Interloc Blackbird Comp Drop Bar

Price Paid:  $35.00 at SportsBasement

Bike Setup:
05 Specialized Allez Elite with full 9 speed ultegra,Neuvation R28 aero2's

Summary:
These were for my first road bike and i liked flat topped/ergo bars on the bikes i test rode that had them. These are the 26.0 bars and thats probably why they were on sale. What can i say,i like them,very comfortable and durable, they survived a hefty spill with only a light tweak on the left drop, you have to look really close to even notice. Coming from the MTB world i have a habit of replacing aluminum bars every two years because the two times i didn't those bars failed pretty spectacularly so now i don't take chances. By the way i am 6'1" and 225 lbs. These bars also came in a 46cm width which seems to be pretty rare these days. I plan on getting another set but in the oversize style(31.0)hoping for a bit more stiffness.

Strengths:
Price,looks,durability,46cm width

Weaknesses:
They could use internal cable routing or deeper cable grooves

Similar Products Used:
The specialized bars that came stock on my Allez Elite

Price Paid:  $40.00 at Los Altos Bike Outfi

Favorite Ride:
Softride

Summary:
If you want the lowest price winged drop handle bar look no further.

Strengths:
slightly wider wing top than the other more expensive bars.

Price

Weaknesses:
none

Price Paid:  $40.00 at mikesbike.com

Summary:
I wanted a flat-top oversized (31.8) drop bar without having to drop major bucks for a carbon one for these reasons:
1) I prefer aluminum
2) Carbon, if left unwrapped (with bar tape) as many do for fashion purposes, can become very slippery if wet with sweat, rain, or Gatorade
3) I heard/read that carbon can crack more easily than aluminum (on RBR and elsewhere)

Searched around, almost bought the FSA Pro-Wing bar (double the price), and then found the Blackbird Comp which featured an even wider flat section (a bonus).

So far, it's VERY comfortable; stiff as I need it to be. No more comfortable, shock-wise, than my previous Cinelli 26.0 standard drop bars, but certainly equal to them. The width of the flat section is just great for palms-down riding on the tops and for climbing on the tops. Drops and reach are shallow and short enough to be very comfortable to me (a small--5'5--rider).

Strengths:
Reasonably lightweight bars. GREAT top section. Fits (Just fits) my heartrate monitor on one side of the stem and my computer on the other--a big concern. (Mike at Mikesbike.com actually took the time/care to measure the center/round mounting section for me before I ordered it, confirming that these two would fit. This was very important to me.)

The flat top means, to me, more surface area and therefore more control. Also allows me to drape my hands over the fronts (resting my wrists on the flat sections) when the road is super-smooth.

Weaknesses:
The only problem I can find with flat-top bars is that one cannot rotate their bars up or down at a whim (to effectively raise or lower the brake/shift levers/ hoods) since the angle of the flat top changes. This meant my partially rewrapping the bars after installation, but I did it once and learnt my lesson. Easy enough and well worth the comfort benefits.

Similar Products Used:
None, only standard round bars.