In my previous post, I discussed why professional-level road bikes may not be the best bicycles for recreational cyclists.
High-end road bikes are designed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency. Thus, their low frame stack and long frame reach.
The pursuit of aerodynamic benefits has seen the increasing popularity of integrated cockpits. These systems combine the handlebars and stem into a single piece and are designed to reduce drag by minimising frontal area. These are the integrated cockpits used on the bikes above.
In this post I wrote about one of the downsides of integrated cockpits. They use internal cable routing, which improves aerodynamics but complicates cable replacement.
Another downside is the high cost of replacing an integrated cockpit if the bike fit (such as the handlebar width or stem length) isn’t right for you. You may well get the right stem length and bar width when you buy a bike with an integrated cockpit. Manufacturers like Specialized and Pinarello have several stem length and bar width combinations to choose from.
If you later decide you want a differently shaped bar, your flexibility lessens, or you want a shorter stem, you must replace the entire integrated cockpit.
You can avoid the pain of installing a new integrated cockpit by paying your bike mechanic to do it. You will also have to foot the more considerable cost to buy a new integrated cockpit. This will be especially painful if you need a new Talon Ultra fast cockpit from Pinarello.
While integrated cockpits may look clean and modern, they come with trade-offs in adjustability and customisation. Not to mention the associated cost. If you’re considering a bike with this feature, understand the limitations and explore whether alternative setups are available.
Old Roots, New Routes 