We test the Eiros Atena: a premium, ultralight carbon cockpit made in Barcelona

In a market where ultralight carbon components are often signed by major brands, there are still products capable of breaking the mold. Over the past few weeks, we have tested the Eiros Atena, an integrated XC handlebar weighing 185 grams, designed to compete in the most exclusive part of the segment and with the particularity of being designed and manufactured in Barcelona by a team at the forefront of carbon manufacturing. On paper, it gathers many of the ingredients expected from a top-level component; now we wanted to see how they translate on the bike.

Eiros: cutting-edge engineering and carbon manufacturing from Barcelona 

Eiros is a young Barcelona-based brand specializing in high-performance carbon fiber components. The brand is new, but the experience behind it is not. Its team brings together technical profiles with over 20 years of experience in the composite materials sector, transferring that knowledge to cycling by combining design, materials engineering, structural simulation, and specialized carbon manufacturing.

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It is precisely here that much of what makes Eiros different lies. Their components are designed and manufactured in Barcelona, keeping a process under control that spans from the development of the piece to its production. Among the techniques used is vacuum compaction and autoclave use, where the controlled combination of pressure and temperature allows for the consolidation of the laminate, minimizing the presence of air and promoting a homogeneous curing of the resin. All of this aims to use just the right material to achieve extremely lightweight structures without compromising their strength.

This philosophy places Eiros directly in the premium segment. Its catalog, still very concentrated, includes handlebars, seat posts, and chainrings developed with the philosophy of reducing weight through structural design and careful work with carbon, without losing sight of the strength and performance required of a component intended for competition.

The Atena is probably the best showcase of that philosophy. An integrated carbon handlebar for XC and marathon that combines stem and handlebar into a single monocoque structure and, in its lightest configuration, boasts a weight of only 185 grams.

Eiros Atena: monocoque carbon for an ultralight cockpit

In competition, the integrated handlebar has gained much ground over the combination of stem and handlebar in recent years. Fewer screws, less weight, a cleaner line, and a stiffness that a two-piece set cannot match are its main advantages. But the price to pay is that there is no height or angle adjustment beyond the spacers, and one must get the stem length right before purchasing. Eiros addresses this by offering the Atena in three stem lengths: 42, 62, and 82 mm, all with a width of 740 mm, which is the measurement that most XC and marathon bikes are using today.

What sets the Atena apart from the usual offerings is where it comes from. It is not a generic Asian mold with a sticker: Eiros designs and manufactures in the Vallès (Sabadell), with a monocoque construction that the brand calls Hephaestus-V Core and an arrangement of asymmetrical carbon layers cured in an autoclave, the process used by the aerospace industry to achieve maximum laminate compaction with minimal material. This is where the figure of 185 grams comes from, as well as the feeling of a well-made piece that it conveys as soon as you take it out of the box.

In terms of geometry, the Atena opts for a backsweep of 8.6° and an upsweep of 5.2°, values very much in line with what modern XC handlebars mount and that seek a natural wrist position without overly opening the elbows. The brand homologates it for cyclists of up to 120 kg, a generous margin for a component of this weight.

Five finishes and an eye-catching design

The Atena is offered in five finishes: Black (glossy carbon), Black Matt, Red, White, and a fifth textured finish that the brand presents under its motto "Textures are out there" and calls Obsidian. The one we were able to test has the Obsidian carbon finish, the most original in our opinion, although not for every bike.

In the design, the transition between stem and handlebar stands out, very clean and without sharp edges, with the Eiros logo on the top of the stem and the model name screen-printed on top of the tightening cap. The stem cap is secured with a single top 4mm Allen screw, and the side screws are Torx 25mm. 

We tested the Eiros Atena with a 62 mm stem

We tested the version with 62 mm stem, which is the intermediate length of the range and fits best on a current M/L XC bike, with a long reach that does not require an 80 stem to stretch the position. With 42 mm, the Atena is closer to a trail or downcountry cockpit, and with 82 mm, it is the option for those coming from a classic long stem or looking for the most racing position possible.

The data we measured is the weight. On our scale, the 62 mm Atena weighed 204 grams, that is, 24 grams above the 185 declared by the brand, a figure we understand corresponds to the shortest stem version. Even so, 204 grams for a complete stem and handlebar set of 740 mm is an excellent figure, and the best part is that in this case, we can put the savings into real numbers. The Atena was mounted on a bike that already had a high-end combination, a S-Works carbon handlebar and S-Works stem with titanium screws, a set that weighed 295 grams on the scale.

The Eiros has removed 91 grams from the front of the bike in one go, and that against one of the lightest two-piece sets that can be mounted as standard; against a conventional carbon handlebar and aluminum stem, the savings would easily exceed 100 grams. To put it in context with direct competition, the Syncros Fraser iC SL XC, one of the reference integrated handlebars in the World Cup, declares 270 grams at the same width of 740 mm.

Assembly: few pieces and no surprises

Assembling an integrated handlebar is simpler than assembling a two-piece set since there is no need to center the handlebar on the stem or distribute the torque among four front cap screws. The Atena is placed over the steerer tube, the height is adjusted with spacers, and the stem screws are tightened to the indicated torque of 6nm. As with any carbon component, it is essential to use a torque wrench and carbon assembly paste, and not to exceed the torque.

It is important to be clear before buying that, being a single piece, the angle of the stem and the drop of the handlebar are already given, and the only variable we can adjust is the height with spacers and, with moderation, the rotation of the set on the steerer to adjust the sweep. It is the same limitation that any integrated handlebar has, and one must measure the position well before deciding between 42, 62, and 82.

Riding with the Eiros Atena

The first sensation when starting with the Atena is what the concept promises: the front of the bike feels lighter when lifting it over a step or changing lines, and the steering feels more direct. But what really surprised us is that with such a contained weight, the handlebar feels very stiff when pulling on it during explosive climbs or hard braking. The Atena feels very secure, with a response when sprinting standing up and loading the front in a curve that is on par with much heavier stem and handlebar sets. The monocoque construction and autoclave laminate are felt exactly where they should be felt.

This stiffness does not translate into an uncomfortable handlebar. The 8.6° backsweep and 5.2° upsweep provide a natural wrist position, and on broken track and trail sections, the Atena filters fine vibrations correctly, without the dry harshness of some integrated handlebars that bet everything on stiffness. It is a handlebar that gives confidence, and at no point did we feel like we were on a component at the limit of its strength, something that with 204 grams in hand is no small feat.

Conclusions

After some time testing the Eiros Atena, the conclusion is that Eiros has entered the category through the front door. The 204 grams of our 62 mm unit place it among the lightest cockpits we have had on the scale. Its construction truly feels premium when seen and held, and is confirmed in the stiffness and sense of security it conveys.

The Atena has the inherent limits of its category, such as the lack of adjustment we have already mentioned or the maximum width of 740 mm, a logical measure for XC and marathon. And within these inherent limits, the price should also be included. 695.75 euros is a figure for a premium component, above most integrated handlebars from major brands, although well established if we remember that we are dealing with a very high-end handlebar made in Europe.

If you need to play with angles and stem lengths, or want a handlebar wider than 740 mm, a conventional set will still be the most flexible option.

In the end, the Atena is the demonstration that a competition integrated handlebar can be made in Barcelona, with scale data that supports what it promises and an execution that justifies its price for those looking for exactly this.

Eiros Atena handlebar: specifications, weight, and price

• Type: integrated handlebar (stem + handlebar) made of carbon for MTB
• Material: carbon fiber, Hephaestus-V Core monocoque construction, asymmetrical layers cured in autoclave
• Width: 740 mm
• Stem lengths: 42, 62, and 82 mm (tested: 62 mm)
• Backsweep: 8.6°
• Upsweep: 5.2°
• Declared weight: 185 g
• Measured real weight: 204 g (version with 62 mm stem)
• Measured savings: 86 g compared to the replaced set (S-Works carbon handlebar + S-Works stem with titanium screws, 295 g)
• Maximum cyclist weight: 120 kg
• Finishes: Black, Black Matt, Red, White, and textured finish
• Manufacturing: designed and manufactured in Barcelona (Sabadell), Spain
• Price: 695.75 €
• Official website: eirosbcn.com