Cockpit & Pedals

I have used Lizard Skins handlebar tape a few times and have not been disappointed. A little more expensive that some of the others but easy to install, lasts a long time and very comfortable. Totally worth it.

This is my third pair of Dura Ace pedals. They are Shimano's best, and they are very good indeed. They are light, stiff, have excellent bearings, and provide a solid platform for great power transfer. They are easy to clip into and out of. Release tension is easily adjusted, and the user-serviceable bearings can be re-packed as necessary. A great pedal for performance riding at a price that can't be beat. As always, customer service was excellent and shipping was prompt. Highly recommended.

To test the bars, I did a 45 mile gravel ride with 3K of climbing. I was surprised and amazed how comfortable the bars are. I had a marked reduction in shoulder pain (bone on bone sucks). The back sweep works magically. I rode much more on the tops utilizing the thumb grooves on flats with bent arms in an aero position. I was able to hold this position longer. For climbing, the hands on the tops position was fantastically comfortable and provided a leverage point to pull on. The extreme bend where the hoods and tops meet create a great perch for hands, its a larger than the area on traditional bars. Lastly, the slight flare was perfectly aligned when dropping hands down from the hoods to the drops. I can't speak empirically to the aero benefits but there are plenty of studies that prove the aero design of these bars will save you a few watts. I can say the bars look very cool though!

Common questions answered here! unless your old bars reach and drop are significantly different, No, you don't need to adjust your stem, No, you don't need to adjust your stack height. You may need to tweak the grip position on the bar slightly since the bar has a slight forward tilt. But otherwise, measure the reach on your old handlebar setup; front of the saddle to a point on the shifter grips and also the previous handlebar tilt (digital level is best). The integrated GPS holder is brilliant but with the bars almost level, your GPS will slightly tilt forward (away from you) but using a Garmin 1040, I had no issues reading the screen.

It's been some time since I looked at these types of pedals. The last time I did was 13 years ago when I turned a road bike into a tri bike. Same set up, but it's an easier access for a new Canyon gravel bike. Easy to purchase, but easier to return/exchange due to a poor milling on a pedal. No hassles due to living in the PDX area for a pick up. This is my go to bike store! I'm looking forward when they have a discount day at the store like they did pre-COVID when I purchase supplies for my wife and my bikes.