Which road bike handlebars are right for you? [Buyer's guide]

Handlebars are one of the most important components on a road bike. After all, you are holding on to the handlebars for most of the ride. Uncomfortable handlebars can lead to problems because they affect your position on the bike, which can result in poor handling. It can even lead to dangerous situations if, for example, you can't reach the brake levers easily, or if it is difficult to get from the drops to the top of the bar or vice versa.Road bike handlebars are an essential part of your road bike, so it is important you get one that fits you and your riding style best. There are a couple different models available, but not all will provide the comfort or performance you want or need. We are happy to explain the differences between the different models. And, of course, we also show you how to determine which road bike handlebar suits you.

The first important point is that the right road bike handlebar ensures that your hands are in a good position. This will prevent unnecessary pressure on your shoulders and neck. But what should you pay attention to when buying a new road bike handlebar? The width, reach, drop and shape of the handlebar are especially important. But what do these terms mean?

How wide should road bike handlebars be?

For the width of the handlebar, it is important that it is about as wide as the width of your shoulders. To do this, measure the width of the biacromial width, the widest point of your shoulders that is made up of bone.

An alternative way of measuring is to grab the handlebars at the handlebar curve and have someone else check whether your arms are straight in front of your body. When measuring the width of the handlebars, it is still important to bear in mind that not all manufacturers measure in the same way.

We measure centre/centre, which means we take the centre of the handlebar tubes. Some manufacturers measure the outside of the handlebars, so that can make a difference of a few centimetres.

What is the reach of a road bike handlebar?

The reach is the horizontal distance from the center of the handlebar top to the center of the furthest extension of the curve, where your shifters are mounted.

The reach therefore affects the position of the brake levers / shifters. Handlebars with a long reach have the brake levers positioned relatively far away, while a short reach results in the brake levers being closer to the rider.

The further the reach, the further you have to reach with your hands to sit properly in the drops. This results in a lower (more aero) riding position. With a short reach, you sit more upright because you don't have to reach as far.

What are the drops on road bike handlebars?

The drops are the vertical distance from the center of the bar top to the center of the bar ends. A large drop allows for a lower riding position. The advantage of a lower riding position is that it's more aerodynamic than sitting upright. However, it is less comfortable because it puts more strain on your neck, shoulders and back.

A small drop makes it easier to ride in the drops, which makes you more comfortable. Switching from the horizontal part of the handlebars to the drops is also easier with a small drop.

Shape of handlebar curve

The shape of the handlebar curve largely determines how the handlebar feels.

The combination of the different distances of the reach and drop are especially important for this.

The round curve (traditional)

The road bike handlebar as it has been for years.The traditional curve has a fairly long reach and a deep drop.

The anatomical curve

An anatomical handlebar curve features two 'straight' sections. This makes the reach in particular quite short, while the handlebars do have a fairly deep drop.

This handlebar is useful if you always want to keep your hands in a fixed position. Your hands are then quite close to your body, but your riding position is quite aggressive.

The compact curve

The compact curve has a short reach and a small drop. This is because these handlebars have a short curve.

The shifters are in an easy-to-reach position and changing the position of your hand from on top of the handlebars to the drops is easy. This makes the handlebars very suitable for people with small hands. In a compact curve, you sit fairly upright as both the reach and drop are small.

Flare

The flare of your road bike handlebar indicates how far out the handlebar curve is and is measured in degrees. The greater the flare, the greater the comfort and stability when riding with your hands in the drops. The downside of this is that it reduces manoeuvrability and makes your steering less fluid. A handlebar with a larger flare is mainly found on gravel bikes and endurance road bikes. On the contrary, a smaller flare is found on performance road bikes.

Road bike handlebars for each type of cyclist

It is also important to consider what type of rides you cycle most often. For example, a track cyclist needs a different type of handlebar than a gravel rider.

Race & performance handlebars

Race or performance handlebars allow for an aggressive riding position, give you a great overview of the road and make it easier to steer sharply through a corner. These road bike handlebars are also relatively light. Every gramme counts when going uphill! However, these handlebars are less comfortable when going for long rides.

Road bike handlebars for recreational cyclists

Road bike handlebars for recreational cyclists make you more comfortable on the bike on longer rides. However, they are a bit heavier than racing and performance handlebars.

Handlebars for gravel and poor road surfaces

Gravel bike handlebars are extra comfortable. These handlebars are wider and often flared, giving you more control over your bike on, for example, gravel roads. However, this does limit handling on asphalt.

Handlebars for track cyclists

Handlebars for track cyclists have a specific design. Track bikes don't have gears or brakes, so you won't find shifters on these handlebars either. Bars for track cyclists are as aerodynamic as possible and are optimised for riding in the drops.

Shape of the top of your road bike handlebars

The shape of the top of the handlebar is also something to consider when buying your new handlebars. You can roughly choose from three shape: round, ergonomic or aerodynamic. All three have their specific properties.

Round top

Bars with a round top have a small contact surface with the hands and are straight. If you ride a lot with your hands on the shifters or at the bottom of the bracket, this handlebar is right for you. The round shape requires little material and round handlebars are often lighter than handlebars with other shapes. Because this design is simple, it is also cheaper to manufacture. Therefore, these handlebars are generally a little bit cheaper.

Ergonomic top

Handlebars with an ergonomic top have a flattened and sometimes slightly curved shape for an optimal hand position. If you regularly ride with your hands on top of the handlebars or change positions frequently, this handlebar shape is ideal for you.

Aerodynamic top

Aerodynamic handlebars feature a flat top. This is quite advanced. The aerodynamic handlebars are not designed to be comfortable to hold but to have as little air resistance as possible. If you want to reduce drag, then this type of handlebar is the one for you.

Materials: carbon or aluminium?

Finally, when it comes to road bike handlebars, you also have to choose the type of material. Like with basically all bike parts, handlebars are made of aluminium, carbon or a mix of the two.

Carbon handlebars

Light, stiff and comfortable - these are the properties of carbon. Because carbon can be processed in different ways, handlebars can be crafted to be both stiff and comfortable.

A carbon road bike handlebar is stiff in the areas where it is needed for refined handling and a little less stiff in other areas to properly filter out shocks. The high production cost of carbon does make these handlebars a bit more expensive.

Aluminium handlebars

You can get an aluminium road bike handlebar in any price range. Aluminium can be made very cheap, or very stiff and light, using various techniques. Prices are often just a bit more favourable compared to carbon.

Choose your ideal road bike handlebars

All in all, there is a lot to choose from when it comes to road bike handlebars. Need help deciding which road bar is best for you? Use the road handlebar guide on our website.

Which handlebars do you prefer? Let us know in the comments!