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Ask yourself if a light bar suits your build and riding style, or do you need crowbar-like strength? Are you traveling overseas where bikes can be manhandled on flights or buses, or keeping to local rides? Also, consider that rigid setups benefit most from more compliant handlebars.įull List of Alt Bars (Comfort Handlebars) Titanium will last a lifetime but is very expensive. Carbon is most compliant but less resilient to scratches and off-the-bike abuse. Chromoly handlebars are extremely hardwearing but tend to weigh a good deal more. Aluminum is popular, affordable, and a good all-rounder, but will eventually suffer from fatigue. There’s a range of materials to choose from… aluminum, Chromoly steel, carbon, and titanium. Bear in mind that the bars listed aren’t always rated for off-road use. What Bars is an extremely useful website that will help you visualise different forward and backwsweeps, allowing you to compare an ever-increasing number of handlebars as an overlay. Just to add to the potential data points, some manufacturers also list an upsweep, the angle at which the bars bend up from the stem, which can affect the position of your elbows. Just be sure to consider the shape of the bar too – some bend straight back, others curve forward first – which may require experimenting with different stem lengths, depending on whether you want to keep a similar reach across your cockpit or bring it in for a more upright riding position. More extreme angles exist, typically ranging from 30-45 degrees, which we recommend trying too, depending on the kind of riding you favour. Broadly speaking, this is the angle at which the ulnar nerve is allowed to have a more natural position – rather than being pinched and constricted as it can be with straight bars, which will sometimes result in numbness over long distances. Given the caveat that the best amount of sweep for you is subject to personal taste, terrain, and how it fits in with the rest of your bike setup and its geometry, we think you’ll really start to notice a difference with handlebars designed around a 15-degree sweep or more in terms of the pressure it takes off your wrists and the tension it reduces in your shoulders. Try and borrow as many as you can so you can nail down the best one for you and your setup.

Custom race hero lab online series#

With so many variables to consider, nothing beats sampling different models over a series of long rides. This page by the biomechanic experts at SQ Lab is a good place to start your research.īut still, handlebars are a good place to begin. Bike fit is a topic in itself and will be saved for another guide, within which saddles and grips also play a role. This can have a knock-on effect on the position and angle of your wrists, arms, and shoulders. Reach is likely to also be affected, which may require a change in stem length. Bear in mind too that changing handlebars will also affect weight distribution across your contact points, cranks, and front wheel. For instance, your sense of control and steering will initially feel markedly different. Just remember that muscle memory is a powerful thing, so however you experiment, allow yourself time with a new setup before deciding if it’s the right one for you.

Alt bars is another term that’s developed when describing these handlebars.Įxactly what rise, width, and sweep you prefer will boil down to personal preference, the geometry of your bike, the terrain you ride, your body type, and even your age. By “comfort MTB,” we’re referring to handlebars that are rated for mountain bike use and suited to riding challenging terrain, be it on trails or dirt roads – rather than comfort bars in a more traditional touring sense, like the butterfly or trekking bars favoured by many long-distance road tourers. After all, a comfortable setup allows you to cover more miles, recover more easily, and enjoy the scenery whilst riding.įor those looking at alternatives to their stock handlebars – be it ones with more backsweep, more rise, or more width – we’ve collated our favorite “alt bars” and “comfort mountain bike bars,” for want of a better term. Whilst this style of handlebar may well suit a trail rider’s needs, it’s not necessarily the best option for big backcountry rides and long-distance bikepacking. Modern mountain bikes are often stocked with relatively wide and straight handlebars, typically with a 9-degree sweep or less, and a subtle rise at best.