Foldable Bikes Party: Road bike handlebars: how to choose the right ones

Saturday 28 January 2017

Road bike handlebars: how to choose the right ones

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Road bikes are commonly sold without pedals. In addition to keeping the price down, bike manufacturers know that cyclists are picky when it comes to choosing pedal systems. But why are we so fussy about one contact point, and so often just ignore other equally crucial points? With this in mind, it is of my opinion that road bikes should also be sold without handlebars.

Regardless of whether your bike is entry-level, premium or fully custom, it is the five contact points between you and your bike that will ensure the comfor and efficiency of your ride.

Your bars are more than just a place to hang your gear and brake levers (though this role is, of course, essential). They're also instrumental in determining bike stability and handling characteristics. Additionally, a well-adjusted handlebar-hood arrangement will allow for hours of comfortable riding.

However, get the position wrong and you'll likely suffer neck, shoulder and lower back pain, not to mention running the risk of handlebar palsy (or ulnar neuropathy — numbness of the two smallest fingers due to compression or traction of the ulnar nerve as it passes across the wrist into the hand, with or without hand muscle weakness).

When choosing the handlebar for your road bike, we recommend you consider the following;