Flared Drop Bars

[Heltor Chasca]

I have recently been riding a bike for a few hundred miles with slightly flared (4 degrees) compact drop bars in 40cm flavour. They are SO comfortable.

Which has got me thinking about my road tourer. It has traditional deep drops with no flare. Pretty comfortable but on the drops it's nowhere as comfortable as the former. I like being on the drops so this is a revelation. I quite fancy a complete change because I like fairly fundamental differences between my bikes so long as they are functional and comfortable. Salsa do a 12 degree flare (cowbell); a 26 degree flare (Woodchipper) and a halfway house flare (Cowchipper) of 24 degrees which interests me.

http://salsacycles.com/culture/introducing_cowchipper_handlebar

Do any of you have thoughts, criticisms or genuine experience?

 

[tommaguzzi]

Flares are so 1977.

I thought I'd be first

 

[RedRider]

I don't have experience but I intuit I'd get on with flares. I think velo orange do some too.

 

[Moodyman]

I've a Salsa Vaya which has the cowbell bars. They're quite shallow and are fantastic for long days in the saddle.

 

[I like Skol]

Funny you should post this. I have a newish bike with flared drops and have been getting used to riding on the drops a lot more since getting this bike. Last night I rode my old road bike which has the traditional straight drop handlebars and they just didn't feei right in comparison!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

On One Midge Bars are rather nice.

This.

Probably the most comfy bars I have, and I ride on their drops more than on any other bars.

 

[raleighnut]

This.

Probably the most comfy bars I have, and I ride on their drops more than on any other bars.

Is that why they're 'sold out'

 

[Gravity Aided]

Randonneur bars. Just plain wonderful.

 

[velovoice]

+1 On One Midge bars. Superbly comfortable and truly useful in all positions.

 

[mickle]

I just fitted some Nitto Noodles with not much flare but a nice (& unique) backsweep on the tops.

 

[Viking]

I've got FSA Omega bars that are mildly flared. The width at the end of the drops is about 2cm wider than at the tops. I like them.

 

[User169]

View attachment 351049 Randonneur bars. Just plain wonderful.

Are those the Nitto ones?

 

[Alan O]

View attachment 351049 Randonneur bars. Just plain wonderful.

That, yes, I was just going to suggest the same. I've always used drop bars, but only last year did I fit randonneur pattern bars (after trying butterfly bars, which certainly have their plus points, but which didn't do it for me overall).

As well as the flare making the drops a bit easier on the hands, the extra width offers a bit more control, and the gentle upsweep makes gripping on the tops more comfortable too. They're the best I've ever used.

For what it's worth, mine are "GB" brand with a bar-end to bar-end width of 44cm.

Alan

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

On One Midge Bars are rather nice.

That's a big flare. What's it like braking from drops and hoods?

 

[velovoice]

That's a big flare. What's it like braking from drops and hoods?

In terms of ease/efficiency, no different from "normal" drop bars, except that your wrists are in what many would consider a more neutral position - so actually more comfortable.