Zipp Service Course SL short shallow handlebar

Zipp's Service Course SL bars are up at the top end of what you'd expect to pay for an aluminium handlebar, but they're well made, light and comfy.

These bars are available in two bends, a traditional curve with a 130mm drop and the Short and Shallow version that I've been testing. Shallow isn't an absolute measure; I've seen bars with drops as low as 115mm whereas these are just 2mm shallower than the traditional ones, at 128mm. The reach to the front of the bend is 3mm shorter (84.5mm as opposed to 87.5mm) and they extend a touch further back, though they're marked with guides for cutting if you want to give your knees a bit more space.

The finish is very good, with a polished centre and shotblasted ends, and there's a grippy central section where the bar meets the stem to keep everything stiff. I found this was a bit fragile though, flaking and cracking when the position of the bars was adjusted. If you need to tweak the angle of your drops, make sure you slacken your stem right off.

In use they're very comfortable. At 275g they're light for alloy bars; you can get carbon for this kind of money and the bars will be a similar weight, but I doubt you'd get better performance. The Service Course SLs were plenty stiff enough for hoiking a bike around on the steep stuff, but comfy on the hoods and – especially – the drops with good hand positions. The short reach makes the drops more accessible and means you're less likely to bash your wrists on the tops; I found myself using the lower position more than usual, although that might also be because we've been cycling into a horrific north-easterly for much of the testing period. The drops are angled out very slightly too, by 2°, to give a more natural hand position and a bit more room. If you need more space, maybe consider a 'cross bar like the Salsa Cowbell.

Anyway, if you're speccing up a new build or replacing your bars for whatever reason, these are one to consider. If the price tag is too salty then there's a non-SL version of the bar that's 40g heavier (stated weight) for £15 less. The bar is available in standard colours (as pictured) or stealth (black logos on black finish).

Verdict

Well-made alloy bar that's comfortable to use.