[PDF] HANDebat

Material

The majority of handlebars our there today are either made of carbon fiber or aluminum. Each has its advantages. Carbon fiber is lighter and absorbs more shock. Aluminum is more durable and generally less expensive. Some bars are made of steel or titanium.

Width

This is an important consideration for any handlebar. Gravel and mountain bike handlebars tend to be wider, allowing for greater stability and control. Road bike handlebars are sometimes wide as well, but there are also narrower models available for improved aerodynamics. Those with broader shoulders may also prefer a wider handlebar than those wit...

Clamp Size

It’s important you know your handlebar clamp size when buying new handlebars. But thankfully, the overwhelming majority of bikes these days come with handlebar stem clamps that are either 35 or 31.8mm. The 35mm clamps are ideal for applications that need more surface area and a stiffer clamp. The smaller size clamp allows for more flexibility while...

Drop

For road and gravel cowbell-shaped handlebars, the drop is the amount of distance from the top of the handlebar to the bottom of the bells.

Sweep Or Flare

For gravel bikes and some road bike handlebars, the sweep or the flare is how much the handlebars flare out from the top width to the width at the end of the drop. This allows for a more comfortable lower hand position on gravel bikes. Sweep or backsweep is also used to define how far back the ends of a mountain bike handle bar are from the center ...

Reach

On gravel and road bike bars, reach measures how far forward the drops are from the horizontal axis of the handlebar at the clamp.

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