Handlebar advice
08-23-20, 02:53 PM
#1
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Handlebar advice
Hi all! I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice or suggestions. I have a Trek 920, which I love for the type of riding I do (touring and mixed-surface riding), but the stem is a bit long. I'd like a bit more control on gravel and trails, and a slightly more upright position (touring is just as much about seeing as it is riding!). I still prefer drops, but I'm wondering if sweeping drops and a shorter stem would be a good mod for the 920. If so, does anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks!
Thanks!
08-23-20, 05:21 PM
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Maybe. But you need to try and simulate where you'd be on them in all the different hand positions you use.
I've generally been able to come up with pics or drawings with detailed dimensions of the bars I've been interested in buying by looking at the bar manufacturers site and doing searches on it and looking through all the doc's they publish for them. Sometimes I've found good info on other sites by googling.
Mostly you just need to know how much drop they have from top to bottom and how far out front of the top horizontal part they go. Then you can measure and imagine how you will feel in those different positions. If you are good at CAD or 3D drawings on a computer, then that can help you imagine too.
I've generally been able to come up with pics or drawings with detailed dimensions of the bars I've been interested in buying by looking at the bar manufacturers site and doing searches on it and looking through all the doc's they publish for them. Sometimes I've found good info on other sites by googling.
Mostly you just need to know how much drop they have from top to bottom and how far out front of the top horizontal part they go. Then you can measure and imagine how you will feel in those different positions. If you are good at CAD or 3D drawings on a computer, then that can help you imagine too.
08-24-20, 07:17 AM
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tools that might be helpful:
Whatbars.com this is not exhaustive, but it has a LOT of handlebars listed for comparison
stem comparison tool this will show you exactly what differences will occur if you swap one stem with another stem. unfortunately, the stack height of most stems is hard to find without having the stem in your hand to measure but you can still get a good idea with this tool
Bikepacking guide to flared drop bars the guides on this site are usually close to exhaustive
The Path Less Pedaled prolific YouTuber who focuses on more slow-paced bikepacking and gravel road exploration type of riding
there are also a few handlebars on the market that have a raised top section, so you can make the handlebar taller overall without changing much on the stem. Surly Truck Stop, Ritchey Ergomax, Specialized Hover, Soma Condor, etc.
Whatbars.com this is not exhaustive, but it has a LOT of handlebars listed for comparison
stem comparison tool this will show you exactly what differences will occur if you swap one stem with another stem. unfortunately, the stack height of most stems is hard to find without having the stem in your hand to measure but you can still get a good idea with this tool
Bikepacking guide to flared drop bars the guides on this site are usually close to exhaustive
The Path Less Pedaled prolific YouTuber who focuses on more slow-paced bikepacking and gravel road exploration type of riding
there are also a few handlebars on the market that have a raised top section, so you can make the handlebar taller overall without changing much on the stem. Surly Truck Stop, Ritchey Ergomax, Specialized Hover, Soma Condor, etc.
08-24-20, 07:10 PM
#5
Senior Member
Hi all! I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice or suggestions. I have a Trek 920, which I love for the type of riding I do (touring and mixed-surface riding), but the stem is a bit long. I'd like a bit more control on gravel and trails, and a slightly more upright position (touring is just as much about seeing as it is riding!). I still prefer drops, but I'm wondering if sweeping drops and a shorter stem would be a good mod for the 920. If so, does anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks!
Thanks!
As mentioned, a riser bar would allow you to run a stem that doesn't have a tall rise.
Ritchey WCS model? is 10mm rise.
Hover bar is 15mm.
Control Tech is 20mm.
Condor 2 is 50mm.
If its more control in the drops you're chasing, then look at the flared gravel bars.
Look up the specs of, or measure yourself the reach, drop (and width) of your current bars. Compare those numbers against anything you look at.
