I've got a Moots Routt YBB with 11sp di2 Ultegra. Wanting to update my regular 46cm/31.8mm dia drop bars to something with Flare. I see lots of choices - I want something pretty light, and I'm not sure how much flare to get, I've seen between 12 and 33 degrees so far, and I would think I would want 'a lot of flare', i.e., close to 33 degrees than 12. Any recommendations and pros/cons to what you all have?
I've used woodchippers, cowbells, Ritchey Evomax, ec70 ax, and fsa k wing agx. Ec70s are the most comfortable and have like 16 degrees of flare. Much more than that and things start looking weird.
I dont really like my FSAs, but they're aero shaped and I'm pretty fast on that bike so I'm letting it slide. The internal routing makes me reluctant to swap them out.
If money's not an issue (moots+di2 so I know it's not) try the Enve ones. Carbon Cowchippers look nice, but salsa's 46 is smaller than Ritchey's 46 which is smaller than Easton's.
My bike originally came with 33' flare (44cm model) handlebars. For rough descents it's nice to have such flare, however I only occasionally run into these kind of descents. On road, I feel 33' flare is too much and makes riding in the drops feel awkward. So I have been switching between a road compact handlebar and the flared ones, depending on whether I would ride road or rougher terrain (for longer periods). Now I have decided to install a compromise and stop switching back and forth.
I found the Pro Discover Medium flare (12' flare, which maybe is better named "Small" flare) as they were inexpensive (EUR36), have a flat top and are reasonable weight for aluminium (275gr for 44cm model). Pro also sell a Big Flare model with 30' flare; 44cm is 285 grams. The bars have a Di2 hole for bar end junctions. No internal cabling though, but there is a cable indent. Have not yet ridden with them, so I will need to come back later to share my riding experience.
For lighter aluminium you would probably look at Deda Gravel100, but they most flare is 12' on that model or the more expensive ec70 ax that were mentioned. Then next is probably carbon, which I didn't consider.
I've liked both the Ritchey bars with 12degrees of flare and the Easton bars with 16. Much more than that and I think you're moving into dirtdrop territory, bars that are designed to be mounted high and have you riding in the drops most of the time. Not a deal breaker if that works for you but not what I want on a gravel/mixed surface bike.
I switched to an FSA Adventure Compact alloy bar on my gravel bike in May and i love it! 12 degrees of flare, most of which occurs in lower part of hooks and in the drops, so it doesnt have that pronounced tilt to the hoods when riding them. I ordered size 46, which measures 46 c-c at hoods, 52 c-c in drops. Ovalized tops. 35 bucks on amazon. Like it so much i bought a second pair to put on my road bike.
I run the 3T Superghiaia Team 40 on my Lynskey ti gravel. Expensive indeed, but I love how the flare occurs only in the bend. It makes the hoods straight like on my road bike, and the drops also straight, only wider (48cm). Adds a lot of control and comfort when the gravel gets loose. It was a pain pulling hydro cables and di2 internally, but looks super clean!
userid=6810476 wrote:I found the Pro Discover Medium flare (12' flare, which maybe is better named "Small" flare) as they were inexpensive (EUR36), have a flat top and are reasonable weight for aluminium (275gr for 44cm model).
Super pleased with this model: the drop is very compact which gives a stable feel, and easy access to the levers for me. The flare is not too much, but enough to provide extra stability and space for a pack. The tops are comfortable as I like flat tops. Goldilocks handlebars for me!
I've used woodchippers, cowbells, Ritchey Evomax, ec70 ax, and fsa k wing agx. Ec70s are the most comfortable and have like 16 degrees of flare. Much more than that and things start looking weird.
I dont really like my FSAs, but they're aero shaped and I'm pretty fast on that bike so I'm letting it slide. The internal routing makes me reluctant to swap them out.
What don't you like about the FSA K wing? I was considering getting those in Carbon F?
the FSAs are only 44 cm instead of 46, which is kinda uncomfortable compared to the Eastons. That's pretty much it. The carbon itself is more compliant than the EC70s, especially in the drops.
What don't you like about the FSA K wing? I was considering getting those in Carbon F?
BS
I just got an FSA k-wing agx in. I was hoping the drops would be angled out more (sweep). Some thoughts - rounded tops are a nice combo of flat/aero and round bars; drops are flared, but not swept out - not good; drop curve is indented for your knuckles, which acts like a bit of sweep. I'm deciding whether to keep the FSA bars. I like a big flat surface up top. My Easton EC70 Aero bars on my road bike have a little 4deg sweep to them, but want more here. 3T makes the Superghi---something, which looks OK but is in the wrong sizes. Haven't seen anything else I like.
Take a look at the Spank Flare 25....the foam insert absorbs some of the high frequency and the flare and width (they are thicker then Cow hoppers) make thwm super comfortable.
