Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Deda Elementi Parabolica Due Clip On Bars

8
£76.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Well made aero extensions that are easy to fit, light and comfortable
Weight: 
382g

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.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Deda's Parabolica Due clip-on bars are an excellent solution if you want to add an aero position to your bike for whatever reason. They're well made, light and reasonably cheap.

The Parabolica due bars have three main pieces. There's the extension itself, a hollow alloy tube with an S-bend that has a maximum extension from the bars of 290mm and is designed to work with bar-end shifters, if you're going full TT. The extension is attached to your cockpit via an alloy clamp, which is nicely made with smooth edges that should be kind to carbon bars. A steel armrest bolts on to that, and there's a grid of holes for you to fine-tune your arm position. You also get a self-adhesive velcro strip for each side to attach the arm pad. The pads themselves are fairly deep and very comfortable.

I primarily used the Parabolica Due bars as an extra position on an audax setup. That's very useful when you're rolling along the flat, especially into a headwind.

The S-bend bars allow a number of holds. With the middle of your forearm on the pad you can grip the bend, or if you slide your arms forward so you're almost resting on your elbows you can get a bit lower and grab the ends of the bars. There are a couple of positions in between too.

I found the lowest position the best, although I'd like to see end plugs included with the bars to use if you're not fitting shifters, as that would make them more comfortable to hold. If you wanted a bit of extra comfort (and grip) you could always wrap them with bar tape and use the plugs from that.

The Dedas sit above the bars but they're not particularly high and you'll likely be able to get an acceptable aero position on a road bike if you have a couple of spacers below the stem you can swap out.

If you're contemplating a few time trials in the summer and you're not going to go the whole hog and buy a TT bike, fitting clip-on bars (and using them) is the single most effective change you can make to your bike, and an easy one too. The Dedas would be a good choice for that: they're cheap (less than £50 online) and they feel well made and sturdy in use. If the Due curve doesn't suit they're also available in Uno (a single bend at the end) and Zero (completely straight) configurations.

Verdict

Well made aero extensions that are easy to fit, light and comfortable

road.cc test report

Make and model: Deda Elementi Parabolica Due Clip On Bars

Size tested: n/a

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

PARABOLICA DUE:

Two curves ('S' bend) offering several hand positions

Clamp to fit 31.6mm handlebar

Weight about 378 grams

Max length 290mm

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well, a range of positions from a single bar.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Well made, light, easy to fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Shame you don't get end plugs.

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: 42  Height: 189cm  Weight: 91kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

 

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

Add new comment

7 comments

Avatar
epcp20 | 9 years ago
0 likes

does anyone know if these can be fitted to carbon handlebars?

Avatar
TeamExtreme replied to epcp20 | 9 years ago
0 likes

It depends on the carbon bars that your mounting them too rather than the clip-ons themselves, but often not.

I know that 3T state that their mid-tier "Team" range carbon road bars will take clip-on aero bars, but not their high-tier "Ltd" range. Presumably that's because the higher-end ones are built to a lighter specification and won't withstand clamping outside of the stem clamp area.

Personally I wouldn't risk it on any carbon bars.

Avatar
Alan Tullett | 9 years ago
0 likes

Got Token ones which are similar for £32 but I don't think they will do bar-end shifters so easily. Got them for a few TTs and a different position. Pads are very comfy.

Avatar
tedder | 9 years ago
0 likes

It would help if you showed pictures of how they clip on. The Redshift Switch aeros have nice little clamps and attach with QRs, like axle skewers.

Avatar
I love my bike replied to tedder | 9 years ago
0 likes
tedder wrote:

It would help if you showed pictures of how they clip on. The Redshift Switch aeros have nice little clamps and attach with QRs, like axle skewers.

For £47 they attach the conventional/simple way with two hex bolts.

Wrapping with bar tape just adds weight, as as weight is carried by the pads. If fitting gear shifters, drill a hole if needed for the cable/wire to get to the inside.

Avatar
ficklewhippet replied to I love my bike | 9 years ago
0 likes
I love my bike wrote:
tedder wrote:

It would help if you showed pictures of how they clip on. The Redshift Switch aeros have nice little clamps and attach with QRs, like axle skewers.

For £47 they attach the conventional/simple way with two hex bolts.

Wrapping with bar tape just adds weight,

That additional 15g is preferable to your hands firing forward off the extensions every time you hit a bump or pot hole.

Avatar
CreativeLock | 9 years ago
0 likes

You can get these for £47 on Wiggle.

Latest Comments