It’s named after Will’s grandmother. We based it on the NITTO #352 (Albatross handlebar), but the Billie:
rises and drops less. This is not important.
flares more, but still not much. Also is not important.
is slightly wider. Where you actually grab is about the same, but it comes back more, so it has more room to get wide. No biggie again.
BUT: the straight grip area is 8.25 inches long—more than 2-inches longer than the straight part of the Albatross—so there’s room for a full-sized hand in front of the brake lever and thumb shifter. The Albatross has about one and two-thirds hand grips, which is good enough, but the Billie has two full ones, which is gosh-darned wonderful for off-the-saddle climbing or sprinting, or just fast seated riding.
You can cut up to 15mm off the ends (if you want to..) and you’ll still have room for bar-end shifters. If you cut off more than that—for whatever personal quirky reason you might want to—stick with thumbies.
Overall: Excellent for everything. It can use a 2cm to 5cm longer stem than the Albatross—because it comes back more—but they’re both upright bars, no big deal, you’ll love it anyway.
