Category Archives: Handlebars
Compass 31.8 mm Randonneur Handlebars
We are glad to offer our Compass Randonneur handlebars with a clamp diameter of 31.8 mm (for modern stems), in addition to the 25.4 mm model we introduced last year. These handlebars have been very popular, and for good reasons. They support … Continue reading →
Carbon and Leather
The Bicycle Quarterly‘s Specialized Diverge test bike came out of the box all black. Specialized’s photo (below) makes it look like a shadow, but when I saw the actual bike, I found quite unappealing. Everything looked like it was made from plastic. I dreaded taking … Continue reading →
Compass Randonneur Handlebars
Handlebars are one of the most important parts of your bike. As one of the three “contact points”, the handlebar shape determines whether you are comfortable on the bike or not. After every Paris-Brest-Paris, numerous cyclists complain about numb hands. … Continue reading →
New Handlebars and Stem
One of the all-time favorite handlebar shapes is the Philippe Professionel. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, you found them on the bikes of professional racers (below), randonneurs, cyclotourists, even track bikes. Their flat ramps provide plenty of hand positions, … Continue reading →
Handlebars with Generous Curves
Traditional handlebars have generous curves that support your hands well. They offer a multitude of hand positions for long-distance comfort. We are glad that today, Grand Bois offers three proven, useful drop handlebar shapes. As professional races have become shorter … Continue reading →
700C Fenders, Bar Plugs and Brake Pads
Big components like cranks and derailleurs usually steal the show, but the performance and beauty of a bike depends also on many smaller components. At Compass Bicycles, we recently added three of them to our line. Numerous customers asked whether … Continue reading →
Grand Bois Leather Handlebar Tape
I’ve been on the fence about leather handlebar tape. It’s expensive, and the leather-wrapped handlebars of the 1980s were slippery when wet. However, my friend Hahn has used Brooks leather bar tape and found that he liked it. (Except the … Continue reading →
