Xtreme Pro Race Attack IGS-1 handlebar

You've probably never heard of Xtreme components. We hadn't, but they're being brought into this country by Rose Bikes. You've probably not heard of Rose Bikes either, have you? You would if you were German as they're absolutely massive over there selling bikes, clothing and parts by the wagen-load. So rather than being an unknown no-name from somewheresville, Xtreme have a confident provenance.

With a reach of 100mm and drop of 140mm, the catchily and probably mis-named Pro Race Attack IGS-1 bar is a sort of shortish reach, medium drop aluminium handlebar but it sets itself apart from the rest of the crowd at the bar by sweeping gently back, a bit like an old-fashioned Randonnée handlebar. Xtreme Randonnée, it’s going to be next year’s big thing – sell your fixies. You heard it here first.

Measured from the front of the bar, where the rearward curve of the bar makes the most of the taper down from oversized central section to standard bar diameter, there’s 15mm of sweep. Measuring from the rear of the bar there is only 6mm, but it’s enough to put your hands in a cruise rather than attack position when on the tops, giving a less-stretched and more relaxed position. It's a bar shape that's ideally suited to anyone that finds their current postion too rangey, or for any tourist or sportivista who wants a more leisurely posture on the bike – not everyone wants to be in a faster, faster race crouch over the bars all the time.

The extension forward from the tops is near on horizontal compared to other more aggressive bars that dip down into the curve of the bar. This reinforces the bar's more comfortably casual stance, and on the hoods it does give a more upright looking-over-the-hedges attitude. The arc of the drops transitions pretty quickly into a large flat section long enough to get a whole hand in there, and then kink into the very ends of the bars which are very short – about 40mm short – too stubby to fit a palm onto, making the hand rest uncomfortably in the elbow between the drop and the flat... Only good for hanging a damp jacket off then.

A single cable groove, or 'cannelure' as Xtreme call it – we like that word – crimped into the front of the bar helps with under-tape cable behaviour.

Being a bit smaller than the 44cm wide bars the manufacturers weighed to get their published 319g, these are lighter by a whole 2g, but that still doesn't make the Pro Race Attack a lightweight aluminium bar, although we suspect that the intended market isn't too bothered by such weight-weenie matters.

Verdict

A standard aluminium handlebar that will suit those looking for a more relaxed and comfortable ride.