Welcome to Velo’s Sea Otter Classic coverage, where we share our favorite things we’ve seen at the 2024 show. Bikes, components, everything racing, and more: if we think it’s cool, you’ll see it. See the rest of our coverage here.
Cadex Race Integrated Bar — First Time Shown in Public
Cadex is a moonshot brand with a reputation for making top-shelf products. Today we got a first look at a pair of new handlebars in keeping with that DNA. The Cadex Race and Aero Integrated handlebar systems aren’t brand new products. The brand announced the products back at the end of February but not many people have actually seen them. Although Sea Otter has a definite off-road lean, Cadex came bearing many carbon fiber road-specific goodies. The integrated handlebars are among them.
If you aren’t familiar with what Cadex is up to for 2024, the short answer is that you can expect the best of the best with a focus on low weight and aerodynamics. This isn’t new for the brand that started as the first mass produced carbon fiber bike back in 1987. There has been a bit of a lull though, as the name disappeared for 30 years or so before coming back to life in 2019. Since then there’s been a slow but steady expansion of products but they’ve all been lightweight and aerodynamic.
Among those products are a select number of handlebars plus a race stem. We’ve seen gravel, all-road, and road handlebars all come to market lacking internal routing and with a somewhat odd one-piece label. What I mean by odd is that Cadex refers to the handlebars the brand offers as one-piece not because they include a stem. Instead, the reasoning is that none of the Cadex handlebars follow the path of other brands which bond various parts of the drops to the tops before final finishing. Cadex builds the handlebars as one-piece resulting in a lighter and stronger design.
While the results speak for themselves with all the Cadex bars sporting an incredibly low weight, the February release brought two new Cadex bars in line with what most people would call a one-piece handlebar. The Cadex Race and Aero integrated handlebar systems still use the same one-piece construction for the bars. What’s new is there’s now a stem bonded to the design, and internal routing.
The two options are either lightweight or aero. For those that want every aero advantage, the Aero Integrated handlebar has a flattened top section, longer reach, 2-degree backsweep, and 3-degree flare with a weight of 325g (420mm x 100mm bar). If you are instead willing to take a slight aero penalty, though the brand doesn’t compare the two in that way, then the Race Integrated bar weighs in at 256g (420mm x 100m) with an oval top section, no backsweep, and an 11-degree flare. Both options offer 72mm reach with 125mm shallow drops, 16 sizing combinations ranging from 80-140mm stems with 36-44cm width bars, and come with an out-front mount. Cadex says the Aero Integrated bar is compatible with 1-1/4” and 1-1/8” and Giant OverDrive Aero steerer tubes (with included carbon shims) while the Race Integrated bar is available in 1-1/8” and Giant OverDrive Aero compatible configurations.
Pricing and Availability
Although we are now a few months out from the first mention of the Cadex 2024 products, they aren’t quite here yet. Seeing them in person is a definite step forward but for now you’ll need to jump over to Cadex-cycling.com to keep an eye on availability. Pricing for the Aero option is $699 while the lightweight Race Integrated handlebar system runs a little cheaper at $650.
The included outfront mount is metal, uses two mounting points, and has a place to mount lights. (Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
The Cadex bar system is compatible with many frames using through the stem routing. (Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
Like all previous Cadex handlebars, the new bar systems use single-piece construction for the complete handlebar with the stem bonded on for a clean appearance. (Photo Josh Ross/Velo)
There’s a cover for the steerer tube that keeps all the aero smooth and clean looking. (Photo Josh Ross/Velo)