Why flared bars for gravel riding?

There's no denying that flared bars are all the rage for off-road drop bar biking, aka gravel riding. But why are they so popular? If you're anything like us, and are a bit cynical about this quite subtle change, let us tell you: seeing really is believing when it comes to trying out some flared handlebars for yourself. Ranging from mild flares in the low teens to 25 degrees and more, these bars all alter your position when you're in the drops. This position tends to be more stable for descending off-road , widening your stance and giving you more control. As an added bonus, with more space between the drops, there's also a bit more room for handlebar bags if you're going bikepacking or endurance racing. Most of the mild flares up to around 15 degrees won't alter the position of your hands when you're on the hoods, but beyond this you'll find that the shifters also change position. This can be supremely comfortable for some and simply uncomfortable for others. We'd recommend starting with a mild flare at first, and then if you're still curious, moving up to these more extreme bar shapes.

What about flat bars for gravel riding?

Flat bar gravel bikes could be the next big thing. Specialized's 2021 Diverge launch featured two straight bar models , Ribble offers some of its CGR models with flat bars too, and there's an increasing number of custom gravel built up with straight bars too. When it comes to putting straight bars on gravel bikes, there might be a bit more to it than simply fitting some old MTB flat bars. As the type of riding is often a bit different to modern mountain biking, you'll need to consider how you can make these comfortable, for example, for longer rides where you spend more time in the same position. You can use two different things to alter how comfortable this is for your hands and wrists: the sweep of the bar (Jones bars being the extreme example) or the grips that you use. Try a set of grips with more wrist support, for example the Ergon GA3 grips. If you're into bikepacking, you might find that flat bars work better for you, as there's less of a limit when it comes to handlebar bag size.

What's the best handlebar material for gravel riding?

Although most gravel-specific handlebars are aluminium alloy, you'll also find some carbon fibre models aimed towards the racier end of the spectrum. Alloy makes for a great handlebar material as it's strong and robust, which is especially useful when it comes to gravel bikes and the kind of treatment they go through over rough terrain or on multi-day bikepacking trips. Carbon fibre handlebars tend to be lighter, which might be of use if you're a more competitive gravel racer, or want help to reduce rough road feedback a little. They'll certainly be more expensive though, and bear in mind that although carbon fibre bars are strong, they can break more catastrophically on impact, such as if you end up tumbling over the bars.

Best handlebars for gravel bikes 2022: flared bars, ergonomic and even flat bar gravel bars

Choosing the best handlebars for gravel bikes just got more exciting, with many new models entering the market. Here's a few of our favourites from modest designs to some really exciting new concepts.

(Image credit: Kevin Fickling)

By Katherine Moore

published 21 July 2022

Are there really any differences between the best handlebars for gravel bikes and for road cycling (opens in new tab)?

Flared handlebars have become the norm on new gravel bikes recently, where the drops give a wider position than on the hoods. If you're looking to upgrade to flared bars for your off-road endeavours or something a little different, we've got a few suggestions for you.

Our pick of the best handlebars for gravel bikes

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Here’s our pick of the best handlebars for gravel bikes (opens in new tab) that are on the market right now. Read on to the end for more tips on what to look for when choosing the best handlebars for you, including notes on flared bars and why you might want to consider them.