Cinelli’s Vai handlebar has been around for a while now but it’s still well worth a look. As the ancient engineering cliche goes, pick any two from light, stiff or cheap. The Vai certainly ticks the cheap and stiff boxes, but light it ain’t.

The 44cm comes in at around 400g, hefty in handlebar terms but for a lightweight carbon bar you’ll be paying at least at least five times as much to save less than 200g. If you’re putting together a money-no-object work of art then a set of featherweight carbon bars like the Oval R900s tested recently are just the thing, but for a more humble build these Vai bars are as good as anyone needs.

Being distinctly stiff and hefty you’d expect this bar to make your biceps vibrate like jelly on a jackhammer. Not so, in fact they’re surprisingly comfortable, helped by a nicely shaped semi-anatomic drop. This is a bar that will appeal to rouleurs, sprinters and hefty honkers alike as it won’t beat you up on the ride or turn to wet spaghetti in the final sprint to the cake-shop.

They come grooved front and back and there’s a simple but effective set of graded lines in the centre to help you line things up.

Verdict

Stiff, strong and comfy. A classic bar and great value for money.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Cinelli Vai Alloy drop bar

Size tested: 44cm

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:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

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: 40  Height: 5′ 8  Weight: er….86kg

I usually ride: GT Rave – singlespeed conversion  My best bike is: Guess SC1 scandium

I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed,