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Redshift Sports New Top Shelf Riser Drop Bar: Where BMX Meets Gravel?

Redshift Top Shelf Handlebar hero(Photo/Ron Frazelle)
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The clever minds that brought us the Kitchen Sink handlebar and the ShockStop stem are at it again. Today, Redshift Sports released their new riser drop bar, the Top Shelf. As you probably guessed, it’s a drop bar that offers two choices of hefty rise, 50mm and 70mm (2″ and 2.75″).

Redshift Top Shelf Handlebar 50 or 70mm rise
50 or 70 mm rise available. (Photo/Redshift Sports)
Redshift Top Shelf Handlebar in action 50mm rise
(Photo/Redshift Sports)

Comfortable drop bars are something that we are seeing more and more lately. With their shorter reaches, back sweeps, and shallower drops some companies claim that their bars offer “all-day comfort”. But a drop bar with a 70mm rise raises it up a notch and shows Redshift’s commitment to comfyness.

The bar will be great for any drop-bar activity, on the road, in the gravel, out bikepacking, or commuting – essentially anyone on a drop bar bike looking for a higher riding position.

Redshift Top Shelf Retail and Key Features

Redshift Top Shelf Handlebar front
(Photo/Ron Frazelle)

Retail: $139 (price as tested)

Key Features:

  • Ultra-comfortable, upright, and relaxed riding position without the need for a highly angled stem or long steerer tube.
  • Lots of room to mount accessories and bags
  • Double-bar construction means bags are super secure
Redshift Top Shelf Handlebars specs
(Photo/Redshift Sports)

Details:

  • Perfect for road, gravel, bikepacking, and commuting
  • Rise: 50 or 70mm
  • Storage: The double-bar construction provides room for all of your bar-mounted accouterments
  • Control: The rise of the bar brings the drops closer, allowing for more use of the drops for more control
  • Backsweep: 7-degrees of back sweep
  • Flare: 25-degrees of flare
  • Wide: Available in 44, 47, and 50cm
  • Lifetime Warranty, 90 risk-free trial, free shipping in the US, UK, EU, and CAN

First Impressions

Redshift Top Shelf Handlebar backsweep
(Photo/Ron Frazelle)

I received the bar with a 50mm rise, and 47cm width. I would normally be on at least a 50cm width, but thought I’d try a little narrower with the amount of rise that the bar has. The 6061 T6 aluminum Top Shelf bar has a nice 7-degree back sweep, which I prefer in my drop bars.

Redshift Top Shelf Handlebar actual weight
(Photo/Ron Frazelle)

The 25-degree flare is more than ample for me. it has a short reach and a shallow drop, so getting into and staying in the drops will be more comfortable. The actual weight of the Top Shelf in the 47cm size came in a gram less (508g) than the claimed weight (509g)

Redshift Top Shelf Handlebar double bar construction
(Photo/Ron Frazelle)

The unique feature that stood out on this bar when I opened the box, was the flat upper bar, or I guess the double bar construction. I’m sure it adds a bit of weight compared to just having the bar rise without the second bar.

Redshift Top Shelf Handlebar short reach, shallow drop
Short reach and shallow drops are my jam! (Photo/Ron Frazelle)

But the upper bar adds the real estate to add bags, electronics, and other stuff, which will be awesome. Matter of fact, Redshift plans on releasing a custom-fitted bag this summer that fits this bar.

If you combine this bar with the Redshift Cruise Control Top and Bottom Grips, you are almost guaranteed a comfortable hand position anywhere on the bar. I’m going to skip that step and wrap the bars traditionally.

I’m looking forward to spending the Spring on these bars. Stay tuned here for the full review.

Check out all of the neat products Redshift has to offer by hitting the link below.

RedshiftSports.com

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12 Comments
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Tucker
Tucker
8 months ago

so this isn’t an April 1st post?

Kool Stop Tyre Lever Sales Dept.
Kool Stop Tyre Lever Sales Dept.
8 months ago
Reply to  Tucker

The silly part is the pictures show the stem mounted to the lower bar,
the stem goes on the upper bar. The lower bar is the bag mount and is
sized for 31.8 for accessories. Try to find a Garmin mount that fits the
23.8 upper bar. (only sort of kidding)

Jeff
Jeff
8 months ago

That is 100% incorrect.

WhateverBikes
WhateverBikes
7 months ago

Why write something in such a factual style when you clearly don’t know what you are talking about?

dontcoast
dontcoast
7 months ago
Reply to  WhateverBikes

because that was hilarious

Brian
Brian
8 months ago

Where’s the carbon version?

Emo
Emo
8 months ago

But why? What are the benefits over a longer steer tube or more stem rise? Lighter? Stiffer?

Love that the photo shows a guy with a bunch of spacers above his stem.

WorkonSunday
WorkonSunday
8 months ago
Reply to  Emo

Most carbon steerer cant take more than 30mm of spacer under the stem and extension on carbon steerer isnt considered safe. This is good alternative if positive rise stem isnt quite enough or add too much reach.

King County
King County
8 months ago
Reply to  Emo

The spacers above the stem do clash with having to use a riser bar, but we know the photos are to show off the bars and the cables look to short to move the stem above the spacers.

Kool Stop Tyre Lever Sales Dept.
Kool Stop Tyre Lever Sales Dept.
7 months ago
Reply to  Emo

It it the perfect bar for people using L shaped cranks.

http://pardo.net/bike/pic/mobi/d.pmp-cranks/index.html

ish
ish
8 months ago

This concept is amazing if you want to take your drop bar bike on off-road adventures. I just did a You tube review of the Soma condor 2 drop bar which does the same thing. Check it out to answer all of these questions as to why, it may be for you , or not. Yes the stem does attach on the lower part of the bar, check the photos with the hash marks for setting your bar angle. In short this cuts the distance from your hoods to your drops in half, making the drops much more useful more often. I love my Soma’s but would like them wider which these offer, so they are on my list!

ish
ish
7 months ago
Reply to  ish

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