![]() They are also liable to being less durable when it comes to impacts. ![]() ![]() The significant downside to carbon fibre bars is the cost. The flexibility in how carbon fibre can be layered up means a carbon bar can, in the right hands, do a better job of absorbing vibrations, helping to reduce fatigue in your arms.Ĭarbon fibre bars also tend to weigh less, making them a good choice for riders where weight is a real concern. You can also get titanium handlebars, but they’re much less common.Īluminium is a popular choice for the same reasons it remains a popular frame material: it’s lightweight, durable and relatively cheap.Īs a result, an aluminium handlebar can better withstand the rough and tumble of mountain biking and isn’t going to blow a hole in your pocket.Ĭarbon fibre handlebars have a few advantages over aluminium bars. Mountain bike handlebars tend to be made from either aluminium or carbon fibre. What about handlebar diameter?Īluminium is often the material people choose for handlebars on downhill bikes because of the material’s durability, but others go for carbon fibre thanks to its shock-absorbing qualities. On the other hand, it might also make it harder to lift the bike over any obstacles on the trail and lead to greater arm fatigue on steeper terrain.īacksweep and upsweep angles also change the position of your wrists, and what feels great for one rider may feel awkward for another. However, you may find yourself more likely to slide out in corners or loop out on climbs.Ī lower, flatter bar will put you in a more aggressive attack position with your weight further over the front wheel, which can help quicken turning and lead to less understeer. More rise/upsweep shifts your body weight up and back, reducing weight on the front wheel and making it easier to lift/wheelie/manual, as well as potentially putting you in a more comfortable position. Unless, of course, you do want to alter the position of your body on the bike. If you’re swapping out your mountain bike bar, it’s good to look for a bar that has the same backsweep to ensure you maintain a similar position. A bar with less backsweep will lengthen your effective stem length. More backsweep has a similar effect to fitting a shorter stem (and the wider the bar, the further back that sweep will bring your hands). The amount of backsweep changes where your hands are in relation to the steering axis and, in turn, how roomy the cockpit of your bike feels and the position of your upper body on the bike. While changing width makes the most obvious difference in terms of handling and fit, bar shape can also affect steering and comfort. How handlebar choice affects bike fit and handling More sweep mimics the effect of a shorter stem and changes wrist angle. Andy Lloyd / Immediate Mediaīacksweep measures how much the bar swings back from being perpendicular to the stem and is measured in degrees. Handlebar width is relative to the rider and their bike, with handlebars getting wider as bike size increases – starting, for example, from 650mm for a size small bike and moving up to 730mm to 750mm for a large or extra-large.īacksweep is a measure of how much the bar swings back. Conversely, riders who rip aggressive trails at higher speeds are much more likely to benefit from a wider bar.Ĭross-country bikes are more likely to be at the narrower end of the scale, though the latest XC bikes come with increasingly broad bars, while trail bikes, enduro bikes and downhill bikes are more likely to feature wider handlebars. Obviously, wider bars are also harder to fit between trees, so riders regularly tackling technical singletrack may tire of threading a wide handlebar through tightly-packed trees. Today, mountain bike handlebars tend to be between 700mm and 800mm in width.Īs you get progressively wider, and once you head into the mid-700mm range, consider the type of terrain you’re riding. The overall effect is similar to having a slacker head angle, which suddenly makes the price of a new bar seem reasonable. Turning or wheel-grabbing forces created by the trail are also reduced at the bar end, so it’s easier to keep the bike on target.Ī given amount of hand movement also has less impact on the steering angle of the wheel, so you have more accurate fine control of the front tyre. The wider the bar, the more leverage you can apply to the front wheel to force the bike onto more aggressive lines. Some also believe it can open up your chest and improve breathing. Over the years, mountain bike handlebars have got progressively wider, because increased width can improve control of the bike. Mountain bike handlebars have got progressively wider over the years.
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