Bicycle Handlebars, Round Versus Anatomic

Maybe you thought buying a set of handlebars was easy. All you thought you had to do was to go into your local bike shop and get any pair of handlebars. Above image credit bikeradar.com

Well, it is not as easy as that. You have to consider many different things:

• width,
• drop,
• shape,
• materials,
• and thickness of bars,

All these things are essential and can make your ride pleasant and comfortable or make it more like torture.

THICKNESS OF HANDLEBARS?

This didn’t use to be a problem. All bars were the same size as the center section. Since alloy bars and stem were invented, whatever stem you had just about all bars would fit. Now you have a choice. There is the standard size or now an oversize middle section. It is 31.7, which is quite a lot bigger and more comfortable to hang onto when climbing.

Of course, you probably have a cycle computer and a heart rate monitor on your bars, so you won’t be holding on in the center anyway. Most bar and stem manufacturers make both sizes. However make sure you get the same size, it is usually a good idea to stick to the same make.

WHAT MATERIAL?

All bars and stems used to be steel, and now you can have alloy or carbon. Steel was strong but heavy. Some track sprinters still use steel, but they are the only ones that can afford to carry that kind of weight.

• Alloy is light and comparatively cheap. There are different qualities of alloy. The lighter being more expensive, but they are more flexible, you have to decide on price and stiffness.
• Carbon bars are becoming the most popular handlebars. They are light and strong, but you have to be careful if you crash as they can snap or just unravel the carbon weave. If you ever crash on any handlebars, I would throw them away as they could be damaged and let you down later. Carbon bars come in different shapes and sizes. Some have a flat, aero, top section, and this is meant to be more comfortable to rest your hands on.
• There are also a bar and stem combinations, Cinelli RAM, Deda Alanera, and the ITM Sword combinations; you have to be happy with the set-up with these, as they have no adjustment.

WIDTH AND DEPTH

Width is very important. If you get bars that are too narrow, your hands will be too close together, which will constrict your chest and your breathing. If they are too wide, then you will have difficulty controlling your bike, there is nothing worse than a small rider with wide bars struggling to sprint and the bike wobbling all over the place.

If you hold the bars on the drops, your arms should be straight or hold them up to your shoulders, and they should be about the same width. Be careful when you order your handlebars as the different manufacturers measure the width in different ways. Some measure from outside to outside of the ends of the bars. Others center to center. Therefore, what is 44 from one company is 42 from another.

Depth is a matter of choice, but you tend to find smaller riders want shallow bars with less drop. On the other hand, the bigger rider with a deep chest has a deeper bar with a longer drop.

THE LAST ROUND: NORMAL OR ANATOMIC?

This is where personal choice comes in, try both, and see what you think, if you can!

Bars were always round, and then someone thought it would be a good idea to put flat sections on the lower section of the drops, just under the brake levers.

These are “anatomic,”. I find them uncomfortable, and you can only put your hand in certain places, with about two variations.

With round bars, you can have your hands anywhere. There are many positions for your hands, much more comfortable.

I said you should try both types if you can. This is because round handlebars are very difficult to find in the shops. The manufacturers only let the pros ride them. Therefore, for us lesser mortals, we either have to put up with anatomic bars or hunt the internet and magazines.

Review and more images of the Fuji Alamira SL here

My personal choice, at the moment, is Deda Elementi Newton shallow (Italian style). In 44 width and oversize center section (31.7) to go with my carbon oversize Time stem (120mm length).

When I started cycling Cinelli was the bar and stem to buy. The old Cinelli 65/42 was a dream, sloping at the top and not too deep, I wish they still made them!