Road Bike Drop Handlebar Types

A bicycle handlebar is the steering control for bicycles it is the equivalent of a steering wheel for vehicles and vessels but is most often directly mechanically linked to a pivoting front wheel via a stem which in turn attaches it to the fork besides steering handlebars also often support a portion of the rider s weight depending on their riding position and provide a convenient mounting.

Road bike drop handlebar types. All bikes whether mountain bikes road bikes or singlespeed fixed gear bikes use a trusty handlebar. Handlebar shape and drop. Triathletes use the odd looking but very effective aerobar. Most road bikes use drop bars while most mountain bikes use flat bars.

More bikepacking handlebar pack options handlebar packs are often interrupted by drop bar levers unless you succumb to quite a low volume bag. Too narrow or too wide will cause you. For example maybe you want to install trekking bars on your drop bar touring bike. When it comes to handlebar width though you can go up or down a bit depending on preference there is a right and a wrong answer.

But in between there are wide deviations. Road bike handlebar reviews 6 simple tweaks to get the best bike fit the right road handlebar should offer a comfortable transition between the tops hoods and drops and a drop shape you are. Popular for road bikes drop handlebars are the ones that provide the maximum comfort over long distances. If you look at a drop handlebar you ll find that it extends outwards before forming an inward curve and appears similar to a ram s horn.

Handlebars greatly influence the overall handling stability and reliability of your bike so picking the right type for our biking style is essential. Nathan schickel zipp s product manager adds the change from threaded headsets to threadless aheadset about 10 12 years ago practically caused the vertical drop from saddle to handlebar. For example drop bars the kind of handlebars you see on racing bikes like the ones in the tour de france allow you to lean forward and travel at incredibly high speeds whereas flat bar handlebars the kind you d see on mountain bikes which are basically just straights pole with grips give you more control when turning which allows you to go off road and over rough trails. Commuters for example tend to like riser bars.

Trekking bars typically have a diameter of 22 2 mm. If you plan to switch from a road bike style handlebar to a mountain bike style handlebar you ll probably need to replace your brake levers and shifters. Cyclocrossers use drop bars. The ortlieb handlebar pack s fits nicely between a set of drop bar levers but its volume works out at 9l compared to the 15l you can accommodate on a flat bar.

The biggest advantage of a drop handlebar is that it offers the rider four different hand positions.