Wide Gravel Drop Bars

One of the first players in the flared bars game salsa s cowchipper bars are somewhat of an icon in gravel riding circles.

Wide gravel drop bars.

Just as trail mountain bike bars are inching up to 820mm in width these days drop bars are also pushing new limits upward of 750mm. Scared to go too wide. Zipp xplr gravel handlebars. Many gravel riders are going wide flat bars with long bar ends to get more comfortable positions and control because there just aren t enough options in gravel drop bars yet.

Luckily for those of us that don t want to go that wide there are other widths as well. With an overall width of 750mm the curve cycling walmer drop bar is the widest in the world. The walmer is available in 46 50 55 60cm widths at the hoods with overall widths coming in at 61 65 70 75cm. Coming in at 500mm on the tops and a chunky 622mm at the tips these were some of the earliest super wide gravel bars on the market.

You will eventually see gravel drop bars with these kinds of spacing at the hoods with a bit less flare at the drops. They re also swept back 6. 46 50 55 and 60cm wide at the hoods or 61 65 70 or 75cm at the drops. Generally 85mm is considered a long reach 80mm 85mm is medium and less than 80mm is short.

The new xplr bar comes in two varieties. With a reach of 60mm 110mm of drop 29º flare and 7º sweep they have a great shape. Zipp s new gravel bar is pretty much an altered service course 70 bar. The ea70 ax flares out by 16 which increases the overall width from the tops to the drops by 68mm across the 40 42 44 and 46cm options.

These feature a radical 24 degree flare that alters not only the drop. 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. While not outrageous by the standards of some we ve listed these triple butted aluminium bars are still plenty broad with a 25 flare 130mm drop and 110mm reach. There s no doubt that gravel bars and drop bars in general have been getting wider for a while.

Gravel bikes and cyclocross bikes will sweep them out at the end. Part of easton s new range of gravel and adventure components the aluminium alloy ea70 ax has a wide flare at the drops for stability and a shallow drop that makes it great for blasting over the rubble. The main difference between the two is that the sl 70 is made with a higher grade alloy making it lighter and more expensive. The 46 and 50cm options are perfect flared dirt drop bars for gravel grinding.

Bars that are too wide can put pressure on your neck and arms and will make riding the bike feel a bit like driving a truck. The service course sl 70 xplr and the service course 70 xplr. I will be looking for about a 15 degree flare in a 60cm or greater at the hoods gravel drop bar. The 46 is super comfortable for endurance road riding.