Handlebars designed for a road race , for sport, or for touring all share a few common characteristics. The flat top part of the bar allows an "upright" position with the hands placed not quite shoulder-width apart: far enough to allow relaxed breathing while powering the flats or working up steady, moderate climbs.
A more prone position of the upper body results when the hands are placed on the brake hoods or the upper curved portion of the bars. This position is good for a faster effort, because the body generates less wind resistance. It also leaves the chest cavity open for easy breathing. This position puts the hands at quite a different angle than the bartop position.
Switching between the two thus varies the pressure on the hands. As the hands move to the "drops" or bottom of the bar, the upper torso is forced down into a prone or nearly prone position, depending on how the bike is set up. This position exposes the least amount of body area to headwind and also maximizes the use of the back muscles for all-out effort, such as in a sprint. The drawback in riding for too long in this position is that most of the upper-body weight is supported by the palms.
This puts pressure on the ulnar nerves and can lead to numb hands, which in some cases may take hours to regain their sensitivity. Regardless of what type of road handlebar you end up with, it's important that it fits.
Most drop handlebars come in different widths and drops. The width usually measured center to center across the bottom portion of the bar should come close to matching the width of your shoulders. An easy way to check is to have a friend hold the handlebar against your back and see if the bar lines up with the centers of your shoulders. 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. This takes the weight off of your hands and wrists. The grips, being almost parallel with the frame, put your wrists in an ergonomic and comfortable position. Great visibility- The upright riding position allows you to look straight out in front of you without having to strain your neck. Looks- Because these are one of the oldest types of bike handlebars, they give your bike a classic look. Cons Poor aerodynamics- Between the upright riding position and wide grip, north road handlebars put you in an inefficient riding position that creates a lot of drag.
Only one hand position- The only place to grip the bars is at the ends on the grips. You need a comfortable seat- Because the bars are raised up, they move almost all of your body weight onto the seat. Ape Hangers Ape hangers rise up from the stem in a U shape. Pros Really, the only reason you would use ape hanger handlebars is because you like the way they look. Cons Your arms get tired- You can only hold your arms up above your shoulders for so long before they start tiring out.
The bars flex- Due to the extreme length of ape hangers, they can easily flex as you ride. This does not inspire confidence. Heavy- These are probably the heaviest handlebars available due to the extreme length. After all, they use a lot of material to make. Poor aerodynamics- Holding your arms up creates drag. The handlebars themselves create drag as well because they are so large.
Only one hand position- You can only hold the bars on the grips. Dangerous- This is the reason that ape hanger height is regulated in some countries. Ape hangers are made for cruising around.
Looks- Many people think ape hangers look goofy and pointless. H Bars H bars come in a variety of designs. Pros Natural wrist position- The degree sweep of H bars puts your wrists in an ergonomic and neutral position.
This is great for those who suffer from wrist pain. They also work well when paired with ergonomic grips. Multiple hand positions- Many riders wrap the center loop of H bars with bar tape. This gives you a couple of additional riding positions including a forward-reaching somewhat aero position.
Plenty of space for mounting accessories- The central loop of many H bar designs provides plenty of space for mounting a cycling computer, GPS, light, bell, or even a small storage bag. Excellent control over the bike- These wide handlebars give you great leverage for steering. For this reason, H bars are perfect for off-road riding. Cons Expensive- These are premium handlebars.
Not aerodynamic- The wide grip and upright riding position produce quite a bit of drag. You can tuck into a somewhat aero position by gripping the front center of the bar. Pros Strong- BMX bars are designed to be beat up and abused. No flex- The cross brace makes BMX handlebars incredibly rigid. But they are heavy and slow to respond—well, if you are not used to them. The weight factor is an issue, although given the overall weight of a touring bike, it is right at home. The electrification of this sector puts trekking bikes on a growth curve.
Butterfly bars on a eTrekking bike are perfect. Weight is really no longer an issue. You could certainly substitute it for a set of Butterfly bars. However, Mike has some advice on the subject.
The handlebar must be able to withstand the forces. Pedaling hard and pulling back, then a jump exerting multiple impact forces on the landing…. Carbon fiber is suspect after any impacts. A seemingly undamaged handlebar may well have internal cracks which can fail without warning. Since taking a spill is routine in BMX street or racing, you are better off with aluminum or chromoly. Aluminum is light and strong. Lighter than chromoly. We left this one until last since probably the best aero bars are all carbon nowadays; and carbon is the subject of the next section.
Because carbon is laid up like paper mache around a mold, typically a bladder, almost any design is possible. Advanced engineering utilizing wind tunnel trials produces increasingly efficient aerobars.
In this section, we firstly cover the recent trend in carbon fiber bars. Then address FAQs on several important issues concerning carbon bars. Integrated cable routing on modern bikes—mainly high end road bikes—relocates brake and derailleur cables inside the frame and components, giving a tidy and streamlined look.
Derailleur and brake cables exit the back of the shifter through the openings, straight into the carbon handlebar, via the cable housings, then along to the center. The stem fits to a headset specifically designed to channel the cable housings through to the head tube, then the down tube.
Even the stiffest carbon frame or component with the exception of stems and cranks perhaps flexes under stress. Carbon is lighter, but sometimes only marginally, depending on the quality of the carbon fibers are they Toray?
Carbon bars were originally constructed from a base of thin aluminum over which 3K carbon weave was wrapped—super-strong and reliable. When you crash, and if your handlebars take an impact, they are suspect, as per the previous section. If you have the budget for them, probably. If you are willing to pay for that reduction, then by all means… Or if you are professional or intent on turning professional, then again, yes.
Otherwise alloy bars will be fine. Bike handlebar types have increased in diversity in the odd years since the bicycle first appeared on French streets. Lighter and cheaper - If you like carrying your bike around, every ounce of extra weight counts. A flat bar's simple shape allows it to be stronger with less material. This equally makes it cheaper to manufacture and purchase. Less lower back load - If you have ongoing back problems, having your weight distributed evenly between the bike seat and the handlebar puts less pressure on your spine.
Also make sure that your bike is properly adjusted. Check out our article on the 10 biggest biking mistakes to make sure your bike is properly balanced. There are few other advantages of having flat handlebars, here is an interesting forum discussion about the nuances of using a flat bar for riding.
Not optimal for risky courses - Flat bars are not well suited for performing tricks and "free riding" on a bike. Riding over tough terrain and jumping over obstacles require a more upright position to give the rider more leverage for pulling the front tire.
Not good for speed - It is very hard to go into a tuck position while using flat handlebars. Riser bars are essentially flat bars that rise from the center clamp area. Risers are also typically wider than flat bars. These types of handlebars are commonly used in trail biking since it allows the rider to be more upright. Clint Gibbs made an informative youtube video on the advantage of a riser bars over flat bars for trail biking. More control - A wider handlebar gives you more leverage.
This make turning easier and require less energy. If you go through long winding roads with lots of debris, it's a good idea to use wide riser bars. Better for wrists - In addition to the back sweep that gives a more comfortable grip, riser bars allow the rider to sit farther back allowing less weight to be distributed to the front. For people who have wrist problems, this will help relieve stress. Better for trail and free riding - The wider handle bar grip and weight distribution towards the back allows the rider more control making it better for riskier courses and rough terrain.
You can give it negative rise - The higher handlebar would usually make it less suitable for climbing, but what some riders do is they flip the handle upside down to make it better suited for climbing. More expensive - The additional rise requires more material to keep the bar strong and stable so they will be heavier and a little pricier than your typical flat bar. Wider handlebars - Despite giving you more control, wide handlebars make it more likely to snag tree trunks, twigs and other annoying things.
This also makes bikes with riser handlebars harder to store since it will be harder to fit through doors and corridors. Not good for climbing - With a normal set-up, riser bars are more difficult for tackling uphill rides. 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.
0コメント