3T Cycling - Aerodynamics Arrive

Aerodynamics Arrive

The firm worked closely with professional racers to refine the design of their handlebars. The various 'bends' took their name from the champions of the era — Merckx, Saronni, Moser, and Gimondi. In 1984 Francesco Moser used a newly-developed 3T bar to capture the world hour record, breaking through the 50-kilometre barrier for the first time.

This new 'bullhorn' bar put the rider in a lower, more aerodynamic position for greater speed. Most riders in search of pure speed now use a similar position. In Moser's honor, 3T named the bar '51.151' — the distance Moser covered in kilometres (31.784 miles) at the Mexico City velodrome on January 23, 1984.