Flared Drop Bars Gravel

Flare is a term used to define the predominant feature that distinguishes dirt and gravel drop bars from traditional road handlebars.

Flared drop bars gravel.

They come on many new gravel bikes and even aftermarket bars have become sought after. The more ergonomic way in which they accommodate most humans is something that is palpable. Most road handlebars have just a small flare or none at all. This distance is usually minimal around 6 degrees except on drop bars designed for gravel or singletrack use where a wider profile up to 24 degrees enhances control stability and leverage.

Easton s new ax series line of bars meets the needs of the growing drop bar adventure and gravel segment. They are light do a great job at mitigating bumps and vibration and in turn make it easier to pilot a rigid drop bar bike over harsh terrain. Flared drop bars are now a common feature of gravel bikes. Finally flare is the degrees that a drop bars drops protrude outward.

On the other hand gravel and adventure handlebars have a large flare to provide extra stability and control when you re using the drops. Generally 85mm is considered a long reach 80mm 85mm is medium and less than 80mm is short. One of the first players in the flared bars game salsa s cowchipper bars are somewhat of an icon in gravel riding circles. These feature a radical 24 degree flare that alters not only the drop.

So obviously we had to try it out. Building off the highly successful and critically acclaimed line of new mcd road bars and ea70 and ec70 ax bar utilizes the same top shape and reach as well as the ergonomic drop shape but turns up the drop flare from 4 degrees all the way up to 16 degrees. Riding a gravel bike on the trail is kind of like eating cereal with a fork. The spank flare 25 vibrocore drop bars have been a wise move for my gravel bike.

Flare is the amount that the drop section of the handlebar slopes outwards from the vertical measured in degrees. Many adventure gravel and bikepacking riders have embraced wide drop bars for their added leverage and flared drops for improved ergonomics. 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. These types of drop bars were once rare and not many people were aware of them until salsa cycles started producing them for their seminal bike the fargo.