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Closer look – SUPERGHIAIA

OFF-THE-CHARTS OFF-ROAD FUN

Posted by Marc Gasch , photos by Marc Gasch / 3T - 17 July 2018

Coming from a mountain bike background, no dropbar is never too wide for me. In the past I have been using what a roadie would consider a “monstrous” 47 cm 3T Ergoterra dropbar (now discountinued) in order to get my cockpit fit closer to my “normal” 74-76cm mtb handlebar,  and that still was not good enough for me. My gravel trips and events are usually kind of technical  (think Grinduro over Dirty Kanza, or Tahoe Rim Trail over cruising the Mongolia flats) so I tend to favor a wider grip for a better control of my bike when on the drops.

So when 3T introduced the new flared Superghiaia bar I was excited. I have tested flared dropbars in the past, but those were designed by (to put it simply) taking the whole drop shape and rotating it outward. The result is that the brake levers are also angled, and now when you ride on the hoods, your hands are resting on the edge of the hoods rather than on the top.

Of course Shimano and SRAM didn’t design them that way, and you feel it – it’s uncomfortable especially for the long haul (and I often ride long hauls!)

Luckily, Gerard came up with a way to combine both a straight, vertical position for the hoods and an extreme flare for the drops. When you see it, it’s so logical you wonder why nobody else thought about it.

The Superghiaia starts out the same as the Superergo, so the center grip, the corner grip and the bend down towards the hood clamping area are identical between the Superghiaia and Superergo. But just below the hoods, the flare starts:

Even more amazing, both Shimano and SRAM actually angle their levers outward, so they line up really well with the flared drops even though the hoods are vertical and not angled:

The Superghiaia is presented in two sizes, which feature different flare designs. To be honest I have only tested the 44cm “wide” one, which features a extreme flare to 560mm!

Reach and drop stays the same with its 40cm brother, but the narrower version have a hood to hood width of 40cm (obviously) and a drop to drop flare of 480mm, more suitable for smaller hands or roadies who might feel unconfortable on wider positions (or for those who just want a slightly more aero position on their Exploro bikes).

Morocco was my first XPDTN3 trip with the Superghiaia on the New Exploro FM bike, and couldn’t be happier. While on asphalt transfers, hammering along while riding on the hoods, you could close your eyes and think you’re on your road bike (do I have to warn you NOT to actually close your eyes while riding your bike?) Then on some rocky descents, the flared drop was a blessing to control a loaded bike.

The extra real estate on the flat part of the bar also helps on bikepacking trips, where you might have lots of gadgets like lights, GPS, bells and/or Gopro mounts. I know a super narrow dropbar can be more aero, but try to put your hands in the flat area for 8 hours and share that space with all those gadgets. Not easy.

On a photoshooting in the Netherlands with Larry Warbasse for his “Get Creative” limited edition frame, I was able to briefly have a feel of the 40cm version that Larry was using on his bike (see below). The slightly less flared drop felt more “standard” to me and can be useful for those who come from a road background and are used to 38 or 40cm dropbars.

I understand that a 44cm can feel like a big change, but if you are looking for advice and are not afraid to commit to gravel, I urge you to try the wider version, definitely my favorite!

Marc Gasch /XPDTN3 explorer

Check the VIDEO below and choose your favorite:

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments & Questions

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29 responses to “Closer look – SUPERGHIAIA”

  1. M

    Martin says:

    08 December 2021

    Is the new superghiaia bars different from the ones here? I see quite different shape. Thanks

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      08 December 2021

      Yes and no. The original Superghiaia had 2 widths. They were identical for the top part (so they both featured the shape to keep the levers vertical) but they were different below the lever clamping area, with the 40cm bar flaring out and then curving back a bit (the lower of the two top view photos above) and the 44cm bar having a flare that keeps going out. Since this first style of flare with the slight curve back turned out to be much more popular, the new Superghiaia has that shape for all 3 sizes it comes in. See also the superghiaia page which has that shape shown throughout: https://www.3t.bike/en/products/dropbars/superghiaia-562.html

      Reply
  2. F

    Frank Berrios says:

    22 April 2021

    I desperately need a 40cm, when will they be back?

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      08 December 2021

      Hi Frank, I presume you know they’re back in stock: https://www.3t.bike/en/products/dropbars/superghiaia-562.html

      Reply
  3. F

    Frank Mazzuca says:

    05 February 2021

    Hi there. Any chance you can tell me when the Superghiaia bar will be back in stock? Thank you

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      09 February 2021

      We’re getting a shipment in later this month. Demand is very high as we’ll though, so those may be gone in minus 5 minutes. That said, we do have steady monthly supply going forward.

      Reply
    2. Gerard Vroomen says:

      08 December 2021

      Hi Frank, I presume you know they’re back in stock: https://www.3t.bike/en/products/dropbars/superghiaia-562.html

      Reply
  4. K

    Ken says:

    06 October 2020

    Gerard… fwiw, the R1 and R2 measurements and graphical illustrations seem to be reversed.

    Reply
  5. J

    Josh says:

    27 June 2019

    Hi, this looks like the bars I need for my open u.p. build, however I was hoping to have the flexibility of adding Aerobar clip ons at some stage for extra long rides. Any particular reason why these bars are incompatible with clip ons? Is there any plan in the future to change this incompatibility?

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      27 June 2019

      Hi Josh, we’ve removed aerobar compatibility from all dropbars and don’t see that change in the future, sorry.

      Reply
  6. Antonio says:

    12 March 2019

    I am building a Lauf True Grit with the Superghiaia, I am going to choose the 40mm version. unfortunately I am waiting on the stock, I have been waiting for weeks now and both versions are out of stock. Any idea when they will be restocked? Also is there any distributor in the US that has the 40mm in stock?
    Thanks

    Reply
    1. Rene says:

      13 March 2019

      Hi Antonio, the SuperGhiaia is super popular, so, unfortunately, we can out of stock recently. But next week we should be stocked up again, so keep an eye on our online store mid/end next week.

      Reply
  7. M

    Matt says:

    05 October 2018

    I really dig the flare drop but hate the angled position its puts the levers on most drop bars. These could be about perfect except I need a 42cm. Any reason why a 42cm isn’t available and are there any plans to produce one?

    Also, the price seems to be about 30% higher than other carbon flared drop bar offerings. Any plans for an alloy version?

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      07 October 2018

      42cm measured how? Center-center on the drops of a normal road bar? That’s the same as 40cm center-center on the hoods as is the way we measure. Or 42cm outside-outside as some measure, that’s also 40cm. So just like frame sizes, it’s all about definitions and not a straightforward “I’m always a 42cm” or “I’m always a Medium”.

      That said, there will be a 42cm Hood-hood coming.

      Reply
      1. J

        JT says:

        06 June 2019

        any update on the 42 bar? Haven’t seen anything yet. Thanks.

        Reply
        1. Gerard Vroomen says:

          06 June 2019

          Just signed off on the mold production actually.

          Reply
          1. T

            Tom says:

            02 May 2020

            Hi Gerard, It’s been almost 1 year since you signed off on the mold production for the 42cm hood-hood Superghiaia. Any updates on the ETA of when these will be available? Thanks!

            Reply
            1. Gerard Vroomen says:

              03 May 2020

              Hi Tom, the Superghiaia in all sizes we expect back in stock in July. In the meantime, we do however have its aero cousin, the Aeroghiaia, in stock and shipping. See here: https://www.3t.bike/en/products/dropbars/aeroghiaia-716.html. And yes, if you look on the Superghiaia page right now it may show that it’s in stock, that’s a glitch that will be fixed by Monday.

              Reply
              1. Alex says:

                03 June 2020

                Gerard,
                Will the 42cm version share the flare of the 40cm or the 44cm? I prefer the flare of the 40cm but I too like 42cm bars. I can’t find any information on this. Thanks!

                Reply
              2. B

                Ben says:

                18 August 2020

                Hi Gerard,
                is there an update available, when the Superghiaia will be available?

                Reply
                1. Gerard Vroomen says:

                  25 August 2020

                  They have been delayed. We’re testing the final prototypes next week and then on to production. But I don’t have an exact availability date yet. Aiming for before the end of the year.

                  Reply
        2. j

          jt says:

          08 June 2019

          Fantastic.

          Reply
          1. J

            Jt says:

            13 February 2020

            Any word on the 42s?

            Reply
  8. Matt says:

    20 July 2018

    It’s good to finally see/read more details about the 40cm bars. I’m building an Open UP (size small) and have a 44cm bar on the way. I keep wondering if that’s just gonna be weird, like moose antlers on an antelope.

    Great write-up and photos.

    Reply
  9. A

    Alan John Morgan says:

    19 July 2018

    When do you ever use the drops i find only when i am sprinting, if you need to do that when you ride normally is there a lion or a bear after you ( the bars are not a common sense conclusion to progression ) I would say. adios amigos

    Reply
    1. M

      Marc Gasch says:

      19 July 2018

      I personally use the drops every time I get to a fast or rocky descent on the Exploro. Some might say it’s not a good idea cause it lowers your position, but at the same time, and what’s more important to me, it gives me better grip and control of the bike, and also better braking , cause I can reach the full lever and brake harder if necessary (no braking when there are bears or lions though…)

      Reply
    2. Gerard Vroomen says:

      19 July 2018

      To add to what Marc says, I use the drops a lot more on a flared bar than on a regular drop bar. It’s just a much more comfortable position, because your wrist is at a more natural angle to support the weight.

      Reply
  10. L

    Lord Anthony says:

    18 July 2018

    Nice bike but I’m presently on benefits and just can’t find or demand that properly recompensed degree level job!
    If aluminium only costs £1.76 per KG why can’t I get a rough road bike for hilly North Wales for £1760?? I’d like a 42 cassette and FSA 30 adventure cranks and Avid Shorty 6 brakes and suspension seatpost and adjustable stem please!!
    I’ve seen a Condor Bivio for £1400 and I’m hoping to get a refund from Wiggle for my Wilier Jareen Sora with terrible TRP Spyres on!!

    Reply
    1. Gerard Vroomen says:

      18 July 2018

      I have no idea but I would blame it on Brexit. And of course you can choose if you want to blame it on the hard or soft version.

      Reply
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