Thomson Titanium Mountain Handlebar

While the Elite Dropper seatpost may be the most anticipated product from Thompson, its quiet entry into the handlebar market, with products like this Titanium Mountain Handlebar, could be just as significant. Natural growth of Thomson's product line led them to another cockpit component, which not only shows commitment to providing performance parts, but is also a proud display of Thomson's mountain biking heritage. Ti handlebars were a preferred setup before full-sus, tuned carbon frames. Right before the transition to flexing, creaking, and cracking, Thomson -- an unheard of aerospace manufacturer -- rocked the singletrack boat with a one-piece, fully CNC'd aluminum stem. At this time, carbon bars were still too new to be trusted, and titanium was the ultimate balance of strength to weight -- with an uncanny ability to take an edge off those rigid rides. Thomson's stem was a fresh concept with applied aerospace design concepts that provided unmatched performance. When one of those machined stems arrived to a shop, it was quickly matched to a Ti bar for someone's dream build. Ti, however, fell in desirability -- just like hardtail and rigid mountain bikes -- as carbon fiber and suspension technology improved, and slowly chipped away market share. Thomson stems, however, thrived during the rise of full suspension and carbon due to their increadable quality, stiffness, and low weight. Fast forward to today and there's a thriving hardtail market, rejuvenated by new wheel sizes that maximize the efficiency and simplicity of the double-diamond design. And lo and behold, titanium handlebars' unique ride quality -- not to mention its excellent strength to weight ratio -- complement this segment just as that early drool-worthy Thomson/Ti combination. Thomson's Titanium Handlebar marks a change in company direction too, as it is among an assortment of products that no longer rely on the aluminum machining expertise. Instead Thomson continues to use its US facilities...