Mechanic Monday - Need More Flare in Your Life? Gravel Bars Explained

[@seederiektdg8492]

Interesting video! I have an all carbon Di2 Ridley road bike - as aero as can be. Measuring watts, cadence, average speeds, .... It's uncomfortable but fast. The thing I like most about my Diverge gravel bike is I don't care about aero and stats as much. I might even wear MTB shorts and a loose t-shirt. Flared bars give me that extra bit of comfort, balance and control going downhill, easy grip when uphill. Best gravel bar setup for me: Brakes on shoulder width, nice flare for comfort.

[@bgrutterdds]

Solid video. Appreciate the insight.

[@701cyclesport6]

Thanks!

[@melaniecarvellmotivational7630]

Great video, DJ. Always learn something from you! I switched my gravel flare bars to a more comfortable traditional bar. Coming from a road bike background makes those classic bars feel more comfy and "normal" for me. The flare bar made it a little harder for me to keep a neutral wrist as well - the traditional bars seem easier on my hands and wrists. It's great we have all kinds of options so we can help riders find what works best for them!

[@duyle557]

Pretty sure the flare wasn’t because mountain bikers wanted to do road, that transition already happened in the 70’s when mtb’er put 700c wheels on their klunkers. This gave rise to the hybrid bike that you see today which still uses flat bars. Gravel bike exist because roadies wanted to go off road so larger clearance was needed on their endurance bikes. The flare is just a natural evolution for off road riding which is why you see so many gravel bikes adopting mtb features like 1x, clutch derailleur, tubeless tires, suspension, dropper post and disc brakes. Now there are flat bar gravel bikes so they are slowly turning into XC bikes. In nature we call this convergence evolution.

[@Mel-zx1pq]

Noticing the difference in the setups - Lauf has wider bars and narrow front tire while the Diverge has road bars and a wide front tire. Does the aero advantage of road bars make up for the added rolling resistance of the larger front tire on the Diverge? I'm assuming the larger front tire is to add more stability and control.

[@701cyclesport6]

Great question Mel! The wider tire on the front of the diverge does give the rider a boost in stability, comfort, and traction. But I believe the drawback in added resistance is minimal in comparison to the aero benefits of the no flare road bars. Tests have been proving that smoother is faster. Meaning, the smoother you can make your riding experience, the faster you will be able to ride over a greater distance. Jairo's diverge is a great example of blending aerodynamics with comfort where you need it.