Open Bicycle

Perusing new urban bike shop blogs, (there seems to be a new one popping up every other day) I ran across Velo Cult. Open just two weeks, these San Diego kids have a jaw-dropping array of new and vintage steeds and parts. Amidst the deep deep H+Son rims, the classic Romic, and the bar-spinnable Traitor frames, I noticed these:

Yikes! Nitto just won’t let up! Tracing down the US distributor, Euro-Asia Imports, I found out the B259 is the stainless steel version of the popular B259 AA, an aluminum riser that one sees in an incredible spectrum of anodized colors. However, the B259 Stainless comes only 500mm wide (consider it pre-cut) with a nice upright 50mm rise, and the bar ends are capped, welded, and finished smooth. The entire bar is mirror polished. Expect these to pop up everywhere as a bombproof (and classier) alternative to easily-bent aluminum bars. MSRP seems to be in the $90 range, Ben’s Bike has them for $91.99. Nitto made a foray into steel risers seven years back, the venerable Cro-Moto collaboration with Salsa, but low demand meant production ceased after two years. (I’m still rockin’ em!)

Also pictured is a yet-narrower straight bar, reminiscent of the Metallico Tsuchinoko-bar AKA Dildo Bar, the Ocean Cycles (formerly Vivalo) collabo.  No word yet on model designation, exact dimensions, or price on the Nitto version.