Coefficient has released its new Road Race handlebar with a UCI legal design which allows for the adoption of a position similar to the recently banned “invisible aero-bars”.
The position is similar to that adopted by ITU triathletes with their cut down aero bars in draft legal races. But the reason this bar is permitted by the UCI – and those stubby aero bars aren’t – is because the Coefficient Road Race handlebar is one piece. Under Article 1.3.022, the "attachment of any additional handlebar component or extension is prohibited” in road races.
Although it’s called the “Road Race”, the range of potential applications is significantly wider. Anyone who wants to cover more ground (without reaching for a little e-assistance) can benefit from the option of a more aero position. No matter whether that’s for road or gravel rides.
Coefficient Road Race handlebar
The out-front bridge – which doubles as a computer mount – allows for a stretched out and narrower position while crucially keeping your hands in contact with the bars, helping to retain control of the bike.
The computer mount is available in options that will work with Garmin, Wahoo, Hammerhead and many more, so compatibility shouldn’t be an issue. Should you want to capture some of your rides, there’s an option to add a GoPro mount underneath.
But there’s a lot more to the bar than just the bridge. Flattened tops reduce some of the frontal area of the bar, while 7° of flare to the drops means you can go for a bar that’s narrower at the tops (and therefore more aero) while still retaining a confidence inspiring stance on the drops for descents. A notch in the drops is also said to “provide a more secure and solid grasp for sprinting and descending.”
Unlike some other bars, the sizing is proportional, with the depth of the tops reducing in the smaller sizes, to make it easier to grip with smaller hands.
There’s also a huge range of internal routing ports cut into the bars, meaning most (if not all) lever and frame routing systems should be accommodated.
After winning the 2019 National Single-Speed Cross-Country Mountain Biking Championships and claiming the plushie unicorn (true story), Stefan swapped the flat-bars for drop-bars and has never looked back.
But his favourite rides are multiday bikepacking trips, with all the huge amount of cycling tech and long days spent exploring new roads and trails - as well as histories and cultures. Most recently, he’s spent two weeks riding from Budapest into the mountains of Slovakia.
Castelli Squall Shell review: no excuses for not carrying a waterproof jacket
2,500 children's bikes recalled due to crank failures
