What drop bars are you using for your gravel bike?

[XXtwindad]

I was thinking about the ENVE "G" bars, but other Forum members had preferred bars, so I'm open to changing my mind. Thanks.

[NHAero]

Apologize for not answering this question directly, but want to point you to consider the Whisky 12F (comes alloy or carbon) for a gravel bike. Best bar I've used for this application, and yet not so flared that it feels wrong on the pavement. In Whisky's line, the number is the degrees of flare (6, 12, 24)

[EB]

Just to confuse further, throwing in a plug for the Salsa Cowbell, which is available in both alloy and carbon (prefer the carbon version myself). They have 12 degrees of flare and are by far my favorite drop handlebar now. I have tried other flared drop bars and Salsa really nailed it.

[XXtwindad]

Fair enough. I'll just change the title of the thread. Thanks.

[Geeheeb]

48cm nitto noodle

[dbnm]

Enve Road.

[robt57]

I have or used Cowbell II, Soma Condors and Easton AX about to install.

But also have some 325 gram flared AWOL bars that came on a parts bike. AWOL are perfect in use, checks all the boxes except any weight weenie aspirations. Accidental discovery.

EDIT; Tried Midges a few times on a few bikes @ a few heights. They never stay on...

[phoenix]

44cm Salsa Cowchipper, 46cm Nitto Noodle. I also like the Ritchey Evo Curve, not really any curve, but I still find it to be a great bar (maybe a bit more “road oriented”).

[cmb5286]

I've used the Whiskey 12F and the Enve gravel bar with good success. Both are ridden in mixed application ie gravel and road. Flare doesn't seem too much and drop and reach work well.

[Cornfed]

Recommend the Easton EC70 AX. Short and shallow and one of the few carbon bars that come in 46.

[PaMtbRider]

carbon cowbell for me.

[R3awak3n]

I have said it before, I love my 3T superghaia or however its spelled. I know they now have an aero version of those as well.

[Spdntrxi]

schmolke fullover TLO road

[TheseGoTo11]

Just to confuse further, throwing in a plug for the Salsa Cowbell, which is available in both alloy and carbon (prefer the carbon version myself). They have 12 degrees of flare and are by far my favorite drop handlebar now. I have tried other flared drop bars and Salsa really nailed it.

All the way. I use the Cowbell on the monstercrosses and road bikes.

[merlinmurph]

Why flared bars on gravel bikes?

When I spec'd out my gravel bike 4 years, I considered flared bars, but ended up with road bars. What do flared bars buy you?

[grilledcheese]

I've tried Salsa Cowbell and Woodchippers because of some hype, but I moved back to Zipp SL80 across all my drop bar bikes. I just go 2 cm wider for gravel.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Ritchey Evomax 44cm.

[weisan]

SOMA HWY ONE

https://www.monsieurpignonmadameguidon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/soma-highway-one-cintre-compact.jpg

[veloduffer]

I use Whiskey 12f on my all rounder and 24F on my adventure bike. The Salsa Cowchipper and Whiskey 12F are identical bars. The Cowchipper is on my wife’s all rounder.


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[Spdntrxi]

Why flared bars on gravel bikes?

When I spec'd out my gravel bike 4 years, I considered flared bars, but ended up with road bars. What do flared bars buy you?

little more width in the drops (usually means stability) I can live with a little flare like Easton AX series..but not much more then that. My schmolke have no flair.

[one60]

I wanted a bar with a minimum flare to keep the ergonomics similar to my road bars.

This compendium is one of the better sources of details and images....

https://bikepacking.com/index/gravel-bars/

[EB]

Why flared bars on gravel bikes?

When I spec'd out my gravel bike 4 years, I considered flared bars, but ended up with road bars. What do flared bars buy you?

For me, it helps to create a somewhat more stable and relaxed riding position when descending on dirt. For me, a gravel bike is never going to be exactly "fun" on a dirt descent (vs. a mountain bike), but the flared bars help me get into an attack position where I can bend and relax my elbows, get off the saddle, and control the bike more easily.

[m_moses]

I really wanted to get the 3t superghiaia but got a good paceline deal on the Easton EC70 AX and they are great. For me, a little flare goes a long way.

[XXtwindad]

For me, it helps to create a somewhat more stable and relaxed riding position when descending on dirt. For me, a gravel bike is never going to be exactly "fun" on a dirt descent (vs. a mountain bike), but the flared bars help me get into an attack position where I can bend and relax my elbows, get off the saddle, and control the bike more easily.

This. Exactly. The Bay Area has a lot of really steep dirt.

[wkeller79]

SPANK WING 12 VIBROCORE™ DROP BAR 46cm

[sparky33]

Lauf Smoothie handlebar 44 - favorite bar because of the shape...flatted tops, shallow drop, flare and backsweep, etc.

Easton EC70 AX 44 - super nice, would be better with flatted tops

3T Superghiaia 44 - the multflare shape is a little too weird for me, but they feel like super nice bars.

in sum, I like a shallow bar with decent reach and flatted tops and some flare but not too much.

[eddief]

https://shop.fullspeedahead.com/en/k-wing-agx-carbon-handlebar

I don't do gravel but I did just install these on my Roubaix and at the same time installed GRX Di2 hydro levers. These bars have been tweaked in a bunch of ways to add comfort. Not saying the tweaks will be right for everyone but definitely something to consider. The indents for your palms when in the hoods, the wide flat, rounded tops near the stem, the mild flare in the drops, all add up to something to check out. Not sure about the 10* forward flare. Why do that? Feel fine but think it may mean shorter stem for some.

I am finding that for my palms to be comfy when on the hoods I need to tilt the drops down a bit more than usual. So you have your palm angle to consider and and also how your hands feel when you are down in the drop portion.

So comfort is designed in for hands on the hoods, your hands in the middle on the tops, and for your hands in the drops.

I was riding 42mm Hover bars prior but decided to go to 44mm for the AGX. With flare in the drops when I am down there things feel WIDE but I like it. Reminds of the olden days when I used to ride Rivendell Noodle in 46mm and used to like that wideness a lot.

[jtbadge]

Sim-Works/GSC Smog Cutter. 48cm - plenty of width for both descending in the drops and cruising in the tops, relatively roomy bend in the hooks, no flare.

https://assets.bigcartel.com/product_images/249972908/DSCF7834-1.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&h=1000&w=1000

[livesadventure]

I’ve been riding road bars without flare on my gravel bikes for years and don’t recommend it. On long rough gravel descents, it’d be nice to have a wider hold with less drop.

I haven’t made the plunge because of indecision. My ideal bar would have the shape of the 3t superghaia but in alloy.


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[azrider]

Whatever you do, don't take an old set of handlebars and bend them yourself like this jacka*s ..............


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191211/bf1d21bd5d1729eda4652eb6804328f3.jpg

[charliedid]

Whatever you do, don't take an old set of handlebars and bend them yourself like this jacka*s ..............


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191211/bf1d21bd5d1729eda4652eb6804328f3.jpg

LOL one side a little mo bent than the other?!

[XXtwindad]

Whatever you do, don't take an old set of handlebars and bend them yourself like this jacka*s ..............


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191211/bf1d21bd5d1729eda4652eb6804328f3.jpg

Haha. I remember that thread :)

[azrider]

LOL one side a little mo bent than the other?!


Snot really......

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200610/891d200c6a0e1f45bf30b35809bf0916.jpg


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[Jaybee]

anyone have time on the Ritchey VentureMax?

https://us.ritcheylogic.com/media/catalog/product/cache/5f77e273ad5885f1ea7918d98f061399/b/r/br_rd_wcs_venturemax_blatte_angle.jpg

On the one hand, it looks like a return to the bad old days of "ergo" bars - never could get comfortable with that lump in my palm. On the other hand it looks cool, I'm intrigued by the supposed extra hand position (all the way on the outside) and a lot of the bikepacking/gravel sites are giving it pretty good reviews.

I'm on carbon Cowbells right now, and I agree that they hit the right spot of feeling like a normal road bike on the hoods with that little extra bit of control for sketchy stuff in the drops.

[kingpin75s]

Just to confuse further, throwing in a plug for the Salsa Cowbell, which is available in both alloy and carbon (prefer the carbon version myself). They have 12 degrees of flare and are by far my favorite drop handlebar now. I have tried other flared drop bars and Salsa really nailed it.

^ This.

Cowbells are fantastic bars. 12 degrees of flare and 12 degrees of outsweep. I have been running them for gravel for years and even swapped out all of my 3T Ergonova bars with Cowbells in recent years, with the addition of the carbon model.

[lavi]

I have both the Pro Discovery medium flare (great bars). 12 degree flare.

Also the PNW Components Coast bar.

The PNW bars (https://www.pnwcomponents.com/collections/coast-collection/products/the-coast-handlebar) are awesome. SUPER wide. I think they designed for dirt guys getting into drop bars. Short reach and drop. I really like them. They come in 48 and 52. 20 degree flare. $69.



https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1081/9866/products/Straight_on_Coast_Bar_-_White_1024x1024.jpg?v=1583540721

[charliedid]

Snot really......



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I would have destroyed them for sure. Nice DIY

[joosttx]

Flare is for TGIF Friday servers, Fizik Cyrano 00 Bull.

[nmrt]

Flare is great for the twist-turny, up-down on singletrack riding on a gravel bike.
Flare is not really required for riding fireroads that do not twist or turn and neither go up or down.

3t is great. so, is the easton ax. have heard good things about the fsa.

[eBAUMANN]

Easton ea/ec70 ax = awesome

[oldfatslow]

Thomson KFC bar.

https://www.bikethomson.com/product/drop-bars/

[XXtwindad]

Easton ea/ec70 ax = awesome

For you or anyone else that really loves the Cowbells, do you recommend going up a size? If I usually use a size 44cm road handlebar, should I go a size 46, or stay with the 44?

[azrider]

flare is for tgif friday servers

lolz

[Spdntrxi]

My fullover
https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-tqfdy/images/stencil/300x300/products/440/1598/schmolke_tlo_handelbars__57992.1448387642.jpg?c=2

[mistermo]

For you or anyone else that really loves the Cowbells, do you recommend going up a size? If I usually use a size 44cm road handlebar, should I go a size 46, or stay with the 44?

Love cowbells, or rather the Whisky No.9 12F which is the identical bar. I actually went down a size due to the flare. Road bars are 44s, gravel bars are 42 with 12d of flare.

Also have used Thomson KFC, which aren't bad, but don't have the flare.

[eBAUMANN]

For you or anyone else that really loves the Cowbells, do you recommend going up a size? If I usually use a size 44cm road handlebar, should I go a size 46, or stay with the 44?

I would/did go a size up, yes.

[XXtwindad]

I would/did go a size up, yes.

Thx for the feedback Eric.

[Hilltopperny]

I am using 3t Ergonova team stealth carbon bars. Flattish tops with a 6 degree flare at the drops. I have also used other bars on other builds, but these bars are excellent for the intended purpose.

[Krenovian]

Salsa Cowchipper 40 carbon on my gravel bike. EC70 AX 40 on my road bike. I like both of these. I liked the feel of flared bars on my gravel bike so much I went to the EC70s for the road bike. Their flare is less dramatic than the Cowchippers.


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[mistermo]

Just to confuse further, throwing in a plug for the Salsa Cowbell, which is available in both alloy and carbon (prefer the carbon version myself). They have 12 degrees of flare and are by far my favorite drop handlebar now. I have tried other flared drop bars and Salsa really nailed it.

Agree with this. I'm using the Whisky No.7 and Whisky No.9 12F bars which are the IDENTICAL bars.

[sjbraun]

Salsa Cowchippers for me, on both the BMC Monstercross and our CoMotion tandem.
My new Diverge has Specialized Hoverbars, they have a slight rise and a 12 degree flare.

[eddief]

not!

[madsciencenow]

I ride Zipp sl80 in a 42 which is one size wider than I would ride on a road bike. My gravel set-up is pretty similar to my road. If I did single track or super technical gravel riding I’d probably want something different but since gravel riding for me is roads/trails w gravel rather than tarmac I don’t see the need to change things up much.


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[DrSpoke]

Mine are Thomson KFCs - Katie Fcking Compton (14x US National Champion) - 42cm. No flare w/large diameter and wide tops.

[kppolich]

Zipp SL70-Ergo 42cm, Carbon. Light, Compliant goodness with minimal branding in beyond black.
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/zipp-sl-70-ergo-carbon-handlebar
https://content.competitivecyclist.com/images/items/900/ZIP/ZIP007N/BK.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49952326283_9496656bcb_c.jpg