3T Superghiaia (400mm) with 12sp GRX820 brifters

Here’s a bunch of photos of the combo. I couldn’t find much first-hand info about these bars, so here’s a place to ask anything you might wanna know.

I’m quite new to dropbar bikes, my first was a Canyon Grail size L in 2020 (with the double decker bar), rode it for roughly 10.000km. Then I built up this bike a month ago and first put a cheap Ritchey Baquiano 40cm bars on, to see if going narrow works for me. It did and now I got the Superghiaia in 40cm, which was my first choice.

I’ve only put like 200km on it, but here are some impressions of the combo so far:
– The bars are compliant and so much more comfy than aluminium ones. The thick bar tape also helps.
– No issues with lack of stiffness for me personally, at least. I’m not big on sprinting or climbing out of saddle, but sometimes I do both and I can’t say I can feel bars flexing.
-The special curving profile of the flare doesn’t make a lot of difference in how it feels when hands are in the bends. Brake levers are nicely reachable, just like they were on previous bars with standard flaring profile.
– Coming from GRX 810 brifters, I can’t say I notice any difference with the new ones. My understanding is that the levers should flare out more, but I don’t think they do. Texture finish also seems the same.
– Right now I’m trying to eliminate creaking/popping that sounds like it’s coming from the stem clamping bars area when I put pressure/pull on hoods (rotation). I think it’s the cheapo stem or the computer mount hardware, but it could turn out it’s something about the handlebar – hopefully not.
– The brifters were a tough job to get over the bends, needed to use soap. It was messy and scary and I was afraid I’d damage the carbon bars. (Beyond superficially, which I did).

by qoqoon