Cinelli Altera

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Sierra Trading Post

Favorite Ride:
Mt. Hamilton from Livermore, CA

Summary:
About a week ago a guy in the local bike club in Santa Clarita had his Cinelli Alterabar snap off (like other reviewer) Unfortunately he let go of the broken bar and it droped into the front wheel spokes, broke the fork, and he fell (not injured seriously). I suspect this is a design flaw, perhaps the embedded name plates near the center of the bar create a weakness. I plan to replace my Cinelli Altera bar soon. I'm surprised there is no recall on these.

Strengths:
Shape

Weaknesses:
Obviously there is a flaw in this bar. It doesn't hold up to serious cycling and presents a hazard to anyone using it. Avoid the Cinelli Altera handlebar.

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Summary:
I love the Cinelli Altera handle bar. I got it with my Bianchi Axis. The standard handlebar was too wide for me, so the dealer swapped it out with the Altera in a 40cm size, and I've always been happy with it. I'm contemplating another one to go on the roadbike I just bought.

Strengths:
The shape is more square tubing (with rounded edges) than other handlebars, so it is more chunky and more comfortable than any other handlebar I have ever tried.

Similar Products Used:
Ritchey WCS, Deda Elementi

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Chain Reaction Cycle

Favorite Ride:
Darfield to Arthur's Pass

Bike Setup:
Stock 2001 TCR2 with custom built wheels.

Summary:
This bar was the stock handlebar on my 2001 Giant TCR2. It has been crashed, dropped, sprinted, climbed and descended on, and is still performing. I only changed it in 2006 for something lighter.

Strengths:
Thanks old pal, you've done well.

Weaknesses:
A wee bit heavy now that technology has moved on.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Privately

Favorite Ride:
Kao Yai National Park, Thailand

Bike Setup:
Standard Giant TCR1 Aero (Black), Mavic Elite wheelset, Ultegra groupset throughout, carbon aero seatpost and stem and Syntec Aerobars. Cost around US$1500

Summary:
Have just started riding road bikes again to complement my mtb fitness and strength after over 15 years of riding and eventually racing XC mtb's. These bars came with the bike TCR 1 Aero, which is very sweet and very stealthy. The bars seem at first impression to be heavy, too heavy for racing and triathlon which is what I intend to use the bike for.

Strengths:
The name Cinelli is (or was) a quality name in road bike bars.

Weaknesses:
Too heavy for anything competitive

Similar Products Used:
Need some recommendations please, am relatively new to the roading scene and would appreciate some insight and info on some decent strong lightweight bars for racing and triathlon. 100usd budget would be sufficient I imagine. I know Easton make superb carbon mtb bars, have they got the road bike equivilent?

Price Paid:  $0.00 at bike shop

Favorite Ride:
fast

Bike Setup:
Giant TCR2

Summary:
This bar was functional until it BROKE yesterday, right next to the stem. Wasn't even a crash situation, it just snapped while I was riding. Luckily I wasn't descending or hammering real hard, or it could have been a disaster. I'm a strong rider and put a fair amount of pressure on the bars in sprints and climbing. I have no faith or trust in Cinelli products anymore.

Strengths:
Functional.

Weaknesses:
Heavy. Weak. Broke after only 8 months use.