trails, some rolling gravel roads, but nothing too >>>>> technical or serious. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks! >>>>> Ben >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/FIZS-gxfwcU/unsubscribe >>>> . >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b5d6db94-3db4-4f96-a95d-5f8d90029445n%40googlegroups.com >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b5d6db94-3db4-4f96-a95d-5f8d90029445n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the > Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/FIZS-gxfwcU/unsubscribe > . > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/d59fd880-5582-4937-ab4d-23f6a7f54fden%40googlegroups.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/d59fd880-5582-4937-ab4d-23f6a7f54fden%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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