Flared Drop Bars On Road Bike

Measuring flared drop bars flare is a term used to define the predominant feature that distinguishes dirt and gravel drop bars from traditional road handlebars.

Flared drop bars on road bike.

Curve walmer wide flared drop bars tech details curve designed the walmer bars in melbourne australia to handle technical off road riding whether rough gravel or bikepacking. Flared angled bars are more comfy but you need to clamp them up. Riding a gravel bike on the trail is kind of like eating cereal with a fork. On the other hand gravel and adventure handlebars have a large flare to provide extra stability and control when you re using the drops.

Drop bars are not good for off road riding because you cannot as quickly or accurately turn narrow drop bars it is more difficult to avoid a stump or hole in your path when riding off road. Drop bars with flared drops are available to make them a bit better for off road riding but they will never be as good as flat bars for this purpose. Generally 85mm is considered a long reach 80mm 85mm is medium and less than 80mm is short. Most road handlebars have just a small flare or none at all.

The flare adds 40mm to the width bar widths are measured at the lever clamp area. They wanted something wider than any the found on the market to complement their gmx monstercross titanium off road bikepacking bike so they designed their own. Finally flare is the degrees that a drop bars drops protrude outward. One of the first players in the flared bars game salsa s cowchipper bars are somewhat of an icon in gravel riding circles.

This distance is usually minimal around 6 degrees except on drop bars designed for gravel or singletrack use where a wider profile up to 24 degrees enhances control stability and leverage. The spank flare 25 vibrocore drop bars have been a wise move for my gravel bike. Afaik historically the drops on road bikes became un flared as road surfaces improved. The flare is actually a compact bar in all but name with a 130mm drop and 80mm reach.

These feature a radical 24 degree flare that alters not only the drop. So they re not a radical development. Flared shallow drop bars on a cyclocross bike different manufacturers will shape their bars their own way and you ll also find adventure road bikes gravel bikes and cyclocross bikes will sweep.