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Ritchey WCS Logic II handlebar

8
£80.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Well-priced, comfortable bars that look great too
Weight: 
249g
Contact: 
www.paligap.cc

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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A good price and weight makes the Ritchey WCS Logic II handlebar a good upgrade for any bike. The unique finish makes them look far more expensive than their price tag would otherwise suggest. There's a lot to like about these bars.

If you've read Liam's review of the Ritchey MonoCurve integrated carbon bar and stem and winced at the price, you're not alone. Fortunately there is another option in Ritchey's handlebar range that comes in at a much more agreeable price but don't look any less impressive.

An oversize bar made from 7075 triple butted alloy and painted with a 'wet black' gloss gives them the appearance of a much more expensive bar. This wet finish is available in red and white too - a plain version is also available if you want a more subtle bar. I really like the finish, and on my Supersix Evo they don't look out of place at all. A premium high-end finish without the high price normally reserved for such a bar.

Ritchey offer the bar in four widths (38, 40, 42 and 44, measured centre-to-centre), and for every width the drop is specific. On the 42cm bar I tested the drop is 132mm; for the 38 and 40 it's 125mm and the 44 is 144mm. This is a smart move as it recognises that someone wanting a narrow bar won't necessarily want the same drop as a taller person on a wider bar.

I'm constantly amazed at the sheer variation of shapes that drop bars come in, and while I'm not fussy with bar shape, I know what I like and don't like.

These have an anatomical shape that I got on really well with. They have a short flat section before kinking into a gradual curve. This gives you two different positions on the drops so you have a nice choice that matches the aggressiveness of your riding.

I found the shape suited me really well and they are a very comfortable handlebar. The top of the bars curve inwards so your forearms don't collide when you're on the drops, and the reach and drop is good.

Fitting the bars was straightforward, but the lack of lined markings on the bends did make lining up both brake levers a bit tricky.

The non-slip surface finish, also applied to the centre section, ensures the brake levers stay firmly in place. Lining up the bars in the stem is helped by markings in very small increments. It's just a shame they didn't do the same thing at the bends.

Up top, the centre section is compatible with aero clip-on bars which, while I don't even entertain the notion of racing a triathlon, gives the bar added versatility.

Riding the bar with an aluminium stem fitted, they felt stiff and solid. Surprisingly, the bar is comfortable over rough roads and while there isn't as much vibration damping as a carbon bar would provide, there's less difference than you might imagine.

It's during out of the saddle sprinting and climbing that the stiffness of the bar really comes into its own – if you want a stiff yet affordable bar these are a good option. And for everyone else, don't be put off by their lack of carbon, they're nearly every bit as good.

Verdict

Well-priced, comfortable bars that look great too.

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Ritchey WCS Logic II handlebar

Size tested: Wet black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Reach and drop progressively increases with bar width -- ensuring optimal fit in every size

Anatomical bend for wide spacing at the tops and ample forearm clearance in the drops

Center section is aero bar compatible

No-slip grit at stem and brake lever mounting surfaces

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Triple Butted 7050 Alloy

Available in 40/42/44cm widths

Available in BB Black, Wet Black, Wet White or Wet Red

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Look far more expensive then other aluminium handlebars

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The premium finish gives them a high-end feel.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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