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Coefficient Cycling Wave Handlebar

8
£264.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Unusual-shaped bar gives an optimised hand position on the tops and vibration isolation on the drops
Weight: 
210g

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The Coefficient Cycling Wave carbon handlebar is designed to offer enhanced comfort and some claimed aerodynamic benefit when holding the tops of the bar. Thus far this is the only product from Coefficient and was born out of a design to improve comfort and aerodynamics while riding on a variety of terrains. It can be fiddly to fit, but I found that it gave multiple hand positions which were comfortable for extended periods.

  • Pros: Unusual shape does give a range of comfortable hand positions; decent weight; exceptional vibration isolation in the drops
  • Cons: Fiddly to fit if you opt for internally routing the cables; looks may be divisive; cost

The Wave bar has really quite a complex shape. The most striking thing when you first see it is the upwards kink either side of where it is held in the stem. At first glance, many will be reminded of the Specialized Aerofly riser bar as fitted to the Venge VIAS or the Genetic Driser bar that Mike tested earlier in the year, but whereas the tops on those bars are horizontal, meaning that all hand positions were higher than they would be on a straight bar, the unusual thing about the Wave is that it then slopes back down across the tops.

> Buy this online here

What this means is that with your hands on the hoods or the drops, they are no higher than they would be on a conventional straight bar. What's the point then, you're asking? Coefficient says that it noticed if you hold your arms out in front of you palms-down, the natural position of the hands is with the thumbs slightly raised. Hence, if you are holding onto a horizontal bar, you're having to rotate your wrists away from their neutral position. The tops are also swept backwards by 12 degrees in the horizontal plane, something we've seen with quite a few other "ergonomic" bars such as the Ritchey Comp ErgoMax.

Coefficient The Wave_3.jpg

The combination of these two angles means that it does quite feel quite different when you're riding on the tops. Your elbows tend to sit closer to your sides too, which is the basis for Coefficient's claims about aerodynamics – this reduces your frontal area which should make you slip through the wind a little easier. If you're struggling to understand the shape of the bar, Coefficient has full dimensions on this page.

In short, the bar leaves the hoods and drops roughly where you'd be expecting them on a straight bar, so when you're riding those positions it feels familiar. That said, I quickly noticed a big change when riding in the drops along a stony towpath. This bar has the most effective vibration isolation of any that I've used, (disclaimer – I haven't ridden Canyon's double handlebar yet). Back to back with a standard handlebar, the difference was akin to going from a 28mm tyre to a 40mm tyre (with pressures adjusted accordingly). Really. It was that noticeable.

Coefficient The Wave_6.jpg

This compliance seems mostly to come from the curve of the drops; riding on the tops or the hoods it was less noticeable. Hence you would be better on the hoods in a sprint – you can feel a bit of flex when you put your weight on the ends of the drops. I was really impressed with this aspect, as I spent quite a bit of time on crappy tarmac or towpaths and it certainly helps delay fatigue in your wrists, arms and shoulders.

The drop is quite shallow at 120mm between centres, which meant I spent more time enjoying the comfort of that position than I did on the tops, which is where this bar is probably unusually shaped. At 15 degrees, the slope on the tops is quite pronounced and it does feel strange to begin with, but I did find it was comfortable. I tend to spend only short periods of time riding on the tops unless I'm on really bumpy terrain, and I can't say that this changed significantly here; indeed, when it got rougher I tended to migrate down to the drops on this bar to enjoy the cush.

Coefficient The Wave_5.jpg

Coefficient has added a small notch on the inside of the drops intended for your thumb to sit into. It says that this helps give maximum control and power because you can keep a firmer grip on the bar. I'm not overly convinced by the necessity for the notch, to be honest, although I wonder if it is part of how Coefficient achieves the compliance in the drop. Adding notches into reasonably light handlebars seems like a bit of a risky strategy to me, although Coefficient does say that the Wave has passed SGS international test standards.

Coefficient The Wave_7.jpg

I mentioned weight, and at 210g for a 44cm bar, the Wave is slightly lighter than the conventionally shaped carbon Easton EC70 SL bar. You can get lighter, but given the complex shape this is a decent weight. It is made from a mixture of Toray T800 and T700 unidirectional carbon fibre and is available in 38, 40, 42 and 44cm (centre to centre) widths. The drops are angled out and flared ever so slightly, though nowhere as much as on some off-road-focused bars.

> How to find the best drop handlebars for you + 8 of the best

There is internal routing and it is helpfully supplied with guide tubes fitted. Don't pull these out – the idea is that you thread the cable inners through these and then run the outers back in the other direction. That's the idea, although the choice of location for the openings is a bit unhelpful here. Cables enter right in the corner where the bar bends forwards and exit the other side of the stem. I found it very tricky to get the cable outer to come out of the hole by the shifters, and the unusual exit location means that you need longer cables and end up with a larger-than-ideal loop of cable each side. There is just about space to fit two cables through side by side, but I ran my hydraulic brake lines outside the bar and I think it would have been really challenging to fit them next to the gear cable. I'm normally someone who likes to fit things myself, but my recommendation with this bar would definitely be to leave it to your LBS. Rumour has it that Coefficient is revising the internal routing options for a future version.

Coefficient Cycling The Wave Handlebar - drop.jpg

There is a reasonably short straight section of bar either side of the stem before it kinks up, leaving limited space for fitting lights and GPS units. I managed both but couldn't also fit my bell (although I could probably have fitted a conventional bell more easily on the riser section).

Coefficient Cycling The Wave Handlebar - detail 3.jpg

What of the looks, then? Traditionalists are unlikely to be big fans; ergonomic products rarely have a classic aesthetic, although you could probably argue that this is less controversial-looking than Canyon's Grail handlebar.

Coefficient The Wave_2.jpg

As for value, most cyclists would baulk at paying this much for a handlebar. If you see the benefit in the unusual shape then it could be worth paying for, but it's likely most cyclists would be able to find an aluminium bar for under half this that they could get on with. That said, the price is in the same ballpark as some other carbon bars, and given that Coefficient is a small company with one product, I think that's quite an achievement.

As Coefficient only has one product, it's perhaps natural that it is aiming it at a market that stretches across road and gravel. In both environments, the choice of comfortable hand positions on offer are certainly going to win it friends. For me, I didn't find I suddenly spent much more time on the tops than on a normal bar, but I really enjoyed the enhanced comfort that it delivers on the drops. I suspect that the looks might be a bit too contentious for some roadies, and maybe some off-road-focused riders would want something with a wider flare, but if you do a bit of on-road and a bit of off then it's definitely worth a look. Just get someone else to fit it for you.

Verdict

Unusual-shaped bar gives an optimised hand position on the tops and vibration isolation on the drops

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Coefficient Cycling Wave Handlebar

Size tested: 44cm

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Coefficient Cycling says:

The ultimate handlebar for road, gravel, and endurance riders!

The Wave handlebar brings a new performance factor to road and gravel riders who want the speed of the drops, and the long-ride comfort of the bar tops. The Wave is the first bar to offer both, simultaneously. It's a revolutionary handlebar.

From the uniquely shaped, large-diameter bar tops, to the familiar hoods and drops positions, the full-carbon Wave handlebar is the first to offer riders enhanced power from any position on the bar, even late in the day on a multi-hour epic.

Available in 38cm, 40cm, 42cm, and 44cm, the Wave weighs just 195 grams (42cm), and has been tested to the highest SGS international standards for professional road and mountain bike racing.

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

Coefficient Cycling lists:

Weight (42cm) 195 grams

Available Sizes (C to C Width) 38cm / 40cm / 42cm / 44cm

Clamp Diameter 31.8mm

Drop 120mm (all sizes)

Reach 77mm (all sizes)

Slope 15 degrees (all sizes)

Sweep 12 degrees (all sizes)

Crown Grip Diameter: 30mm / 33.3mm / 35mm / 36.7mm

Slope Grip Diameter: 29mm / 31.3mm / 33mm / 34.7mm

Clamp Area Width: 67mm / 69mm / 73mm / 78mm

Max Torque Settings Stem @6NM / Brake Levers @8NM

Internal Cable + Electronic Routing Yes

Clip-On Compatible No

Finish Matte Black

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
10/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

No issues in testing.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10

Considering the complex shape of the Wave bar, the weight is pretty decent.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
10/10

Excellent in multiple hand positions.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

Most cyclists would baulk at paying this much for a handlebar. If you see the benefit in the unusual shape, then it could be worth paying for, but it's likely most cyclists would be able to find an aluminium bar for under half this that they could get on with.

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

Very well – really impressed by comfort particularly on the tops and the drops.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Vibration isolation on the drops, comfortable hand positions wherever you look.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Routing the cables through the bar. Not that keen on the looks either. A bit fiddly fitting light, GPS and a bell.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

We haven't tested other bars that look like this. The price is in the same ballpark as some other carbon bars, and given that this is a small company with one product, I think that's quite an achievement.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? I might struggle to get past the looks and the price.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Coefficient delivers on what it says the Wave can do – give you multiple comfortable hand positions, which is always welcome on long rides.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 188cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: On-one Bish Bash Bosh  My best bike is: Rose X-Lite CRS

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

Jez spends his days making robots that drive cars but is happiest when on two wheels.  His roots are in mountain biking but he spends more time nowadays on the road, occasionally racing but more often just riding. 

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4 comments

Avatar
CyclingInBeastMode | 4 years ago
0 likes

So it's a flexy bar that makes you feel more comfortable, who'd have thought it!

Have you actually ridden same bike, same tyres/ tyre pressures, same terrrain with this bar and then another alloy bar that gives same hand positions on the tops and drops? If not then your 28 feels like a 40 doesn't have any validity whatsoever.

People are often lured into thinking something is because they want to beleive it, yet actually the reality is that other adjustments take up more of the difference than the 'new' thing itself, same with framesets and all sorts of other stuff not just in the cycling world.

Have you ever ridden a half decent carbon bar with 28mm tyres, I have, I had a wrist injury some years back after being run into by a ped, my hand would give me problems over longer distances, then i bought a Modolo Curvissima, (replacing a Ritchey WCS) best handlebar I've ever had, but was it the only difference in terms of making the wrist/hand issue go away, no, I went from 22mm tubs to 25mm tubs, then to a top end 27mm rear, also ride 28s with an EAston 90 with 28s, again, more comfort but it's other factors that also are involved.

To make the test valid you should ride back to back with identical kit except the bars.

Good luck to you however if it makes you feel more comfier.

Avatar
Jez Ash replied to CyclingInBeastMode | 4 years ago
4 likes
CyclingInBeastMode wrote:

Have you actually ridden same bike, same tyres/ tyre pressures, same terrrain with this bar and then another alloy bar that gives same hand positions on the tops and drops?

Er, yes. Of course. We don't just make this stuff up.

Avatar
Pfaff | 4 years ago
1 like

Each to his own. Personally I spend maybe 1% of my rolling time with the hands on the upper position. Hardly worth £264.

Avatar
thesubaruguru replied to Pfaff | 3 years ago
1 like

I'm a senior on the other side of the pond who's been fighting hand pain for years. Specialized S-Works carbon gave way to a more compact Salsa Cowbell...which is a great bar...but the Wave has revolutionized my riding, allowing more time up on the flats, which is important to me on my Diverge on the hills and urbania of Boston. What's interesting is that the "corners"between the center bends and the hoods provides an intermediate position that when rotated into the mix helps reduce static-position pain and numbing development.  I'm not qualified to remark re comfort in the drops, except to state that the notched drops provide some security that's lost in reducing the flare from the Cowbell's 12deg to the Wave's 4deg. That's comforting in tight traffic, as the OD is only 45c instead of 48c, so I don't hit car mirrors as often!

Do note that my comparisons are indeed scientifically valid in that only one element is changed in comparisons. Tires, saddle, etc., are held constant. The Wave is the Holy Grail, and allows more cycling up top. Now to get saddles that allow more positions dialled in....

Is it good value? If pain reduction is a criterion than I'd say yes; maybe even for someone who treasures the aero benefit while riding up top too.

 

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