Review: 3T Ergonova Team Handlebar

Handlebars play an important role in your comfort and performance on the bike. If it's too wide or thin, or has a drop that's too shallow or deep, it can cause pain in the hands, neck and lower back. The weight, ease of transition from one position to the next and the feel are also equally important—and can make a difference in just how much you enjoy each and every ride.

The new generation of handlebars has gone a step further, figuring out ways to improve comfort and dampen the vibration over rough surfaces in ways that aluminum bars of the past could not.

The carbon Ergonova from 3T has been touted as the latest and greatest in handlebar technology. But does it stand up to the test? Let's take a look at the pros and cons to see how it ranks against others in its class.

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What We Liked

 

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1. Straight out of the box you'll notice the curved top section is a different shape that any round bar on the market. By creating a more oval shape, these bars fit into the palms of your hands more naturally, which makes holding the tops on long climbs much more comfortable.

2. The oval shape continues to the hoods, which makes resting the hands more comfortable when riding in this position for long periods of time.

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3. The transition from hood to drops is easy because of the compact radius. Measuring in at only 122mm with a reach of 77mm, this ergonomic design puts your wrists in a more neutral position, and manages to keep the thumb side of the wrist away from the top of the bars when in aggressive riding positions.

4. At a mere 203 grams, this is one light carbon bar. But don't let the light weight fool you—it's also got plenty of stiffness for all out sprints.

5. The option for clip-on aero bars is a nice touch. Unlike other flat-top bars, 3T kept a small rounded section next to where the stem attaches. This allows for the extra room needed when transforming your rig into a time trial machine. It also comes in handy if you want to use an out front computer mount.

6. The wide range of widths was a pleasant surprise. If you're a narrowed shoulder man or woman, 3T offers sizes all the way down to 38cm, which you won't find with a lot of other brands.

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What We Didn't Like

 

1. Since the ergonomic design of the tops is the major draw, and because they fit so perfectly in your hands, we found that wrapping these bars with thick bar tape up to the stem made the bars too thick. The alternative is wrapping them just past the hoods, which leaves a slick surface on top that isn't ideal.

2. If you leave the bars partially unwrapped, you'll need to figure out what to do with the cables. For a carbon bar at this price,  internal cable routing would be nice, and it would've helped to add a cleaner overall look.

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3. Speaking of price, these aren't cheap. While carbon bars are much more comfortable and limit fatigue over rough roads, if you fall or crash, they'll probably need to be replaced. That's something to consider when shelling out $330 on bars.

The Low Down

For me, the positives of this bar far outweighed the negatives. I prefer a shallow drop, and the larger, oval tops are one of the most comfortable I've ever ridden. If you're a climber who enjoys long rides, you'll appreciate this handlebar and find that it's worth the investment.

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