Easton

EA70 Handlebar

First there were round bends. Then anatomic bends, then removable faceplate stems unleashed bar designers to get really creative. That creativity was further expanded when carbon-fiber became a viable handlebar material. There are so many shapes, so many styles today, but starting to see many of the changes beginning on the carbon-fiber end and then being adapted for aluminum bars.

Carbon-fiber to aluminum adaptation is where the Easton EA70 Handlebar design comes in. It is based on the EC90 SLX3 handlebar, Easton's top-of-the-line bar, and then tweaked to work with aluminum. The SLX3 is designed both for comfort and to put you in a comfortable, powerful position when riding the drops, hood, and tops.

The great thing is you get most of the SLX3 shape at a great price. The basic drop of 130mm and reach of 75mm is unchanged. The transition from the top tops to the forward reach is similarly tight and flat and designed to work with Campy, Shimano, and SRAM levers. The bottom of the drops is where the aluminum shows its limitations, and a more "ergo" shape is seen, but when taped, it should feel very similar to the SLX3.

The aluminum tube that the bar started out as was formed with Taperwall construction. This means that despite the seemingly smooth profile on the outside, the tubing wall thicknesses change over the length of the handlebar. Thicker walls in areas of great stress, thinner in areas of low stress. The result is a tuned bar that is light, stiff where you need it to be and strong where it gets stressed.

The EA70 has a round top section that is grooved front and rear; cables can be run front and rear, or just in front depending on what you prefer. The center section is bulged to 31.8mm. The handlebar comes in three widths, 40, 42, and 44cm all measured center-to-center. The 31.8 center section is strong enough for clamping aero bar extensions to. There is a five-year limited warranty with the bars; they can work with other brand stems and extensions and not violate the warranty. The color is Black or White. Claimed weight for the Easton EA70 handlebar is 260g.