Design

OUR PROCESS

In the past, riders have had (or been forced) to adapt to their bikes and components. We challenge that philosophy by putting the rider at the core of our design process. Our expertise allows us to reverse engineer products, building the rider’s key contact points and optimal positioning from the ground up.  Each 51 SPEEDSHOP product is designed and tested on a spectrum of athletes to optimize the relationship between rider and bike...designed by fit experts, and engineered for you.    

Over the last 10-15 years, we’ve worked on or have ridden almost every single major manufactures aero bar.  These are all good products, but there are often small details that are overlooked.  Our goal was to create a bar that checked all the boxes by perfecting the basics. It’s no secret that the industry has recognized the importance of the human interaction aboard their products.  You’ve heard phrases such as, “we took a fit first approach” or companies reach out to industry leading experts like myself for a quote they can use in conjunction with their product.   We’ll, we are the fitters and when you’ve worked with something everyday, you understand what a bar must do.  How it should adjust, the fit, ergonomics, how the bar should provide comfort and support leading to greater rider confidence on the road. With our fit knowledge, we’ve been able to take a reverse design approach...building the bar from the ground up under the rider vs asking the rider to conform to the bar.

We’ve paid an enormous amount of attention to the rider’s contact points creating an arm cup that cradles the arm, a proprietary foam that doesn’t deteriorate or compress providing damping against road vibrations.   We’ve used 3D printed segments to build the extensions to the rider’s hand vs having them torque the wrist to meet the extension.  We’ve built a pursuit bar that provides a stable base when out of the saddle, cornering, or on rough road surfaces giving the riders greater control over the bike. We understand the fit and adjustability needs.  We are in the fortunate position to be able to see these products years after purchase.  How do they hold up over time, are the bolts corroded, arm pads shot, is the bar easy to adjust after cables are run?  These minor details are what really add up to creating a product we at 51 Speedshop can be proud of.