Best road bike handlebars: how to choose them and best reviewed handlebars
The best bike handlebars are an oft overlooked upgrade - we explain why they're so important and outline what to look for when you 're shopping for a new pair
There are three key touch points that connect you to your bike: pedals, saddle, and handlebars. Most cyclists invest a fair amount of time into selecting the first two with military precision - but the best road bike handlebars are often forgotten.
Choosing the ideal handlebars for you can have a huge effect on your comfort and performance, for they play a significant role in determining your position and weight distribution, making them one of the best road bike upgrades you can make.
Though of course movements such as cornering should come largely from shifts in body weight, your handlebars are pretty crucial too - and if they're the weak link in the chain then upgrading them can have a noticeable effect.
To help you find the right bars for you, we've selected six of our favourites - three carbon pairs and three alloy pairs. We've looked to include bars with varying attributes, including narrow width, aero and flared options. To further assist you we've also answered a few of the commonly asked questions when it comes to choosing the best road handlebars.
The Quick List
Carbon bars
Best budget
1. Prime Primavera Aero
Best budget
A lightweight aero bar with good cable integration and a comfort-inducing shape, at a price that's hard to beat.
When we first reviewed the carbon Primavera Aero bars, the smallest size was a 38cm - but now, these start from 36cm and go all the way up to 44cm - giving riders of all shapes and sizes an affordable option in the carbon aero category.
As for the other dimensions, they opt for a relatively 'short and shallow' approach, combining a 122mm drop with a 76.5mm reach. We found the compact shape to be 'spot on'. Likewise, we also appreciated what we felt was just the right amount of stiffness. They felt rock solid, with no noticeable flexing, but importantly this didn't translate to harsh ride feel. Add to this the neat internal cable routing and exceptional value for a carbon option, and they come highly recommended. The only downside was a lack of markings to help out with set-up, but once you've got them fitted, there isn't much we can fault.
If you perhaps thought that flared bars were for gravel riding only, then think again. A narrow hood width combined with a flare at the drops has become pretty popular in the pro peloton, thanks to its ability to aid a more aggressively aero riding position.
Enve were early adopters of this design and the fact that its SES Aero bars are still in production - and now with the updated 'IN-Route' system that's designed to work with most internally routed front ends - is proof of their appeal.
Typically when buying bars the stated width measurement relates to the hood width but here it's the drops. This means that the 42cm actually measures just 37cm at the hoods. If you're looking to narrow your front end for racing purposes, then it's likely the SES will be a good fit. However, aerodynamically advantageous positions aren't always the most comfortable to hold, meaning this might not be the best option if your looking for a versatile bar that can be used for endurance rides, for example.
We last reviewed these bars some years ago, and without the integrated cabling, so look out for a new review soon.
Best narrow width carbon bars
(Image credit: Specialized)
3. Specialized S-Works Shallow Bend handlebars
Best carbon bars with a narrow width option
Specifications
Sizes : 36cm to 44cm
Weight: 200g (42 cm)
Reach: 75mm
Drop : 123mm
Clamp: 31.8mm
Reasons to buy
+
Available in a 36cm width
+
Compact shape great for smaller hands
+
Lightweight
Reasons to avoid
-
Fairly expensive
Finding narrow width bars isn't always the easiest, with many models starting at 38mm or 40mm. Fortunately Specialized has made a habit of releasing its bars in a 36cm width, which is ideal for those smaller in stature.
The S-Works Shallow Bend, as their name suggest, are.a compact offering. They blend a short 123mm drop with an equally short 75mm reach. Combine this design with the 36cm width option and you really have.bar that's well-suited to those with smaller hands. We loved this shape in the alloy version, finding it to be supremely comfortable.
Being a carbon bar - using Specialized's FACT construction - you also get the combination of stiff and light. In the 42cm width version they have a claimed weight of just 200g.
We'll be reviewing the bars soon so check back for more details.
While many gravel bars offer a significant amount of flare in the drops for better control on off-road terrain, there are a few options that are well suited to road riding too - and Zipp's SL-70 XPLR bars are possibly the best example.
The 11-degree outsweep and five degrees of flare at the drops adds control and comfort without producing a extreme position at the hood, as some flared bars do. Combined with the short and shallow reach and the ergo tops and you have what we found to be a perfect all-road bar, ideally matched to long rides over less than perfect tarmac.
As with Specialized's carbon shallow drop, the alloy version are offered in a 36cm width size and feature the same design that's ideal for riders with smaller hands, thanks to the shallow drop of 123mm, and the short reach of 75mm.
However, unlike the carbon option, these are keenly priced making them an inexpensive upgrade or a good option for a race bike, where a crash can prove costly in more ways than one of you're riding carbon fibre bars. Being made from butted aluminium they're strong but still impressively light - when we reviewed the bars out 36cm size tipped the scales at just 263g.
Deda's Superzero DCR are an affordable aero handlebar that are designed to mimic the aero styling and performance of the Italian's brands far more expensive carbon options.
They feature the flat profile that you'd expect from a bar that's designed to reduce drag. Deda's Rapid Hand Movement shape is in play here - this means a shallow drop and short reach created for cyclists who like to change hand position often. In terms of the numbers, this equates to a reach of 75mm and a drop of 130mm. Other features include internal cable routing and compatibility with Deda's DCR stems.
We'll be reviewing the Superzero DCR alloy handlebars soon, so check back for more details from our testing.
The Best Road Handlebars Buyers Guide
How wide should my road bars be?
The bars that come specced on a new bike are an estimate based upon the average shoulder width of the average person riding a bike in your size.
As most cyclists will protest, none of us are truly average, so tailoring the bars to suit you is a good idea. This is particularly relevant for women who have bought a unisex bike over a female specific bike: most women have narrower shoulders compared to men of the same height so will want a narrower handlebar.
Bars that are too wide can put pressure on your neck and arms, and will make riding the bike feel a bit like driving a truck. To the contrary, narrow bars will make you feel cramped, but it's worth remembering that narrower bars will bring your elbows in, having quite a significant impact upon aerodynamics.
The rule of thumb when selecting the correct handlebar width is to measure the distance between the two bony bits on your shoulders - in more scientific terms the distance between your two acromioclavicular (AC) joints.
This measurement gives you a baseline - if it's 38cm, look for 38cm bars - and so on. However, personal preference and riding style play a role, too. If, for example, aerodynamics are important to you, perhaps opt one size down.
Some riders like the stability afforded by slightly wider bars - so you could opt to go one size up - to a 40cm bar. However, this will mean that you are having to move your arms out to reach the levers, causing your shoulder blades to collapse which can cause discomfort.
The standard approach is to measure from the centre of the drops, but some brands measure from the outside, meaning their 40cm bar could be a 38cm in the former approach. It's best to check what approach the manufacturer you have in mind takes.
What is the best road bar shape for me?
When it comes to handlebar width, though you can go up or down a bit depending on preference, there is a right and a wrong answer: too narrow or too wide will cause you pain and have bike fitters all over the world wincing. However, in the case of handlebar shape, it's much more down to personal preference.
Traditionally, road bars had a gentle round curve, which created a deep drop, putting the rider in a low position when off the hoods.
In recent years, compact handlebars have become more popular: these feature a straighter shape, which means the lower section of the drop is higher up. In the middle, are ergonomic bars: rounder than traditional bars, but they have a flat section in the centre which is ideal for hand positioning.
Choosing the best handlebar shape for you comes down to your riding style. If you're after fairly relaxed endurance rides, think compact.
If you want eyeballs out, nose to the bar time trial efforts and tend to hold the bars close to the bottom of the drops, think traditional.
Sitting in the middle, if you want a fair drop and tend to hold the bar right at its centre point, look for ergo bars where doing so won't put pressure on your wrists.
Different manufacturers will shape their bars their own way, and you'll also find adventure road bikes, gravel bikes and cyclocross bikes will sweep them out at the end to create a wider and more stable platform when riding in the drops.
What is the best material for road handlebars?
One of the biggest conundrums facing cyclists upgrading their handlebars is the question of what material to choose.
Carbon handlebars drop the weight of the bike and they're often 20 to 40 per cent lighter than their alloy brethren. The material can also be moulded to any shape, permitting it to be perfectly designed to suit the ideal ergonomic fit. Plus, the carbon layup can be fine turned to create the best mix between strength, low weight and compliance. All sounds perfect?
The problem with carbon handlebars is that they're much more expensive, and a bit more fragile. Though carbon can be very strong, if it's damaged, it's not always as readily apparent as it would be on an aluminium bar and could go undetected.
Not only that, carbon needs to be treated with more care in the workshop - or home workshop - and even if you're using one of the best torque wrenches for bikes it's easier to crack if the wrong settings are used. A further con is the simple fact that aluminium bars are a lot cheaper.
What are aero handlebars and do I need them?
Aero road bikes are becoming increasing popular, and the handlebar set-up plays a huge role in decreasing drag.
Handlebars that improve aerodynamics will often present a smaller surface area at the front, flattening out to create a longer surface area on the top.
This means they slice through the air more efficiently, and also has the added bonus of being comfortable to hold on a long climb. Plus, aero handlebars will be designed to cater for internal cable routing.
More premium versions will champion a high level of integration. The bar and stem may be one unit, and mounts for items such as cycling computers could be built in.
The bonus here is the watt saving. The downside is that if you decide you want to make a change to your fit with a shorter or longer stem, you'll need to fork out for an entirely new unit.
Is there a standard diameter for road handlebars?
An actually quite important yet seemingly boring housekeeping point. Standard diameter handlebars used to always measure 25.4mm - this refers to the centre point where the stem will attach.
However, some brands are choosing to beef them up to 31.8mm for improved stiffness. This is fine, but you'll need a stem with a matching clamp size: no one wants to arrive home with their new purchase to find they've not got a stem to fit.
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Luke Friend has worked as a writer, editor and copywriter for twenty five years. Across books, magazines and websites, he's covered a broad range of topics for a range of clients including Major League Baseball, the National Trust and the NHS. He has an MA in Professional Writing from Falmouth University and is a qualified bicycle mechanic. He has been a cycling enthusiast from an early age, partly due to watching the Tour de France on TV. He's a keen follower of bike racing to this day as well as a regular road and gravel rider.
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