Flat Bar Vs Drop Bar Gravel Bike. The Pros and Cons

[@qualm43]

flat bars because: 1. your head is up and your ability to see around for danger is WAY BETTER. 2. fingers are always on the brakes for quick stopping. 3. neck pain from leaning over forward is eliminated. 4. handlebar control over rough terrain is more stable. 5. if you have panniers or trunk bag, wider bars help stabilize the load.

[@thedownunderverse]

Left hand thumb can be used for a bell when there’s pedestrians in the way (assuming a 1x setup).

[@9RT90]

Flat bars with Ergon Gp5 grips. Many different hand positions. 👍

[@pinionerop1188]

I use a nice Tune Carbon Flatbar with a lot of complience built into it...it just sucks away a lot of these little vibrations. And for a more aero position at roads or when it is quite windy i use the InnerBarEnds from SQ-Lab. It's a little bit like a time trial position but of course not in a extreme way. So i think i have the control and comfort of an mtb-bar with another grip option for a more aero position. Have a nice day out there!!!

[@UenoLocker54]

Flat bars feel good for my neck too and also let me wrestle the bike a little more on hills which I like.

[@dinodvorak1385]

Nice video, Juliet! Coming from enduro/cross-country MTB, flat bars were actually what got me into gravel riding. Got Specialized Diverge Comp E5 EVO and I am really happy with the bike. Sure, not that aero, but non-technical terrain and asphalt are boring anyway. Agree with Anto (hope I got the name correctly) that it is very comfortable. Also much more confident on technical ascents and descents (great to have drop post as well). Fingers on the breaks always ready for immediate breaking power during city riding are life saver. Regards from NYC!

[@DaveCM]

And if you do some gravel races, you can add on aero bars. I like to be in gravel races and have been seeing more and more flat bar gravel bikes and most with clip on aero extensions. You have the flat bars for comfort or control but the aero extensions for the long boring parts.

[@kidkarbon4775]

Absolutely lovely seeing you so happy and chilled, hopefully life is treating you better these days, or at least is not so tough. Keep well Juliet 🥰 cherish them smiles

[@fazlee712]

surely that's the Redshift Shock stop stem haha. I have the same and love it

[@alans1816]

After many decades on drop bars, my back has demanded something more upright. Flat bars twist my arms unnaturally, but more traditionally shaped alt bars work well. They may be unusual now, but look like the bars I rode in the late 1960's on my Raleigh 3 speed.

[@malcontent_1]

~10:05 I think you meant, if you put flat bars on a drop bar bike _you'll need a shorter stem_ to compensate for the longer reach created by wider position.

[@84imreplica]

Last year I changed the drop bar on my gravel bike for a Koga Satori Denham flat touring handlebar. While I liked the Denham flat bar I decided last week to switch back to a drop bar setup and installed a Ritchey WCS Venturemax drop bar. I'm glad I did and couldn't be happier.

[@wallacewestmeath]

I think both bars have a advantages. I prefer the flat bars for commuting through traffic because its easier to turn my head and check traffic . I did cut 20mm of each side because I found them to be too wide when I rode on narrow bike tracks and was meeting walkers and cyclers coming towards me . When it comes to a better speed I find my drop bars are a lot better for getting into a lower position . Yes there is only one hand position with flat bars but i do not feel uncomfortable . I seem to swap positions often on my drop bars . I think if I was limited to one bike , I would keep my drop bar gravel bike .

[@John-un2co]

Great video Juliet take care

[@TenFalconsMusic]

460mm flatbar with the slope positioned forward and slightly downward (polar opposite to the traditional positioning). 😁👍

[@thedownunderverse]

I am so there with you!

[@deblordoutdoors5783]

I had flat bars on my old bike and installed bar ends for an alternate hand position as I would get quite stiff and achey on longer rides. Much prefer drops, particularly where I live in the East Midlands as there is a lot of road linking the off-road sections together, and it’s nice to be able to get more aero in higher winds on the road.

[@rickhurstyoutube]

I've tried so hard to like drop bars, but have never been able to get comfortable on them, and I don't feel in control of the bike, even on the road. I've tried different bikes, different reaches etc., but always ended up back on flat bars. I accept that drops are more aero than flat bars, but I guess genetically i'm just a BMX/Mountain Biker!

[@TheNeelonRokk]

Which is better? Flats or drops? Simple really. The one you prefer riding is better. It's the same with road vs gravel vs mtb vs whatever. Your bike, your preference, your ride. Keep up the smiles and laughs. 😀

[@dickweeeeeeeeeed]

for women(human adult females) drops are better because women have narrower shoulders/backs...us gorillas find flat bars more comfortable...ill wait for the tears.......

[@colinmcdonald2499]

I used to ride a cheap XC mountain bike mostly touring and exploring ( well fitted). The wide flatbars and upright position. always left my arms with pins and needles in long stretches on long rides ( lots of one arm swings). Getting a dropbar gravel bike ( no bar bag because I have dual brake levers on my flats). The ability to change grips and the more natural neutral grip on the hoods did away wjth the pins and needles!

[@94slingshot]

One issue I see is how wide he is on the straight bars as opposed to how narrow you are on the drops. I ride straight bars most of the time for casual and mountain bike rides,but on the open gravel and paved roads I prefer drops.

[@tinglydingle]

I initially bought a flat bar hybrid, and just couldn’t get used to the flat bars and swapped to drops and turned it into a gravel bike.

[@mikeschiller6728]

For techy rides the wider flared bars are just as good. The Ritchey Beacons have a wide flare and short drop and I feel like I'm more inside the bike then on top of the bike.

[@googlelimp9834]

I've always raced and rode mountain bikes, but i have to say this whenever i cycling on a mountain bike i help the tip of the bars so facing the same way as your saying on a road bike, until dropping in and now ridding road bikes as well i do still find that one grip mutch better

[@robinmacandrew103]

Not a case of either/or anymore. There are so many alt bars that offer combinations of the two…

[@ronaldomac4918]

If you have money to through around then a Santa Cruz Stigmata is the way to go, if your wallet is not so fat then the Marin DSX 2 Flat bar gravel bike looks decent....! Another great video Juliet, you adventures put a smile on my face :)

[@colinmcdonald2499]

9:45 flat bars on techie bit descents... Maybe get an edge. But I find ready position behind the saddle does me fine on my drop bar gravel bike. And on BIG paved descents ( 100-800 meter elevation drops) the the drop bars are an absolute must. I will never go narrower than my 40mm Scwalbe Mondials. They are heavy duty. But the purchase and control they have at 60-70+ kmph on serious serpentine descents is really impressive. Drops for me for the amazing paved descents I can enjoy on the same route with epic unpaved double track unpaved.

[@toddmcdonough]

Also not much talked about advantage of flat bars is, in the unfortunate event of a crash, delicate shifter parts are both more protected and cheaper to replace. Like Juliet, I prefer drop bars but it is unnerving to have so much of my bike investment essentially acting as a front bumper.

[@Ray.J]

Saw so many motorbikes in that video! Were you itching to go for a ride on your motorcycle? How is that coming along? Regarding flat bars versus drop bars, to be fair, the bars Juliet rides are a very shallow drop, and with the flair, it gives a pretty wide grip. As a senior rider, I appreciate a more upright position, easier on the back and neck as your friend stated. I do ride with drop bars as well and personally find it difficult to see around me without straining my neck. The good news is there are so many combinations of bars and stems that there is a way for most anyone to find a comfortable set up. If speed isn't your main goal, go for comfort, it will keep you in the saddle longer.

[@dannymullins4356]

What do they mean by "techie"?

[@richardhall263]

Straight bars every time for me

[@davethedogdude]

I have messed up hands, and flat bars don't give me enough hand positions to stay comfortable on a long ride, and also the brakes are more difficult for me to work with then drop bar bikes. I use wide flared drop bars to try to get the best of both worlds.

[@michaelpegg5994]

You rode straight over a pedestrian crossing whilst someone was crossing!!!

[@guypolson]

I have had friends who don't ride flat bars even on their mountain bikes they have always had drop bars.

[@gregcushen8201]

Every one talks about drop bars being more aero but if your got the wind behind you with flat bars are like a sail and if the wind is side ways there the same

[@thedownunderverse]

Everyone also assumes flat bars are all 750 wide. Mine at 480-550 are as narrow as many wide/flared drop handlebars

[@Jacksirrom]

For me, none of the grip positions on drop bars are as comfortable as the one on flat bars.

[@GoustiFruit]

I agree with the wrist "problem", on longer rides I always have some pain on my right wrist; but I guess that it's mostly because of the larger width of the flat bars, which force you to push your hands aside and gives you more work on the arms/shoulders. But you can alleviate it by adding handles at the end, like the Ergon GP2 that are on my Canyon Roadlite (I simply convert that bike between road and gravel by changing the wheels/tires). I have one road bike with drop bars, and I admit that I very rarely put my hands on the drops, I'd say that I would only do it when I need to go faster - on the flat, or downhill. But globally, I prefer riding my "gravel" bike (the Roadlite is a "hybrid", according to Canyon). Another benefit I consider on the "gravel" bike, is that the tip of my feet won't touch the front wheel when I make a sharp turn ! I already had several "incidents" with my road bike, when I forget about that property...

[@theweddingsinger1970]

2:04 change of pants for that pedestrian

[@scottibass]

I spent my teen years riding a road cycle with drop bars. I recently moved to the rocky mountains region and got a mountain bike. I was like, wow those flat bars are wide, why are my arms so far apart? It took a while to get used to. And I usually still dislike the flat bar on flat roads.

[@tinglydingle]

Same, from road racing to regular riding and i couldn’t get used to flats

[@phillippitts6294]

The bars on my mtn bike are so flipping wide ! I cut them down an inch on each side.🐈‍⬛🖖🏼

[@richardharris8538]

You sure do get out and about, Juliet. 😄 Mind you, I envy you riding on Devonshire roads, until I remember the somewhat cavalier attitude of some drivers towards cyclists on your side of the pond. Have you noticed any improvement since the new Highway Code came out?

[@glennoc8585]

I haven't been to Spain for years but from memory the coffee was ok but not great. Tbh i've had better in the Uk. Italy and Oz i've had my best coffees with Japan probably a close 3rd. Do you think you really need the 10-42 cassette juliet on gravel? I've got a big cassette on my MTB but for road gravel i'm getting away with 11-36 50-32.

[@SioLazer]

as a roadie, I never would have tried gravel if I was handed a flat bar bike. I imagine it would be the inverse for someone who rides mostly MTB.

[@333wheeler]

Stick some bar end things on the flats. Never sure why they went out of fashion.. As for 50 tooth rear cogs ! lol... Got to be quicker legging it surely...

[@alexchappell7050]

Agree about the flared drop bars. I can always feel comfortable and under control. Flat bars are OK for control, but start to get painful quite quickly.

[@Casual_BackPacking]

Are you using a dropper post for the decents ?

[@JulietElliottsChannel]

No

[@cjohnson3836]

Alt bars: best of all worlds.

[@michaelhayward7572]

Cant do drop bars, and being an old lifelong motorcyclist, cant do flat bars at all for any time or distance. My bars are something with a minimum of 20-25 degrees of backsweep. 35-45 degrees is even doable. Basically modern alt backpacker type bars. Multiple hand positions, all day riding comfort.

[@fisharefriends598]

And you mean, red shift stem…. Not Rock shocks?!

[@JulietElliottsChannel]

Oh yeah, ooops

[@SingleTrackMined]

Flat bars FTW

[@neilt]

It's just personal choice.

[@SilverShamrock71]

Inboard bar ends and you're done. I will give you the aero bit though

[@fisharefriends598]

Gimme them flats… I actually buy a flat bar road bike and just put on gravel tyres.

[@wojciechgregorkiewicz2415]

I agree that ordinary flat bars are not very comfortable on longer rides as the wrist position is not natural. This is where alt bars come in. With 12-16 degree backsweep they put your wrists in the most comfortable position possible. And to add hand positions you can wrap them in bar tape and/or add bar ends in the middle. Why you ask? For multi-day bikepacking this is simply more comfortable for me. Back and shoulders doesn't suffer as much. And for riding technical gravel of which we have plenty in the UK it's just better control. I hate wrestling with a loaded drop bar bike on technical climbs. For actual gravel roads and smooth dirt drop bars obviously have the edge.

[@alainpryt9641]

👏👏👏👍👍👍🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🇫🇷🇫🇷🌷

[@artygigi2861]

SORRY BUT WHATS TECHY HAHA

[@bubblesezblonde]

Flat bars for throwing newspapers, drops for riding fast

[@colinbarton8720]

And flat bars don’t have to be straight they can be curvy to give a more natural wrist position. But isn’t the real point do what is comfy for 🫵