Handlebar geometry and shapes have changed so much over the last 30 years. From the traditional drop bar that we think downtube shifters to the ergonomically shaped handlebars to today’s short and shallow reach bars, we have seen a lot. Of course, each of these has its place and purpose, but for this article, we will look at current generation brakes and shifters and what we, at Bike Fit Box have found to be some of the most comfortable handlebar features for road and gravel cyclists.
- Tops – The top of a handlebar may seem silly to discuss, but it’s where they may be. If you climb a lot, you want something comfortable to hold, such as a round bar or semi-aero road bar. Are you the type that rides in the “Super Tuck”? Then a flatter bar will provide you more comfort and more surface area to increase friction on the bar to reduce the risk of slipping.
- Curve – The curve of the handlebar drop is critical. We recommend a handlebar with a Variable Radius. This means that the radius begins fairly tight and gradually increases the closer you get to the handlebar drop. This shaping allows you to fit in the tighter portion of the curve comfortably and provides easier access to shifters and brakes.
- Drops – We have saved this for last because many of you may not spend much time in the drops. So, for those of you that do, we are a big fan of not only a handlebar that has a shallow drop but also provides a sufficient amount of bar to grasp when the radius opens up at the base. Another factor we are a fan of is a slight flare to the drops. This flare increases clearance to the tops of the bars and can be nice when out of the saddle sprinting.
So, if you are looking for a bar that meets all of these features, we have a few that we have found and fallen in love with, and for consideration of individual budgets, we have several price points!
ENVE COMPOSITES SES AR Handlebar
Pros:
- Comfortable on tops for climbing
- Slight aerodynamic shaping
- Flared drops that provide comfort and added clearance
- The bar plug makes for a very clean looking bar wrap
Cons:
- Price
- The curve from the tops into the hoods is abrupt
Pros:
- Very comfortable drop radius
- Drops extend well past tops of bars
- Drop width is wider than radius of tops
Cons:
- Large aero shape of tops can be uncomfortable if you spend significant time there
- Handlebar naming is too similar across line and makes it confusing
Bontrager Elite VR-C Road Handlebar
Pros:
- Price
- Very comfortable drop radius
- If you like this bar but want carbon the “VR-C” nomenclature gives the same shape
Cons:
- Drops do not extend as long as we would like
- Drops are not flared