thehammerdog

Curious to know who rides these types of bars and what if anything is the benefit? Look cool but is the wider flared out bar a benefit? I need to go wider with my Mt Drops and see that several brands are out there.
Thanks.

shoota 

Some people swear by them, some don't care. I'm in the "don't care" crowd. Having used both flared gravel bars and standard compact road bars I honestly don't know what the hype is all about. Maybe I just don't spend enough time in the drops on gravel??

Spoonrobot 

They're a huge improvement if you ride singletrack or very technical gravel (especially descents) because they make it easier to do this:



For regular road-type gravel they don't make much of a difference and the biggest benefit is getting drop bars with shallower drop without the tighter curve and squared off section often seen on non-flared bars. You get better forearm clearance and a little bit more control even if the latter is just a side-effect of the greater overall width.

It depends on the flare too, something like 8 degrees is good for regular gravel where 12/15+ is better for singletrack and more technical gravel/dirt. I like flared drops, 2 of the 3 bikes I ride regularly have them and when I rebuild my gravel racer I'll be adding some there as well. FSA adventure bars are pretty good and can be found in 12 or 15 degree flare. I haven't been able to find a good 8 degree bar that isn't OEM.

If you don't ride in the drops a lot there pretty much no point to using them unless you like to have your hoods turned in a lot.

TimothyH

Easton EC70 AX are 16° (8° per side).
For me, the biggest benefit is a more open chest. I am sensitive to bar width and a wider stance helps breathing.


-Tim-

HTupolev

To provide a wide stance, with the wrists/arms at an angle closer to what you get with MTB bars. Changes arm and chest posture, many find it nicer for technical riding.

thehammerdog

Thanks guys. I set up the bIke so to ride in drops is preferred. Comfy, top section is not wide enough to get comfy. Shallow drop bars basic road drops. Ride mostly old train tracks, some single track and road. Fun to ride the new set up.

veloz

I’ve used the Cowbell and still use the Bell Lap bar - both flared 12°. The Cow Chippers have more flare and are shallower. For CX I like the flare of the Bell Lap. For road or gravel I prefer less flare and more drop. Wider and shallower bars make it harder to reduce wind profile. Gravel and wind seem to go hand in hand and I need all the advantage I can get. My road bike has compact drops that feel like negative flare in comparison.

BluesDawg

I have Cowbell bars on my gravel bike. I like the way the flare keeps my forearms from touching the upper part of the bars when I stand to climb a short hill in the drops or when I'm doing a technical descent.