Looking for new handlebar recommendations for gravel/road
#1
bill nyecycles
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Looking for new handlebar recommendations for gravel/road
I’ve got my first gravel bike but I’m not in love with the bars - they’re a bit larger than I like; longer reach, bigger drop, wide flare.
Can someone recommend a bar that is good for both gravel and road riding, has a pretty short reach, compact drops and little to no flare. A slight back sweep is ok but not a dealbreaker.
Maybe a better question to ask would be - is there anything that makes a gravel bar a gravel bar? Or can I use a road bar that I like because it doesn’t matter?
Looking to spend around $70?
thanks!
Can someone recommend a bar that is good for both gravel and road riding, has a pretty short reach, compact drops and little to no flare. A slight back sweep is ok but not a dealbreaker.
Maybe a better question to ask would be - is there anything that makes a gravel bar a gravel bar? Or can I use a road bar that I like because it doesn’t matter?
Looking to spend around $70?
thanks!
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I’ve got my first gravel bike but I’m not in love with the bars - they’re a bit larger than I like; longer reach, bigger drop, wide flare.
Can someone recommend a bar that is good for both gravel and road riding, has a pretty short reach, compact drops and little to no flare. A slight back sweep is ok but not a dealbreaker.
Maybe a better question to ask would be - is there anything that makes a gravel bar a gravel bar? Or can I use a road bar that I like because it doesn’t matter?
Looking to spend around $70?
thanks!
Can someone recommend a bar that is good for both gravel and road riding, has a pretty short reach, compact drops and little to no flare. A slight back sweep is ok but not a dealbreaker.
Maybe a better question to ask would be - is there anything that makes a gravel bar a gravel bar? Or can I use a road bar that I like because it doesn’t matter?
Looking to spend around $70?
thanks!
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Most gravel bars have a bit of flare and are a bit wider than a road bar. Also gravel bars are usually shallow drop. But you can do whatever you want. A good 'average' gravel bar is the Salsa Cowbell. you may want to try a shorter stem first as that is a lot easiest and cheaper to change. The wider bars are to give you more leverage when navigating bigger rocks, ledges and holes.
Good carbon bars are expensive, but do a lot to dampen vibrations common in gravel....
Good carbon bars are expensive, but do a lot to dampen vibrations common in gravel....
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I replaced the stock bar on my Kona Rove with a Salsa Cowbell--quite pleased with it. The Kona bar had a really deep drop which I hated when descending in the drops on rough terrain. Check out the Cowbell--lots of width options, only $50 at Jenson: https://salsacycles.com/components/category/road_handlebars/cowbell
https://www.jensonusa.com/Salsa-Cowbell-Drop-Bar
https://www.jensonusa.com/Salsa-Cowbell-Drop-Bar
Last edited by pbass; 09-20-20 at 07:41 PM.
#5
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The cowbell is a good choice. If you can afford carbon, try the Whisky 24F. Coming from narrow road drops, my gf adapted to the short flared drops without a murmur, on her new gravel bike.
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FSA Adventure Compact Road Bar: $45
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...s.php?id=85075
I use this gravel bar on my (road) touring bike.
I use a similar but carbon and unflared FSA road bar on my gravel bike. I would get this in carbon for that bike if it were available.
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Dave
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It's all about the bike "jewelry". Do you love your bike? Then buy her some jewelry.
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bill nyecycles
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I do like those whiskey bars - can't afford the carbon version though. so far they have the shortest reach i've found at around 67mm (though the salsa cowbell is about the same). Most of the other bars from ritchey and FSA are still around 74 reach.
I need short because man, those GRX hood ramps are a mile long.
Whatever I get I'm pairing it with a nice Ritchey WCS C220 70mm stem.
I need short because man, those GRX hood ramps are a mile long.
Whatever I get I'm pairing it with a nice Ritchey WCS C220 70mm stem.
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I think the Ritchey WCS bars have some nice choices. The ergo max has a subtle flair, flat tops, is swept back, and has even a little rise.
https://www.jensonusa.com/Ritchey-WC...op-Handlebar-3
I think you will like the compact drop, and the swept back design would work for you. Personally, I am maybe 2cm wider than my road bars.
I know I am backwards to some, but I think flared bars are a hot steaming mess.
If I'm in the drops, I'm going fast and I want to be aero.
Realistically, most people spend very little time in the drops anyway.
I want control and comfort when I'm on the top or on the hoods, not in the drops.
Flared is the opposite of this (and it does goofy things to the angle of the brake lever).
A little flare is OK, but I certainly don't want much.
https://www.jensonusa.com/Ritchey-WC...op-Handlebar-3
I think you will like the compact drop, and the swept back design would work for you. Personally, I am maybe 2cm wider than my road bars.
I know I am backwards to some, but I think flared bars are a hot steaming mess.
If I'm in the drops, I'm going fast and I want to be aero.
Realistically, most people spend very little time in the drops anyway.
I want control and comfort when I'm on the top or on the hoods, not in the drops.
Flared is the opposite of this (and it does goofy things to the angle of the brake lever).
A little flare is OK, but I certainly don't want much.
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I think the Ritchey WCS bars have some nice choices. The ergo max has a subtle flair, flat tops, is swept back, and has even a little rise.
https://www.jensonusa.com/Ritchey-WC...op-Handlebar-3
I think you will like the compact drop, and the swept back design would work for you. Personally, I am maybe 2cm wider than my road bars.
I know I am backwards to some, but I think flared bars are a hot steaming mess.
If I'm in the drops, I'm going fast and I want to be aero.
Realistically, most people spend very little time in the drops anyway.
I want control and comfort when I'm on the top or on the hoods, not in the drops.
Flared is the opposite of this (and it does goofy things to the angle of the brake lever).
A little flare is OK, but I certainly don't want much.
https://www.jensonusa.com/Ritchey-WC...op-Handlebar-3
I think you will like the compact drop, and the swept back design would work for you. Personally, I am maybe 2cm wider than my road bars.
I know I am backwards to some, but I think flared bars are a hot steaming mess.
If I'm in the drops, I'm going fast and I want to be aero.
Realistically, most people spend very little time in the drops anyway.
I want control and comfort when I'm on the top or on the hoods, not in the drops.
Flared is the opposite of this (and it does goofy things to the angle of the brake lever).
A little flare is OK, but I certainly don't want much.
If I'm tackling gnarly terrain, I'm on the hoods. I ride in the drops to get more aero, and I don't want my brake levers sticking out at an odd angle.
I get that there are some people who only ride in the drops and never on the hoods, and for them a flared bar probably works well. I'm not one of those people.
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bill nyecycles
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Same.
The bar that came stock on the bike is a 78mm reach, 126mm drop, seems to be 40cm wide, and 12 degree flare on the drops. I don't care for it.
I think I'm gonna end up with that Whiskey No7 6F bar: 67mm reach, 125mm drop, a 42cm width, and only 6 degree of flare which is barely noticeable.
I really wanted to pair the Ritchey stem with a Ritchey bar, but I wasn't keen on a lot of the shapes, and the smallest reach was 73mm.
The bar that came stock on the bike is a 78mm reach, 126mm drop, seems to be 40cm wide, and 12 degree flare on the drops. I don't care for it.
I think I'm gonna end up with that Whiskey No7 6F bar: 67mm reach, 125mm drop, a 42cm width, and only 6 degree of flare which is barely noticeable.
I really wanted to pair the Ritchey stem with a Ritchey bar, but I wasn't keen on a lot of the shapes, and the smallest reach was 73mm.
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I’ve had The Velo Orange Nuevo Rando on my singlespeed ‘cross/gravel bike for awhile and it’s become a favorite of mine. Very little flare in the drops, and the flats are ovalized and swept back a degree or two. Worth a look:
https://velo-orange.com/products/nou...neur-handlebar
https://velo-orange.com/products/nou...neur-handlebar
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100% agree with this.
If I'm tackling gnarly terrain, I'm on the hoods. I ride in the drops to get more aero, and I don't want my brake levers sticking out at an odd angle.
I get that there are some people who only ride in the drops and never on the hoods, and for them a flared bar probably works well. I'm not one of those people.
If I'm tackling gnarly terrain, I'm on the hoods. I ride in the drops to get more aero, and I don't want my brake levers sticking out at an odd angle.
I get that there are some people who only ride in the drops and never on the hoods, and for them a flared bar probably works well. I'm not one of those people.
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Like most everything else in cycling there is no right or wrong for handlebar flare.
Some like more and think the slower steering that comes from flsred bars helpful when riding loose surfaces.
Some like less and think the wider drops slow them down due to being incrementally less aero.
Wide bars, narrow bars, flared bars, swept bars, etc etc etc. No right or wrong way.
https://www.sram.com/en/zipp/models/hb-dbsc-sl70-b1
This is 70mm reach, 128mm drop, and 4 degrees of sweep.
Some like more and think the slower steering that comes from flsred bars helpful when riding loose surfaces.
Some like less and think the wider drops slow them down due to being incrementally less aero.
Wide bars, narrow bars, flared bars, swept bars, etc etc etc. No right or wrong way.
https://www.sram.com/en/zipp/models/hb-dbsc-sl70-b1
This is 70mm reach, 128mm drop, and 4 degrees of sweep.
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Same.
The bar that came stock on the bike is a 78mm reach, 126mm drop, seems to be 40cm wide, and 12 degree flare on the drops. I don't care for it.
I think I'm gonna end up with that Whiskey No7 6F bar: 67mm reach, 125mm drop, a 42cm width, and only 6 degree of flare which is barely noticeable.
I really wanted to pair the Ritchey stem with a Ritchey bar, but I wasn't keen on a lot of the shapes, and the smallest reach was 73mm.
The bar that came stock on the bike is a 78mm reach, 126mm drop, seems to be 40cm wide, and 12 degree flare on the drops. I don't care for it.
I think I'm gonna end up with that Whiskey No7 6F bar: 67mm reach, 125mm drop, a 42cm width, and only 6 degree of flare which is barely noticeable.
I really wanted to pair the Ritchey stem with a Ritchey bar, but I wasn't keen on a lot of the shapes, and the smallest reach was 73mm.
I've gotten addicted to swept back bars with flatish tops. Doesn't need to be much (12°?) but it shortens the reach and puts my hand in a little more comfortable position when riding on the top.
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100% agree with this.
If I'm tackling gnarly terrain, I'm on the hoods. I ride in the drops to get more aero, and I don't want my brake levers sticking out at an odd angle.
I get that there are some people who only ride in the drops and never on the hoods, and for them a flared bar probably works well. I'm not one of those people.
If I'm tackling gnarly terrain, I'm on the hoods. I ride in the drops to get more aero, and I don't want my brake levers sticking out at an odd angle.
I get that there are some people who only ride in the drops and never on the hoods, and for them a flared bar probably works well. I'm not one of those people.
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I’ve got my first gravel bike but I’m not in love with the bars - they’re a bit larger than I like; longer reach, bigger drop, wide flare.
Can someone recommend a bar that is good for both gravel and road riding, has a pretty short reach, compact drops and little to no flare. A slight back sweep is ok but not a dealbreaker.
Maybe a better question to ask would be - is there anything that makes a gravel bar a gravel bar? Or can I use a road bar that I like because it doesn’t matter?
Looking to spend around $70?
thanks!
Can someone recommend a bar that is good for both gravel and road riding, has a pretty short reach, compact drops and little to no flare. A slight back sweep is ok but not a dealbreaker.
Maybe a better question to ask would be - is there anything that makes a gravel bar a gravel bar? Or can I use a road bar that I like because it doesn’t matter?
Looking to spend around $70?
thanks!
#20
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I use it and like the subtle flare, it is visually subtle, but it can be felt. I think if you go to 6d flare, you may be disappointed...agree 24d is significant. And yeah, I know what you're saying about the GRX brifters. I'm contemplating a shorter stem because of their length.
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I find Salsa Cowbells to be pretty comfy. very compact, minimal flare. mostly feel like a regular road bar but the flare is nice when you need the extra control of riding in the hooks. there's not weirdness to the position on the hoods like some of the flared "dirt drop" type bars.
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I used Ritchey ErgoMax Comp bars on a recent drop bar conversion. If memory serves, I think the specs are nearly identical to the Salsa Cowbells and have flattops
#23
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I’ve got Whisky no9 12f carbon bars on my Gravel bike. I may be wrong but I believe they are the same flare and drop as Salsa Cowbells. I’ve had a number of drop bar bikes and currently have 3 with carbon drops on them, the Whisky’s are far and away my favorite.
#24
bill nyecycles
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pulled the trigger last night on the Whiskey No.7 6F bar, paired with a Ritchey WCS C220 70mm -17d stem
thanks for all the great recommendations, everyone. It definitely put a lot of other bars on my radar.
thanks for all the great recommendations, everyone. It definitely put a lot of other bars on my radar.
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#25
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Even though it seems like you've found your bars, I thought I'd mention these new Redshift bars since they seem to match what you want, aside from the moderate flare.
https://redshiftsports.com/products/...32608300531791
They have a lot more rise than I've seen on most bars, pretty short reach, and a nifty front loop for a semi aero position. I've been keeping an eye on them as someone who likes a more relaxed back/shoulder position, and am only hesitating because of the potential that the extra flare would make the hoods angled too much.
https://redshiftsports.com/products/...32608300531791
They have a lot more rise than I've seen on most bars, pretty short reach, and a nifty front loop for a semi aero position. I've been keeping an eye on them as someone who likes a more relaxed back/shoulder position, and am only hesitating because of the potential that the extra flare would make the hoods angled too much.