Profile Design is a brand that has made their mark on fit. Well established in the triathlon world, Profile Design is turning their attention to the world of drop bars with their new DRiVe system. Not satisfied with the way modern bars are sized and chosen based on standard reach, drop, and width, DRiVe bars focus on the Drop Reach Variant – a point on the bar that is measured with a 73 degree line from the tops of the bar. Meant to provide the most powerful positions on the drop bar in a way that cyclists can comfortably use, Profile Design thinks DRiVe is the answer to shorter headtubes and modern shifter designs…
Profile Design’s assertion is that most drop bars have been slow to adopt to modern bike geometry and shifters which leaves the drops in less than ideal positions.
Starting with a measurement of the width of your palm, DRiVe bars are split into 105, 120, and 135 models. That number corresponds to that Drop Reach Variant point mentioned earlier shown above with the DRV logo. The theory is the bigger your hands, the longer the DRV should be for optimum positioning.
Each of the 105, 120, and 135 bars are then available in multiple widths, with reach and drop numbers tailored to the size of the bar. Starting with the 105, the bars come in 38, 40, and 42cm widths with a 70mm reach and 122mm drop. The 120s come in 40, 42, and 44cm widths with a 75mm reach and 137mm drop, and the 135s are available in 42, 44 and 46cm widths with an 80mm reach and 148.5mm drop. Claimed weights are listed at 285g across the board. All of the bars have a 4 degree outward cant to the drops and a shallow 7 degree hood slope from the 31.8mm tops which are the same thickness from the clamps to the bends.
Available in aluminum only, each bar will sell for $55. The DRiVe system will also include matching 7 and 17 degree stems in 60-130mm lengths with a 31.8mm clamp and 128g claimed weight. Seat posts will also be offered in a 25mm set back or zero offset and in 27.2 or 31.6mm diameters with a two bolt micro adjust head. Finish up your DRiVe cockpit with DRiVe wrap bar tape which uses a polyurethane cover on foam core with an adhesive backing. Available in black, white, red, hi-vis blue and green, and dark pink for $25.
