Anecdotally there is a brand that jumped on 35 mm, put a lot of development into being lighter than all the other brands, and, possibly as a result of a lack of material, seemed to have the largest (9/10 "my carbon bar snapped whilst...." stories include this brand's name) failure rate, usually at the brake clamp.
I have personally seen this happen (whilst guiding and to a client - nothing quite like a mid trail heart attack as one watches a client pedal strike to high side to bar snap and then tumble down a rock covered slope towards a stream!!! ).
We shaved down a stick, used it as a dowel and held it all together with a lot of duct tape and care, it was enough to get him to camp that afternoon and we flew in a replacement handlebar for the final day's ride.
Take away lessons:
1\. Certain carbon bars have been poorly executed, use with caution and replace after every/ any crash.
2\. Spend less money on bars overall by buying another brand, with a better crash survivability rate, anyway
3\. Unless you are a 220 lb+ rider doing near EWS/ WC speeds you are probably going to be much happier with a well made 31.8 mm bar from almost any brand. Pick your preferred back sweep angle and don't be a d(*k about it. Enjoy your worry free ride.
March 3, 2022, 4:58 p.m. - AndrewR
Anecdotally there is a brand that jumped on 35 mm, put a lot of development into being lighter than all the other brands, and, possibly as a result of a lack of material, seemed to have the largest (9/10 "my carbon bar snapped whilst...." stories include this brand's name) failure rate, usually at the brake clamp. I have personally seen this happen (whilst guiding and to a client - nothing quite like a mid trail heart attack as one watches a client pedal strike to high side to bar snap and then tumble down a rock covered slope towards a stream!!! ). We shaved down a stick, used it as a dowel and held it all together with a lot of duct tape and care, it was enough to get him to camp that afternoon and we flew in a replacement handlebar for the final day's ride. Take away lessons: 1\. Certain carbon bars have been poorly executed, use with caution and replace after every/ any crash. 2\. Spend less money on bars overall by buying another brand, with a better crash survivability rate, anyway 3\. Unless you are a 220 lb+ rider doing near EWS/ WC speeds you are probably going to be much happier with a well made 31.8 mm bar from almost any brand. Pick your preferred back sweep angle and don't be a d(*k about it. Enjoy your worry free ride.