Road handlebars

How to choose your road bike handlebar

Your handlebar determines three things at once: the width of your hand position, how your hands sit in the drops, and how the cables exit the cockpit. Consider them in that order.

The width

It is measured centre to centre at the ends of the drops and chosen according to your shoulder width, between 38 and 46 cm in standard road ranges. A wider handlebar opens up the chest and provides stability when riding out of the saddle; a narrower one reduces drag and is becoming more common in the peloton. This is not a neutral adjustment: changing width changes the spacing between the levers and therefore how far your hands have to reach to brake.

The shape of the drops

• Compact : shallow drops (125 to 130 mm) and short reach. The drops remain accessible; this is the best-selling and most versatile shape.
• Classic (or traditional) : deep drops with a smooth, continuous curve. For flexible riding positions and cyclists who actually ride in the drops.
• Anatomic / ergonomic : a flat section in the curve gives your hand a defined position. Comfortable if the shape suits you, awkward if it does not — this is the most personal of the three.
• The reach (the forward extension) matters as much as drop: it adds to the stem length and determines your overall reach.

Road, aero or gravel

• The aero handlebars (Vision Metron, Enve SES Aero, Deda Aero Superzero, PRO Vibe Aero) have an aerofoil-shaped top section. They offer a real advantage on the flat, but a less rounded surface under your palms.
• The flared handlebars (FSA AGX Adventure, PRO Discover) flare the drops by 12° or more: more control on trails, but a wider position in the drops.
• The integrated handlebars (Deda Alanera RS) combine the handlebar and stem in one piece. The look is clean and the aerodynamics are better, but every width-and-length combination is a separate product, with no scope for adjustment.

Clamp diameter — the hidden pitfall

The current standard is 31.8 mm at the centre. Some Deda models still use 26 mm, an older standard: they will not fit a modern stem without a shim. Check this figure before anything else — getting it wrong can make your purchase unusable.

Cable routing

Handlebars with internal routing (Ritchey Streem, Enve Aero Compact, FSA ACR, Deda DCR) hide the cables and hoses. Installation takes considerably longer, and compatibility depends on the stem, headset and sometimes the spacers. It is not an option you can add to an existing bike without checking the whole setup.

Aluminium or carbon

Thealuminium still offers the best balance of price and strength and is more forgiving of imprecise tightening. The carbon saves 80 to 150 g and dampens road vibrations, but requires strict torque settings at both the stem and the levers — and a carbon handlebar that has been involved in a crash must be replaced, not just inspected.

To find out more: How to choose your road bike handlebar

See also: Road bike stems · Handlebar tape and bar-end plugs · Headset spacers