Mythos’ new £1,500 handlebar brings yet more 3D-printing tech to the track

By Warren Rossiter

Published: Thursday, 22 December 2022 at 12:00 am

The Mythos TX-1 is a new 3D-printed titanium track cycling handlebar from the brand behind the £500 Elix stem.

Metron Advanced Equipment (Mythos’ parent company) has plenty of experience with 3D-printed cockpits – it claims to have manufactured more than 150 3D-printed handlebar setups for British Cycling alone, including the titanium bar used by Bradley Wiggins in his 2015 hour record.

The TX-1 takes advantage of new UCI regulations that allow the handlebar to sit 10cm in front of the front wheel axle.

How it’s made

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The bar is made from 3D-printed titanium.
Mythos

The TX-1 is made using EBM (electronic beam melting) additive manufacturing.

According to Mythos, this process is usually found in top-level aerospace and motorsport engineering.

All Mythos parts are made to AS/EN9100 certification. This is a global aerospace manufacturing standard covering everything from raw materials to tensile testing of the finished products.

Mythos claims its standards of manufacturing are the most stringent in the cycling industry.

Get into position

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The radical shape of the bar is designed to work with six different hand positions. Pictured here is the tuck position.
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On the hoods.
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On the straights (also known as the ramps).
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In the verticals (also known as the hooks).
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In the drops.
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And on the centre.
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The shape of TX-1 bar was developed in-house.

At first glance, the shape is reminiscent of the bar Ribble developed for its radical Ultra SLR road bike, though the TX-1 isn’t a one-piece bar and stem design.

Its track designation also means it’s not intended to have levers mounted. Mythos told BikeRadar it is considering producing a similar bar for road cycling.

Mythos claims the aero design is optimised to work with six different hand positions.

Moulding the bar around positions to fit your hand better should improve comfort and reduce fatigue, as well as improving aerodynamic performance.

Mythos TX-1 bars specs

  • Width at the drops: 35/32/29cm
  • Width at the hoods: 29/26/23cm
  • Clamp diameter: 31.8mm
  • Material: Aerospace-grade titanium
  • Price: £1,500