Cockpit: EASTON MONKEYLITE DH AND EA70 MONKEYBAR
Even after riding and testing bikes for so many years it still amazes us the difference that simply swapping a pair of bars or winding ina brake lever a few millimetres makes to a bike. It can turn a bike forom being one that feels average into one that feels incredible. The point is then that you should pay just as much attention when selecting things like bars and stems as you do when buying something like a new pair of forks. After all, a badly shaped pair of bars or an overlong stem can cause even more damage to a bikes handling than a not so hot pair of forks. Anyway, here’s our selection of the finest things to either sit on or grab onto…
If there’s one company that we trust like no other when it comes to bars it’s Easton, and luckily they’re also a great shape. The carbon Monkeylite’s are strong enough to convert even the greatest carbon sceptics, and at just 225g for a 711mm wide bar the weight saving is hard to ignore. If you really can’t bring yourself to run carbon bars, or can’t afford to, then Easton’s EA70’s should be at the top of your shopping list. It might be a little narrower at 685mm, but unlike the MonkeyLite, which only comes in a 40mm rise, you do get a choice of 20, 30 or 40mm rise. If you really must have that extra width though Easton’s Havoc bar matches the MonkeyLite, albeit with a 30mm rise instead of the 40mm. Basically all you need to know is that we reckon Easton bars rule.
Price: Monkeylite DH £114.99
EA70 Monkey Bar £49.99
Extra 01933 672 170
www.eastonbike.com
www.extrauk.co.uk
