Go fast. The introduction of brakes—what a novel idea! One for speed, and the other for braking. And with that, over a century ago, the multi-position bar was set for its final adaptation, into the most versatile type of handlebar, for racers and non-racers. Use this highest position for maximum back relaxation, often as a temporary break from other positions, particularly if you are in a wind-free area with limited need for aerodynamics or intense bar control.
For the top position, grab your bars at the widest part of the top, flat section. This is roughly the same height as the top position, providing a similar feel in the lower back, but has a degree rotated grip. That means it uses different muscles. Swapping back and forth between positions 1 and 2 can rest your shoulders, neck and back on a long ride.
The shoulder position is at the top, just where the bars curve forwards. You have more control than with a pure top position. Riding the hoods is probably the most common riding style, combining back relaxation with wider control and quick access to brakes if needed. They are also useful for climbing, when you may be in a more upright and lean-forward position.
These bars are designed to be more comfortable than standard drop bars. They are popular among bicycle tourists and long-distance riders. Drop-in bars- These bars have an extension at the end of the drops that curves back toward the head tube. The idea of this design is to improve aerodynamics. These bars were popular among racers at one time but the popularity has decreased. Dirt drops- These drop bars are designed for off-road use.
The ends of the bars flare out to give you more leverage. They are popular among bicycle tourists and bikepackers. Some mountain bikers also use them. Pros Excellent aerodynamics- Drop bars allow you to crouch down to reduce drag.
This helps you ride faster and saves energy. Multiple hand positions- There are three main hand positions: On the brake hoods, on the top of the bars, and in the drops.
A fourth position is on the curves on top of the bars. You can switch positions often to avoid fatigue and hand numbness. Great for climbing hills- Drop bars allow you to shift your weight forward. This gives you more leverage to pedal powerfully. Efficiency — Because drop bars are more aerodynamic, they allow you to travel further using less energy.
You can maintain a higher average speed and cover more distance per day without tiring out as much. Drop bars can fit through narrow gaps- Average drop bars measure about cm wide.
The narrow bar width allows you to fit through narrow gaps in traffic while commuting. Looks- Something about the curvy design gives the bike a classic and iconic look. Cons Parts cost more- Drop bar brake levers and shifters are usually more expensive than comparable flat bar versions. Less control over the bike- Because drop bars are more narrow, they are harder to steer precisely. Particularly at low speeds or on technical terrain. For this reason, drop bars are generally better for on-road use.
Poor parts availability in some regions- If you ride in rural regions or the developing world, you may find it difficult to find replacement parts like brake levers and shifters.
Road components are less common. Most of the bar is curved or covered in bar tape. Poor visibility- Drop bars tend to put you in an aggressive forward-leaning position with your head tilted down. In an emergency situation, the time it takes to move your hands. This increases your stopping distance which can be dangerous. Pros Good aerodynamics- Bullhorn bars allow you to crouch down into headwinds and while riding at speed by gripping the bar ends.
Pursuit bars allow you to tuck further down yet. Excellent for climbing- Gripping the horn part of the bar moves your weight forward and gives you great leverage for climbing hills. This position gives you optimal pedaling power. Bullhorn bars may be the best type of handlebars for climbing. Multiple hand positions- You can grip on the flat section for a more upright ride or on the ends of the bars for a more aero position.
Looks- Bullhorn bars give your bike a simple and clean looking design. They look cool and the name sounds cool. The horns can snag- The way the horns stick out in front makes it easy for them to catch on obstacles like tree branches and car mirrors for example. Riser Bars Riser bars are a variation of flat bars. Pros Riser bars give you good control over the bike- Between the width and the upright riding position, riser bars give you a lot of leverage to accurately point your bars where you want to go.
This makes them great for riding off-road and at low speeds. Comfort- Many riders find the upright riding position to be more comfortable than an aggressive hunched over position. Easier on your wrists- The upright riding position takes your body weight off of your wrists and arms and moves it to your butt. This is great for people with wrist problems. Parts availability and cost- Riser bars use standard flat bar brakes and shifter levers.
These are available in every bike shop. These parts are also inexpensive. This slows you down and costs you energy. It is difficult to tuck down to reduce drag while using riser bars. An average one measures around mm wide. This makes it harder to ride through narrow paths, gaps between cars, and crowded bike paths.
Your bars can snag on branches, side view mirrors, and other obstacles. It also makes the bike harder to walk through doorways. Not good for climbing- The riding position puts more weight toward the rear of the bike.
The solution is to install bar ends for a second-hand position. Heavier- The rise and added width means more material is required to manufacture the bars. This adds a bit of weight. Aero Bars Triathlon Bars Aero bars are designed to put your body in the most aerodynamic riding position possible.
Pros Excellent aerodynamics- These are the most aerodynamically efficient handlebars available. The riding position allows you to cut through the air by reducing drag. Adding aero bars can greatly increase your speed and efficiency. Particularly for fast riders.
Clip-on aero bars can be added to your existing handlebars- You can mount aero bars to most handlebar types including drop bars, flat bars, and bullhorn bars. These simply bolt-on. This is great for those who suffer from hand numbness or wrist pain while riding.
Cons Unstable- Holding your hands so close together makes it difficult to turn. If you have to turn quickly, you could put yourself in a dangerous situation. They place your hands far from the brakes- This increases your stopping distance because it takes time to push yourself off the aero bars and move your hands to the brakes. This can be dangerous. If you need to stop quickly in the event of an emergency, every moment is important. Not useful for sprints or climbs- Sometimes power is more important than aerodynamics.
Aero bars are illegal in most races where riders race against each other- This is done for safety reasons outlined in the points above. They add weight- Most aero bars weigh between and grams. Cruiser Bars These long handlebars sweep up and toward the back of the bicycle at a diagonal.
Pros Wrist comfort- The angle of the grips puts your wrists in a neutral and comfortable position. These bars pair perfectly with ergonomic grips for even more comfort. Cruiser bars take weight off of your arms and hands- The riding position takes most of your weight off of your arms and puts it on your butt.
With cruiser bars, your arms just steer. This is great for those with wrist problems. Looks- Many riders associate cruiser handlebars with beach bikes. They give the bike a relaxed and chilled-out look. They are perfect for a leisurely ride along the boardwalk. Visibility- The upright riding position allows you to look straight ahead at the road in front of you. You can see the world and enjoy the view as you cruise around. Great for recreational and around town use- As the name implies, these handlebars are excellent for just cruising around.
Some riders like to mount a basket to the front and use their cruiser bike for grocery shopping. The swept-back design allows you to mount a large basket. Cons You need a comfortable seat- The upright riding position puts almost all of your body weight on your butt. Bad for climbing hills- Cruiser bars move most of your weight to the rear of the bike. Poor aerodynamics- This is probably the least aerodynamically efficient type of bicycle handlebars.
Your chest faces straight out like a sail and your arms are spread wide while riding. This causes drag. Heavy- These large handlebars use a lot of material to make. This adds weight. Trekking Bars Butterfly Bars or Touring Bars Trekking bars, also known as butterfly or touring bars, are designed to give you a wide range of hand positions to keep you comfortable on long-distance rides.
Pros Plenty of hand positions- Trekking bars offer an infinite number of places to grip. You can grab the grips on the ends, stretch out by gripping the front side of the bars, hold your hands wide by gripping the sides, or anywhere in between. Moving your hands often helps to prevent hand numbness and wrist pain. Lots of space for mounting accessories- Trekking bars give you plenty of space to mount a cycling computer, lights, GPS, bell, your phone, a map, feed bags, and whatever else you want on your handlebars.
Comfortable and roomy cockpit- Being so large and wide, trekking bars allow you to stretch out while you ride. They also offer an upright riding position which many cyclists enjoy. Better control- The wide grip gives you plenty of leverage to control the bike on technical terrain. Good parts availability- Trekking bars use the same brake levers and shifters as flat bars. These are easily available in pretty much every bike shop.
Excellent for touring and long rides- Because you can move your hands around so much, you can ride longer without tiring out. Cons Heavy- Trekking bars are probably the largest type of bicycle handlebars.
They use a lot of material. This adds a considerable amount of weight. Bar flex- Some riders complain that the ends of the bars can flex too much. The flexing can fatigue the bars in the long term, eventually causing them to fail. It also wastes energy that could be used to drive you forward.
Having to move your hands can cost you time in an emergency situation where you need to brake quickly. The solution is to simply grip the sides of the bars.
Reduced aerodynamics- Trekking bars put you in an upright riding position which causes drag. Bar tape tends to come off easily- This is probably due to the long and curvy design of the bars.
Alternatively, you could use foam grips. Mustache Handlebars Mustache handlebars start curving forward from the stem then curve back toward the rider. Pros Multiple hand positions- Mustache bars offer 4 distinct hand positions. You can ride on the hoods, on the crest of the curves, on the ends of the bars, or near the center of the bars next to the stem.
Mustache bars offer better braking power and control than drop bars- Mustache bars put you in a more upright riding position while using the brakes than drop bars. This position gives you great grip and control of the brake levers, allowing you to precisely control your braking. To get the same grip on the brakes with drop bars, you have to be riding in the drops. This puts you in a more aggressive and uncomfortable position with less control.
Good for climbing hills- Gripping the ends of the bars gives you excellent leverage for climbs. Unique looks- Many riders like the curvy look and horizontal brake lever placement. This means you have to move your hands often to control the bike.
Hard to mount accessories- The curvy design makes it difficult to mount a light, cycling computer, or any other accessories. Not as aerodynamic as drop bars- The ends of mustache bars drop just slightly. This results in a less aerodynamic riding position. More expensive parts- For whatever reason, bar-end shifters are pretty pricey for what they are. Road brake levers are more expensive than mountain bike levers. This adds makes running mustache bars cost a bit more.
Upright or North Road Handlebars North road handlebars curve forward slightly from the stem then sweep back toward the rider. Pros Easy on the hands and wrists- North road handlebars put you in an upright riding position. Biking is a cost-effective and healthy way for you to get around. This guide will teach you which is best for your needs, costs to be expected, and even how to change your own handlebars. Are Bike Handlebars Interchangeable? There are dozens of handlebar types to suit different rider needs, leverage on the bicycle, and diameter measurements will vary for each.
The standard handlebar diameter is With dozens of handlebar types and hundreds of manufacturers, it can be difficult to know which is best suited to your needs. If you own a bike, it is essential to understand the correct handles for your riding purpose, terrain, and long-term savings. Yes, and having a handle that you are relaxed with can affect your performance and handling of it similarly to steering a vehicle.
Bad aerodynamics - Similar to flat bars, it is difficult to tuck while using riser resulting in bad aerodynamic capabilities when against head wind or going for high speeds.
Bullhorn handlebars are bike bars that curve up and forward. A pursuit handlebar is a slight variation to your typical bullhorn bar. A typical bullhorn simply curves forward and up. A pursuit bullhorn bar curves forward, drops down slightly and then curves back up again. Great aerodynamics - Bullhorns are essentially flat bars that allow you to get lower when facing headwind or going at fast speeds.
This makes it better than flat bars and risers for speed oriented biking such as track racing. Best bars for climbing - Flat bars gives your body room to move forward and up when climbing hills. Bullhorn bars not only give you room, but the horns allow you to move even further up and forward when climbing giving the rider the best possible leverage when pedaling uphill.
Pursuit bars are better for speed - Pursuit bullhorns have a drop in them allowing the rider to go into an even deeper tuck than you could with a typical bullhorn which makes it better for speed and leverage. Not suitable for frequent tight turns - Despite the fact that bullhorns are functionally flat bars with horns, they are typically shorter than flat bars due to the spacing needed for the forward curve.
This gives you less leverage when turning the handlebars. The extra front clearance also increases your chances of snagging something when going through tight paths.
Drop bars are very popular among bike enthusiast due to it's balance of great looks and versatility. Typical drops bars have a straight middle section similar to a flat bar with each end curving downwards and towards the rider. There are several types of drop bars defined by their reach how far forward it curves , drop how low the bars go and width how wide the bar is. Classics have a long reach and a deep drop.
Compacts have a short reach and shallow drop. Ergo or Anatomic drop bars are designed to feel more comfortable for the hand by varying the shape of the drop. Track drop bars have large radius curves that encourage the use of the "hooks" which is the preferred position of track bicycle racers. Randonneur bars have a shallow rise from the middle and the drops flare out. These are better for longer rides than other types of drop bars. Drop-in bars are essentially drop bars that curve back in to the head tube at the bottom of the drop.
Great aerodynamics - Drop bars allow the rider to tuck similar to bullhorns. If you are planning on doing a lot of track racing, investing in a good pair of drop bars is worth the time and effort. Highly versatile - A lot of riders add a brake hood to their drop bars which functions as an added bullhorn bar for some extra hand positions.
A lot of people find brake hoods more comfortable for the hand than the flat bar because it keeps your hand at a neutral position. The addition of hoods also allow drops to functions as "miniature" bullhorns which makes them better for climbs. Better leverage for pedaling - A lot of riders feel like they can exert more power to the pedals with less effort when in a tuck position. Good for bike enthusiasts - Flat bars are good for the typical biker who likes to just cruise and not much else.
For a bike enthusiast who does general biking in the city on flat roads but occasionally wants to venture into some track type of biking, drop bars very much fit the bill. They look cool - Even though I personally find bullhorns the most attractive looking handlebars, I occasionally cheer for the drop bar team. Not good for frequent tight turns - Similar to bullhorn bars, drop bars are not best suited for frequent tight turns.
The hand positioning on the drops means your hand will hit debris before the handlebar. May not be good for trail biking - Although a good amount of trail bikers use drop bars, caution should be taken if you plan on using it for riding rough terrain since the position puts a lot of stress to the wrist. Riding drops on trails may exacerbate wrist problems such as ulnar never pains and carpel tunnel pain.
Aero bars or triathlon bars are primarily used for time-trial cycling where the rider competes alone against the clock. Using two extended bars close together to grab unto with armrest pads to wrest the forearms, these bars put the rider into a narrow forward tuck position to further decrease air drag. Superb aerodynamics - Even though the narrow tuck position can seem uncomfortable, if you are riding against the wind, descending or cycling above speeds of 27mph , assuming a more aerodynamic stance can work wonders.
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