Cinelli Integralter

Price Paid:  $45.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
my east-west loop

Bike Setup:
colnago VIP2000 with a mish-mash of campy daytona, chorus and record components. vento wheelset, easton ec30 fork

Summary:
wanting to upgrade from the stock stem and bars originally on my bike, i lucked into a cheap set of unused integralter bars on ebay. 120mm, black. i wanted a set of these for their stiffness and aero characteristics. certainly a nice 'cool' factor as well. they have performed admirably and have survived one accident that would've broken carbon bars (likely). the only downside i can say is they're a bear to install. snaking your cables and housings through the bars can be and arduous task - took me a few hours. my advice is to run the cables through first then the housings over them. i can get up out of the saddle and really hammer on these bars with full confidence - no movement or creaking at all. the flats are nice to rest on during long rides as well.

Strengths:
stiff, strong, cool-looking

Weaknesses:
heavy, hard to install

Similar Products Used:
low-end cinelli's that were stock on my bike

Price Paid:  $60.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Harriman State park

Bike Setup:
Seven Axiom, Look HSC fork, Dura Ace, USE post, Speedplay X1, American Classic 350's

Summary:
I waited until the right size came on ebay and then jumped on them. The price definitely makes the rating higher. They are really stiff, almost too stiff, but I have adapted. The local training crit has rough roads and after the first time using them my hands were killing me! That hasn't happened on any of my training rides, so I don't have much to complain about.

When I'm climbing and using the tops, the bar shape is so comfortable that I can't imagine having to go back to a regular shaped bar. When you lean your forearms over on it, the tuck is super aero and still easy to control.

I also picked up the Checkpoint extension from Cinelli to put my computer on. Originally, I had it strapped to the stem, but then got a power meter and it needed a regular shaped bar holder.

Strengths:
Incredibly stiff, great for sprinting, break aways, or any other time you need an aero advantage.

Weaknesses:
People always staring at it, asking lots of questions (or is that a strength). No way to adjust. Weight (don't know the exact numbers). Makes me want the Cinelli Ram.

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Race Lite, Salsa Poco, Icon Graphite

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Bought because of and in spite of the reviews here. I do not compete, or really do a lot of climbing (In the midwest there isn't a hill higher than 300 ft) so pull on the bar for climbs is not an issue. I do like a stiff responsive bike and like to rest my arms on the bar while chugging along the flats (which is most of the ride) so in this respects the bar was an interesting option. I have only ridden a couple hundred miles with them and have not been disappointed. They fit my body and riding style perfectly. Also as far as road vibration, I typically only ride 40 mile rides on decent Illinois back roads so I haven't really noticed much in this area. As mentioned mounting the computer is a challenge but I found a decent solution similar to those mentioned. Overall I am pretty pleased with the bar and hope I don't experience the breaking problem. After looking at the welds, it looks pretty solid and am suprised to hear of the problems.

Strengths:
Comfortable.

Weaknesses:
Cost

Similar Products Used:
Easton, TTT bars and Ibis, Cinelli stems

Price Paid:  $140.00 at Rad Total Dortmund

Favorite Ride:
Bardolino Triathlon

Bike Setup:
Cannondale frame, Campagnolo 10speed Record; Campa Shamal Wheels, Campa Record Carbon Seatpost, Tune

Summary:
It was the greatest handlebar I ever rode ..., until it broke!

Strengths:
It' s very stiff

Weaknesses:
Weld will break

Similar Products Used:
Cinelli Alter/ Nerve
I'll try the Cinelli Ram

Price Paid:  $200.00 at Kingston Classic Cyc

Favorite Ride:
RAMROD, or something pointy

Bike Setup:
Mondonico Foco frame, Full D/A, Fizik saddle, HED 3 wheelset.

Summary:
These bars are really awesome. They're nice and stiff (come on! they have to be--Cipo uses them, after all), and the flatter tops are really comforatable for chugging up long hills, or just taking a break.

I haven't had any weld problems, and I've ridden at least six thousand miles or so on them. I don't notice any flex (I'm 5'8", 158#), although larger people that ride my bike seem to. There is an annoying creak that shows up when I crank the bars hard uphill, but I think it has more to do with the aluminum-on-aluminum fork-stem contact.

You also have to be creative with the computer mounting, unless you want to spend fifteen bucks or so to buy their mount. I just set my flight deck into the hole on the stem and secured it with some twisty-ties.

Strengths:
Stiff, comforatable, really cool looking, stiff

Weaknesses:
you feel the road a lot more (which I personally like, viva aluminum!), that creaking I hear, and the computer mounting. Also, you can't stick a niterider (or any other headlight) onto the bars either, they're just too big.

Similar Products Used:
ITM Millenium, Ritchey Logic Pro, Icon, Deda Newtons