{"id":68861,"date":"2022-06-27T07:25:27","date_gmt":"2022-06-27T11:25:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/?page_id=68861"},"modified":"2022-06-27T20:58:56","modified_gmt":"2022-06-28T00:58:56","slug":"gravel-bars","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/index\/gravel-bars\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete List of Gravel Bars and a Guide to Flared Drop Bars"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Updated June 2022<\/em><\/p>\n<p>With more and more people using \u201croad\u201d bikes for a variety of off-pavement pursuits, bike parts are quickly evolving to fit those needs. One such component\u2014and perhaps the one experiencing the most fluctuation and innovation at the moment\u2014are drop handlebars, aka flared drop bars, gravel bars, or dirt-drops. This style of handlebar is quite useful, and the range of options and variations can be mind boggling. In this Gear Index guide, we\u2019ll outline the terms that define these bars, how to differentiate among them, and the relative advantages of each. We\u2019ve also compiled a full list of gravel bars with complete specs and loads of photos, including some that have been reviewed.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"thumblist-3col\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Crust-Romanceur_41.jpg\" class=\"media-img\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Crust-Romanceur_41-960x640.jpg\" alt=\"Crust Romanceur, Ultraromance\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Crust-Romanceur_41-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Crust-Romanceur_41-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Crust-Romanceur_41-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Crust-Romanceur_41-2000x1333.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Enve-G-Series-Gravel-Bar_2.jpg\" class=\"media-img\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Enve-G-Series-Gravel-Bar_2-960x640.jpg\" alt=\"Enve G Series Gravel Handlebar\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-62909\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Enve-G-Series-Gravel-Bar_2-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Enve-G-Series-Gravel-Bar_2-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Enve-G-Series-Gravel-Bar_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Enve-G-Series-Gravel-Bar_2-2000x1333.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/rattlesnake-bar-tape_2.jpg\" class=\"media-img\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/rattlesnake-bar-tape_2-960x640.jpg\" alt=\"Rattlesnake Bar Tape, Camp and Go Slow\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-67847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/rattlesnake-bar-tape_2-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/rattlesnake-bar-tape_2-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/rattlesnake-bar-tape_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/rattlesnake-bar-tape_2-2000x1333.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Why Gravel Bars?<\/h2>\n<p>The most convincing reason to upgrade from a traditional road handlebar to a more specialized off-road drop bar is control and stability. In short, the consensus is that having wider bars with drops that flare outward (among other tweaks) provides more control compared to bars designed for standard road cycling, which were originally engineered for speed and efficiency. Additional width creates a more natural position for most people (especially mountain bikers) and adds stability and leverage while climbing and descending in the hoods. And considering that most people keep their hands in the drops while negotiating steep, loose, off-camber, or more technical surfaces, shallower, flared, and outswept drop extensions offer more control in this position.<\/p>\n<div class=\"spotlight\">\n<h3>A Brief History of Dirt Drops and Gravel Bars<\/h3>\n<p>Who came up with these types of bars? It all started back in the 1980s when early mountain bikers began retrofitting and modifying their road bikes to ride off-road. They added bigger tires and rode drop bars in the hooks (or drops) because the old road hoods weren\u2019t that comfy or stable. They were also quite narrow, so early visionaries started bending the hooks on road handlebars outward to provide more leverage and stability. Thus, flare was born.<\/p>\n<p>Fast forward a few years, and WTB collaborated with Specialized Bicycles to create the RM-2, a wing-shaped, dirt-drop handlebar that became one of the first production bars in this genre. Due to lack of mass adoption, they were discontinued in the early 90s and became sought after by diehards. Those who happened to find one had to pay an arm and a leg for it. Later, UK-based On-One released the Midge Bar, which kept this oddball niche alive for a few more years. <\/p>\n<p>Fast forward to 2009, and the Salsa Woodchipper would usher in the second and most significant wave: gravel bars, which are technically more of a happy medium between the dramatically shaped dirt-drops of old and modern road handlebars. Over the last few years, the floodgates have opened, and there are dozens of options on the market with new innovations and tweaks appearing almost monthly.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Measuring Flared Drop bars<\/h2>\n<p>Flare is a term used to define the predominant feature that distinguishes dirt and gravel drop bars from traditional road handlebars. Technically speaking, flare represents the angle at which the bottom of the drop is flared outward from the top of the bar at the bend that forms the drop. For example, a 29\u00b0 flare (as used in the diagram) has a pretty dramatic outward angle to the drop. In contrast, traditional road handlebars mostly have 0\u00b0 of flare and the drops fall in a vertical and perpendicular orientation to the horizontal bar at the top. All of the bars discussed here will have some amount of flare. Another term often confused with flare is outsweep. While flare is created by rotating the entire drop outward, outsweep is created by angling the drop extension vertically outward just below the brake perch.<\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gravel-drop-bars-geometry-diagram-1.png\" style=\"box-shadow: none;\" class=\"media-img\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gravel-drop-bars-geometry-diagram-1-2000x978.png\" alt=\"gravel bars and flared drop bars geometry diagram\" width=\"2000\" height=\"978\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-69343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gravel-drop-bars-geometry-diagram-1-2000x978.png 2000w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gravel-drop-bars-geometry-diagram-1-512x250.png 512w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gravel-drop-bars-geometry-diagram-1-960x469.png 960w, https:\/\/bikepacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/gravel-drop-bars-geometry-diagram-1-768x375.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<h4>Bar Width<\/h4>\n<p>Drop bar widths are almost always referenced as the width from hood to hood. This may vary slightly, but is often the top of the bend at the drop transition. Most manufacturers specify the full width as well, from end to end, but for comparison and standardization, we&#8217;ll focus on the width between the hoods. When available, we&#8217;ll also specify the end-to-end width as <em>Full Width<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"threecol\">\n<div>\n<h4>Drop<\/h4>\n<p>Drop is the vertical distance from the horizontal stem clamp area to the bottom of the bar\u2019s drop extension. A larger drop (>120mm) pulls the rider downward into a more aero position. A shallower drop (<120mm) might be considered more comfortable and easier to transition in and out of. Also note that many modern gravel bars have a less rounded \"hook\" shape to create a dominant drop grip.\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h4>Reach<\/h4>\n<p>Reach is how far the handlebar extends forward from the stem clamp area. When in the drop position, a longer reach (>80mm) pulls the rider forward into more of an aggressive and speedier aero stance. A shorter reach (<75mm) might be considered more comfortable and provides more control when riding on off-road and dirt surfaces.\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h4>Backsweep and Rise<\/h4>\n<p>Sweep and rise aren\u2019t as prevalent in gravel drop bars, barring a few of the more creative options. For example, the Curve Walmer offers a 3\u00b0 sweep, angling the bars back to make their wide stance more accessible. The Crust Towel Rack also adds both an upsweep and rise, making them one of the more eccentric options on the market.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"spotlight\">\n<h3>Ultra-wide Drop Bars<\/h3>\n<p>If it had to be named, the latest chapter in the evolution of off-road drop bars would probably be called <em>the widening<\/em>. There\u2019s no doubt that gravel bars (and drop bars in general) have been getting wider for a while. Just as trail mountain bike bars are inching up to 820mm in width these days, drop bars are also pushing new limits\u2014upward of 750mm! <\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a lot to love about this trend. For one, wider means even more leverage and control. Wider drop bars also allow more room for mounting accessories and create more packing space between the drops for handlebar bags\u2014a big reason why standard width bars are limiting for bikepacking. Widths over 440mm are crucial, and widths over 460mm are becoming the norm.<\/p>\n<p>How about Ultra-wide? There are a handful of new off-road drop bars that measure over 500mm at the drops. One of the founding fathers of this new trend is Ultraromance, who quietly announced his 666.666mm \u201cleather bar\u201d back in 2015. It was later reworked and released as the Crust Towel Rack with a max width of 675mm at the drops. More recently, the Curve Walmer Bar hit the streets with the largest size measuring in at a whopping 750mm at the drops, giving it the \u201cwidest drop bar in the world endorsement\u201d from Ultraromance himself. As he put it, \u201cNarrow drop bars will only be a memory for riders like us in a few years.\u201d After riding some of these bars, we think he might be right.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>List of Gravel Bars and Flared drop bars<\/h2>\n<p>Now that we&#8217;ve covered the ins and outs, here\u2019s our complete list of gravel bars and flared drop bars. Note that all of these bars have a little bit of flare or something unique that makes them well-suited for off-road use. Like our other Gear Index lists, find the ones we&#8217;ve tested toward the top of the list with a &#8220;T&#8221; icon. You can then expand each one to find more specs, photos, weights, links, and details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated June 2022 With more and more people using \u201croad\u201d bikes for a variety of off-pavement pursuits, bike parts are quickly evolving to fit those needs. One such component\u2014and perhaps [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":89275,"parent":51217,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"post-list.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60,185],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68861","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gear","category-parts"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.6 (Yoast SEO v26.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Gravel Bars and Flared Drop Bars (Complete List) - BIKEPACKING.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are many gravel bars and off-road flared drop bars these days. 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