I used to think flat bar gravel bikes were silly, now I've tried one I know they're silly, but I'm into it

Flat bar gravel bikes are a thing, and here's why they make sense for some folks and what to know if you're flat-bar-curious

Tyler Boucher's flat bar gravel bike - a BlackHeart Allroad AL
(Image credit: Tyler Boucher)

There is a direct line that starts with the early mountain bikes pioneered in the ’70s and runs through the rigid XC rigs of the 80s straight to today’s gravel bikes. Many of the same geometry principles still hold, but now we benefit from better tyres, bigger wheels and disc brakes. Flat-bar gravel bikes, in particular, carry forward the distinctly American cycling tradition—though they can be polarising.

Why not just ride a mountain bike? Won’t your hands hurt on long rides? Isn’t it less aero? Why are you riding a hybrid? Fair enough, maybe, probably, because it’s fun. Flat bar gravel bikes occupy a niche within a niche, which is quite a lot of niches. But, they really are fun to ride. Will a flat bar gravel bike replace your drop bar bike? Perhaps, perhaps not. It depends where you ride.

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Tyler Boucher
Freelance Writer

Tyler Boucher is a former (and occasionally still) bike racer across several disciplines. These days, he spends most of his time in the saddle piloting his children around in a cargo bike. His writing has appeared in magazines published in Europe, the UK and North America. He lives in Seattle, Washington.