Pro PLT Ergo Carbon Handlebar

Pro says its PLT Ergo Carbon handlebar is all about 'maximum comfort and ergonomic fit...for long, hard days on the bike'. With its shallow drop and wide tops that extend nicely around the corner to just behind the hoods, it certainly fits that bill. You can also spend an awful lot more on a carbon handlebar.

Pro, being a Shimano subsidiary, effectively makes Shimano's own-brand saddles, stems, seatposts and handlebars. In its eight-strong line-up of carbon handlebars, the PLT Ergo is the one that's designed to be comfortable, while the others focus more on weight, aero or stiffness.

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It's made from UD T700 carbon, and that carbon has been laid up well. There is noticeably less road buzz than I'd get with an alloy handlebar on the same bike. Although it's not designed for racing, it's plenty stiff enough for muscling around sprinting or hoiking up a steep hill.

Where you really notice the difference is on longer rides. After a recent 170km gravel ride, my hands and wrists felt absolutely fine. And that was with some basic handlebar tape and no gloves to provide extra padding. Similarly, on road rides with narrower tyres, comfort levels are positively plush.

Dimensions

I'm reviewing the 42cm version here – it's also available in widths from a super-narrow 36cm to a super-wide 46cm. That 42cm is measured centre to centre; at its widest point across the top, the handlebar measures 45cm.

This is a compact handlebar. The drop is 13cm, which for me feels just right for a performance all-day handlebar – as in, deep enough to fight a headwind but not too deep that you can't use the drops comfortably with 100 miles in your legs (and back).

The reach is in keeping with that shallow drop, at a relatively short 73mm.

The bar flares by 4 degrees, which equates to a centre to centre width of 44cm across the drops.

The flattened top section is 4cm at the deepest point, and curves around to just behind the hoods. This makes for super-comfortable hand positions all across the top.

Installation

Installing this handlebar is made as easy as it can be. The diameter of the drops is just small enough that shifters slide on easily – no worries about scuffing up that precious carbon. Also, the white height markers on the sides make it easy to line up both shifters in the same place and at the same angle; that can be a fiddle on handlebars that don't have this scale.

The texture of the carbon is rough where it interfaces with the stem and shifters, and smooth everywhere else. That rough texture, combined with the sachet of mounting paste the handlebar comes with, ensures that everything stays in place at the recommended torque settings.

Underneath the flats there is a channel that is wide enough to fit a cable outer and a hydraulic hose, tucking both out of the way effectively. The exit angle is well judged for a nice cable run onto the down tube without touching the head tube.

Also worth mentioning here is the fact that you get an 11cm section of round diameter (31.6mm) in the centre of the handlebar. The stem will take some of that space, but there's plenty of room either side to fit your favourite GPS mount and a light (or two).

Value

At 230g, weight saving is probably not going to be the reason you decide to spend carbon handlebar money on this. Pro's Compact Ergo Handlebar, the alloy version of the PLT Ergo Carbon, weighs 255g for the smallest (40cm) size, and costs £54.99. But using carbon allows component designers to achieve shapes and properties, like absorbing vibration, that are not possible with alloy. I can't judge the road feel of the alloy Compact Ergo, as I haven't tested it, but going on other alloy handlebars I've tried, I'm pretty confident the difference will be obvious. Case in point – the alloy version of the PLT Ergo Carbon does not have the same flattened-off shape along the top which makes it so comfortable.

> How to make your bike more comfortable – check out our 14 tips

You can find cheaper carbon bars than the Pro – the Prime Primavera Aero Carbon, which Liam gave 9/10 when he reviewed it last month, costs £149.99, as does the Bontrager Pro VR-C, and the MT Zoom Ultralight Gravel Handlebar is both lighter at 195g and cheaper at £160, but is a different beast entirely in terms of shape.

But many others are more expensive: the Deda Vinci is £294.99, the Easton EC90 Aero bar is now £309.99, and the Vision Metron Aero costs nearly twice as much at £351.

It's interesting to note that all these are within a handful of grams of each other.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a carbon handlebar to reduce road buzz and provide some super-comfortable hand positions, this one should be on your list. Its weight is on a par with other comparable carbon bars, while its price is lower than many. Highly recommended.

Verdict

Super-comfortable carbon handlebar, perfect for long days in the saddle