Mountain bikers often have a fascination with the lightest materials, with many sniffing out carbon components in a search for time savings and bling factor.
Despite there being plenty on offer, one area many deem too delicate for the material is handlebars.
I used to be a strong defender of carbon fibre mountain bike handlebars, having seen a similar number of alloy bars snap on my friends' bikes through the years, but my feelings have changed since crashing at Dyfi Bike Park last year and feeling my bar break through my fingers.
While the crash wasn’t the bar's fault, it left me unable to ride for the rest of the day and made me consider how far I could have ended up walking with my bike if it wasn’t for the uplift driver picking me up from the fire road.
I’ve used alloy bars ever since to avoid any further hassle.
However, another material is often overlooked that is maybe more lust-worthy than carbon fibre.
Titanium offers lighter-weight parts than aluminium due to its strength-to-weight ratio, without feeling as vulnerable as carbon fibre to impacts and invisible cracks.
- Read more: Carbon fibre is cycling’s wonder material, but titanium is having a renaissance – here's why
Handlebars made from the material are rare, but Berm Cycle has turned its expertise to the Roam Riser Bar.
The bar is made from aircraft-grade titanium, which is said to give it increased strength and a shock-damping feel.
There’s only one size available, and the dimensions see 9° backsweep, 5° upsweep, 30mm rise and a 780mm width – good luck cutting these down.
Berm Cycle says the bar weighs in at 290g, which is lighter than an alloy bar, for example Race Face’s Turbine at 315g, but heavier than carbon bars such as OneUp’s V2 Carbon Handlebar at 265g for the 800mm variant.
Matching the bar, the brand also offers the RAD2 Stem, which embraces the carbon fibre in its construction.
It's an interesting use of the material, with the main body of the stem being made from carbon fibre, with the faceplate made from titanium.
Berm Cycle says it gives the stem a lightweight, strong and super-stiff quality that reduces the overall weight of the cockpit and absorbs impacts.
It features a wide clamp area that is said to enhance bar stability, while the edges are rounded off for safety.
The brand says it is designed for XC, trail and enduro riding, and is available only in a 35mm length.
It has 0º rise, a stack height of 34.5mm and a clamp width of 53mm.
Berm Cycle claims the stem weighs 138g and includes titanium bolts.
The RAD2 Stem is priced at $292 / €260 and the Roam bar is $215 / €190.
