What style of handlebars for gravel
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I have a new frame to build up and, ignoring wider concerns of family, work and world, handlebar selection is a concern.
Should I go wider than the bars on my road bike? Should a gravel bar have a shallow drop with flare? I am liking the look of the Easton EC70 AX but what really works for mixed terrain and is it really different from road?
Should I go wider than the bars on my road bike? Should a gravel bar have a shallow drop with flare? I am liking the look of the Easton EC70 AX but what really works for mixed terrain and is it really different from road?
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Have tried the flared handlebar that came with a Specialized Sequoia but wasn't for me. Shallow bend and just a couple of centimeter of flare i my favorite. Like the Specialized S-Works Shallow women handlebar, or 3T Ergonova
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I really like the shape of the Syntace Racelite handlebars. They have 2° of flare and 6° of sweep, and I find the drops very comfortable. I have them on both road and gravel bikes. They're available in either aluminium or carbon, and in widths up to 46cm, which is the width I use. In fact, bike-components.de have the 46cm wide ones in carbon on closeout at the moment for €75, which is less than 1/3 normal price: https://www.bike-components.de/en/Synta ... ut-p11896/
Good pointer, thanks, I love deals on carbon bars. That drop looks quite deep?
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Imo if you are happy with what is on your road bike, do not deviate much from it. If you are not happy, well...feel free to experiment.=) Alloy is cheaper than carbon if you are unsure what you want.
Gravel ain't MTB so not much different than road bike.
My 2 cents.
Gravel ain't MTB so not much different than road bike.
My 2 cents.
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Easiest way to determine that is also the costliest, trial and error.
I've tried both a few standard and two 12 degree flare (medium flare) and one high flare (not my cup of tea).
I am not done yet on what i prefer.
I think it's really individual if you like a wider, no flare or medium or wide.
On the high flare version shifters risk to be angled very much.
My next would probably be a 44cm version and on road (and up to now on gravel) i have used 42cm.
I've tried both a few standard and two 12 degree flare (medium flare) and one high flare (not my cup of tea).
I am not done yet on what i prefer.
I think it's really individual if you like a wider, no flare or medium or wide.
On the high flare version shifters risk to be angled very much.
My next would probably be a 44cm version and on road (and up to now on gravel) i have used 42cm.
Bikes:
Ax Lightness Vial EVO Race (2019.01.03)
Open *UP* (2016.04.14)
Paduano Racing Fidia (kind of shelved)
Ex bike; Vial EVO D, Vial EVO Ultra, Scott Foil, Paduano ti bike.
Ax Lightness Vial EVO Race (2019.01.03)
Open *UP* (2016.04.14)
Paduano Racing Fidia (kind of shelved)
Ex bike; Vial EVO D, Vial EVO Ultra, Scott Foil, Paduano ti bike.
I really like the EC70AX shape, and I hated the earlier flared drops that I rode, like the Cowbell and such. I run 38-40 c-c bars on my road bikes and have 40s on this, but they measure 46 at the drops I believe. Despite the wide drops I ride in them a lot because they are so shallow that the position isn't much more aggressive. Its great for off road stuff when I jump onto single track but the hoods feel like normal road position.
I recently put 44cm Easton EC70 AX on my new gravel bike. In-the-drops riding on smooth roads feels wide and non-areo while on the hoods they feel like normal road bars.
My reason for keeping them is for fast sketchy off-road descents. The feeling of control is confidence inspiring, I'm significantly faster while feeling very secure.
The brake lever angle is not really noticeable and certainly not bothersome.
My reason for keeping them is for fast sketchy off-road descents. The feeling of control is confidence inspiring, I'm significantly faster while feeling very secure.
The brake lever angle is not really noticeable and certainly not bothersome.
Found some more options, does anyone have views on 3T Ergoterra, Ritchey WCS Evomax?
Or is simpler and just as effective to pick a favourite road bar and add a few cm of width?
Or is simpler and just as effective to pick a favourite road bar and add a few cm of width?
cycling / nature / music
https://www.youtube.com/c/Millerbike01
https://www.youtube.com/c/Millerbike01
What are the narrowest flared bars? Ideally I'd want 36 or 38 but with gravel-style (12°+) flared drops...
I've just put a set of the Easton AX bars on a Niner RLT 9 RDO build. Been out about on the roads the last couple weeks and really like them. Very comfortable on the drops and tops!!
I'm on the 42s.
I can verify that they are ok in the Chilterns
I'm on the 42s.
I can verify that they are ok in the Chilterns
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My gravel bike with with bars that are 2 cm wider than my road bike and I don't like it very much. I wouldn't go wider unless you like wider.