Tri Bars, onto SLIGHTLY Ovalized Giant Revolt h/bars...?

[Zebra]

Keen to fit some tri-bars (extensions, in other words) to my gravel bike, which is a Giant Revolt, with Contact SL XR D-Fuse alloy handlebar...

Any affordable CLIP ON (to existing bars I have) out there, likely with OVALIZED brackets?

(tri-bars: its a long story...!)

Chris

[Super Sywurm]

The clever AI:

If you’re asking whether clip-on tri bars can be mounted onto a Giant Revolt’s slightly ovalized (D-shaped) handlebars, here’s the practical guidance:

🔧 Short Answer

Usually no — not safely, unless:

• You replace the top section with a round bar, or

• You use clip-ons specifically designed for non-round or aero/oval bar profiles (rare).

⚠️ Why It’s a Problem

1. Ovalized (D-shape) bars aren’t round, so standard tri-bar clamps (made for 31.8 mm round tubing) don’t get full contact.

2. The Revolt’s stock bars are lightweight aluminum or carbon with stress-sensitive cross-sections.

3. Clip-ons require very high clamp forces, which can crush or crack anything not round.

Giant explicitly advises not clamping aero/oval sections with accessories designed for round tubing—this includes clip-on aerobars.

✔️ What Can Work

1. Swap to round handlebars

The simplest and safest option:

• A standard 31.8 mm round alloy handlebar.

• Then any normal clip-on aero bar will work.

2. Use an accessory “round mounting stub”

Some gravel riders install:

• Profile Design ATTK/Stubby clamp shims

• RedShift Quick-Release Aerobar (fits some mildly oval bars but requires fully round clamping area)
  However — these still require a truly round clamping zone.

3. If your Revolt has a round clamping section

Some Giant bars have:

• Ovalized tops

• But a round area near the stem
  If your tri-bars can clamp on the round section only, and the bars are alloy, it might be OK.

Take measurements:

• If the section near the stem is 31.8 mm round, you can mount clip-ons there.

❌ What Not to Do

• Do not clamp tri bars onto the ovalized top sections.

• Do not clamp onto carbon bars unless the manufacturer explicitly approves.

If you want, I can:

• Identify your exact Giant Revolt model/year

• Check whether your specific bar is compatible

• Recommend clip-ons that will (or won’t) work

Just tell me the year/model and whether your handlebar is alloy or carbon.

[Zebra]

Gosh, you youngsters K-N-O-W how to W-O-R-K AI; much appreciated, that really is a useful starting point for me...

Backstory: for a few months, have been commuting in to work - 30km, HB-Paarden Eiland..

MANY of these rides are 1h28, 1h24, etc.

Decided to give it a bit MORE of a 'go', and hit a 1h17, just pushing a little bit harder... (but just riding once per week, or less...)...

then, rode with all the way in with 'puppy paws' (excl Suikerbossie, and 'Clifton Hill' (!), probably 95% of the way in to work, and dropped 5 minutes off of the previous 1h17, to give me a 1h12 mins...

Now, I want (need!) tri-bars!  I reckon I may have a sub 1h08 mins in me?! (26km/h...). 

[Zebra]

Have been using SQLabs 'inner bar ends' as 'pseudo' tri-bars, for many years, but both they and Spirgrips only fit ROUND handlebars....

[Super Sywurm]

32 minutes ago, Zebra said:

Gosh, you youngsters K-N-O-W how to W-O-R-K AI; much appreciated, that really is a useful starting point for me...

Backstory: for a few months, have been commuting in to work - 30km, HB-Paarden Eiland..

MANY of these rides are 1h28, 1h24, etc.

Decided to give it a bit MORE of a 'go', and hit a 1h17, just pushing a little bit harder... (but just riding once per week, or less...)...

then, rode with all the way in with 'puppy paws' (excl Suikerbossie, and 'Clifton Hill' (!), probably 95% of the way in to work, and dropped 5 minutes off of the previous 1h17, to give me a 1h12 mins...

Now, I want (need!) tri-bars!  I reckon I may have a sub 1h08 mins in me?! (26km/h...). 

I'm not that young anymore, I'm an 80's baby.

[NotSoBigBen]

2 hours ago, Zebra said:

Gosh, you youngsters K-N-O-W how to W-O-R-K AI; much appreciated, that really is a useful starting point for me...

Backstory: for a few months, have been commuting in to work - 30km, HB-Paarden Eiland..

MANY of these rides are 1h28, 1h24, etc.

Decided to give it a bit MORE of a 'go', and hit a 1h17, just pushing a little bit harder... (but just riding once per week, or less...)...

then, rode with all the way in with 'puppy paws' (excl Suikerbossie, and 'Clifton Hill' (!), probably 95% of the way in to work, and dropped 5 minutes off of the previous 1h17, to give me a 1h12 mins...

Now, I want (need!) tri-bars!  I reckon I may have a sub 1h08 mins in me?! (26km/h...). 

Context is everything 😜

Was just gonna say tri bars on a gravel baaik? Nee man 👨

[Zebra]

3 hours ago, Super Sywurm said:

I'm not that young anymore, I'm an 80's baby.

Ok, EARLY 60’s baby here, it all relative!!! 😅

[Zebra]

On 11/25/2025 at 6:01 PM, NotSoBigBen said:

Context is everything 😜

Was just gonna say tri bars on a gravel baaik? Nee man 👨

Yes, context indeed!
 

I grew up doing Tri’s, and have done a fair bit of long-distance cycling (multiple-weeks type stuff…)…

…so i reckon tri bars set up right could be an aid (and a ‘drug!) to my future riding; would like to do a Munga one day, chasing @Buff…

Edited November 26, 2025 by Zebra

[ajnkzn]

Alu bars, use a small section of old inner tube inside the clamp area on the flatter portions of the oval and clamp to 7nm - honestly surely nothing seriously bad can happen?

[Spyker101]

Hi all, Chris,

Surely, slightly ovalised bars is not a problem for most round clamps? For as long as the clamp is not too small for the bars, (in which case too much pressure might be applied on the wider part of the bars, risking damage). But, with a bit of insulation (piece of bar tape), and a clamp slightly bigger than the handlebar, no damage should occur?

I was thinking of putting the Deda Jet One on my future Giant Revolt..

And if the round clamp Aero bars really don't work with the ovalised handlebars, then just swap out the handlebars. As you have seen yourself, Aero beats everything. So a simple alternative aluminium (or secondhand carbon – since they're not that expensive these days) handlebar will allow you to put on any round bar clamp.

Regards
Konrad

[DieselnDust]

5 hours ago, Spyker101 said:

Hi all, Chris,

Surely, slightly ovalised bars is not a problem for most round clamps? For as long as the clamp is not too small for the bars, (in which case too much pressure might be applied on the wider part of the bars, risking damage). But, with a bit of insulation (piece of bar tape), and a clamp slightly bigger than the handlebar, no damage should occur?

I was thinking of putting the Deda Jet One on my future Giant Revolt..

And if the round clamp Aero bars really don't work with the ovalised handlebars, then just swap out the handlebars. As you have seen yourself, Aero beats everything. So a simple alternative aluminium (or secondhand carbon – since they're not that expensive these days) handlebar will allow you to put on any round bar clamp.

Regards
Konrad

Well… it is your teeth  too do with them what you please 

[117]

Get the SE'ster and the NW'ster timing right and you'll clock a sub 60min without the tribars

[ChrisF]

Forget safety .... just think SPEED .... 

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRV_ibrEs85/?igsh=MXJqa3FwN3loeDdzdg==

[Zebra]

What idea has been ‘planted’, cannot now be UNplanted! 🤣

[Zebra]

These were the bars i was discussing, (Bike Hub buy & sell…) and am now buying them and will - safely - make them work, with a small engineered adjustment.

Will reply here in the new year, when they are fitted, and i can give them a ‘tri’ !
Chris

Edited November 27, 2025 by Zebra

[Zebra]

Test fitted the tri-bars on the Revolt last nite, they work fairly well, better than i was expecting, and this weekend will make some adjustments to increase the safety of a round clamp on an (slightly ovalized) bar, and report back here…

Edited December 9, 2025 by Zebra
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