My Favorite Handlebars? (How to Choose Drop Bars)

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In this vid, I talk about why I'm swapping out my handlebars on the Velo-Orange Polyvalent and why I like short ramp, short drop and flare in my drop bars.

[@jaysontolbert5277]

Hey Russ, great video. I have had the cowbells on my Specialized Roubaix for about 5 years and love them. With the flare the levers are at a more natural angle for me. When riding on the hoods they are much more comfortable that the traditional bars were the levers are straight up and down with no angle. Since watching your channel I found several things I have done with my bike over the years that are right in line with your supple philosophy. Several years ago I replaced my 50 tooth chainring with a 46 for a 46/34 crank. That made a huge difference. And I am about to take the next plunge and swap out for a 46/30 crankset. Keep up the great work on the channel, and keep the supple side down!

[@keatingjpk]

Hey Russ great video on drop bars. Being struggling with the drop bars on my bike since I got it and this has given me food for thought. Really like your channel. Nice and down to earth bike stuff. Jeff Dublin Ireland.

[@forrsmit]

Great discussion! Thanks Russ! I was considering the happy medium cowchipper for my Soma Wolverine build to feel what the new gravel bars craze is all about, now I'm sold.

[@EastofSublime]

Just spent all day searching for a flared drop bar and I'm so stoked that you put this together!

[@waisinglee1509]

Thank you for that site recommendation! I am trying to decide on handlebars for my new build so that will come in very handy. Thanks again!

[@powaytheband]

Yay! Nice informational video which answers a slew of questions I’ve had. Thank you 🙏

[@whisperstravels5908]

Hi Russ. i just completed a ride from Perth to Adelaide in Australia, cycled a distance of 2800 km in 7 weeks. My bar of choice was the Salsa Cow chipper. Great bar for long rides, the ergo's work really well for me, either on the hoods, the tops or the drops. Although I don't tend to spend much time in the drops. Well worth a look

[@Tbird420]

Nice one Russ. Great look at the various features and benefits of some great bars. We both got Fargos this Spring and I've been loving the Woodchippers. I didn't think I'd like them at first, and it took some fiddling with positioning and kit since like you said, the ramps pinch inboard - I double taped the top/ramps down to the hood for more comfort and that seemed to make all the difference. I really dig the flared drops on rocky climbs and descents. Tons of leverage and the long sweep flexes just enough to soften the chatter. I'm gonna have to try the VO bars on my gravel rig now. I've been on the Easton EC 90 Aero on that bike, and they're not working for my wrists...

[@wanderingsailor5503]

I really respect you putting these videos together for us, Russ. I've been wanting to venture and start my own business in a niche market like you have. Not to impose but has this kind of thing(youtube and website) been supportive enough for you guys? I know you guys try to keep everything related on your channel but I'd love to see a video about your whole process getting into this kind of niche market. You don't need me to tell you but keep up the good stuff! You guys really helped encourage my love for biking and the hobby has improved so many areas of my life. Thanks

[@ashokcaptain4088]

Great video on hard-to-find flared drop bar information. Well edited too. Thank you for posting.

[@edge8edge]

I’m a huge fan of the woodchippers. Have them on my Salsa Fargo and they are great bars. I am not always in the drops but since having the Fargo and WC’s I am in them way more than ever before compared to typical drop bars. The flare keeps it nice and solid when gripping and no fear of slipping out especially with descending. Thanks for the review Russ!

[@RickyJr46]

Russ, that's a really good tutorial. You've convinced me to give the similar Ritchey WCS Ergomax a try on the roadbike.

[@no_Ray_bang]

I tried the ole butterfly "trekking" bars, and fell in love immediately. Want to give drop bars another chance, but it's not an easy plug and play swap, so when I get around to building bike 3 I'll look into go. Good stuff as always.

[@davehoover8853]

Really great intro and explanation of what goes into selecting a drop bar. I have been mountain biking a long time and use 780 bars. I recently bought a 3T Exploro and like that they are compact or minimal drop, but they are fairly narrow and have no flare. This helped give me some basics to start looking. Would have liked to hear a bit about carbon compared to aluminum, but perhaps you have that in another video.

[@eclimb88]

Thanks for posting this! I am going through this on my Journeyman right now. Looking for a wider spread on the drops. #mypeople!

[@nthonyholden]

Cowbell FTW! I love that bar. It's so comfy, but not overly splayed where I feel like my arms are out sideways. The VO model you have looks interesting! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts after using it for while.

[@danmathis4046]

Excellent summary re 'supple' bars! Thanks.

[@dkehlenbach]

Love the woodchippers - have them on my Trek 520 and actually have come to prefer the positioning on the hoods. I’m not using brifters, so it winds up being a neutral wrist positioning. I also like the fact that I can climb quite comfortably in the drops. Thanks for the review Russ!

[@scottfox6271]

Wow, handlebars eh. Always learning with your deep dives into parts and want to see more. Thanks again!

[@zubiwill328]

After reading countless reviews and comments on dif bars, I just ordered a Ritchey WCS Ergomax. Mainly because I'm looking for a larger flat top section for more hand comfort. Just saw your vid, gotta say those V.Orange look nice. Looking forward to your opinion on the Ergomax. Ride on!

[@taylorgraham4494]

The drops on the cowchipper are so fantastic to relax on towards the end of a really long road and/or gravel ride. They also seem to absorb a ton of shock when you hold them right at the end of the drop too, which something i had never experienced in a bar before.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yeah. Love the Cowchippers!

[@night_mail]

The Cowbell is one of my favourite bars, but I was equally impressed with the Specialized Hover Bar which came with the Sequoia frame set. It looks a bit weird, but the rise makes it quite comfy and works well with a more upright touring/gravel geometry. The downside (haha) of having rise on a drop bar, however, is that it takes away a bit of space for mounting accessoires.

[@WildOutdoorLiving]

Great explanation! I will say that Im not sure what racers are pushing for narrow bars these days though. My best road race bikes all had 44s but lately Ive found that 42s are more comfortable for long rides (a bit harder to sprint on narrower bars). I think it depends a lot on your anatomy. Im really glad that flared and compact bars are becoming so much more common.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yeah. Almost all our riding in Montana ends up on gravel or on a trail at some point. I like the stability of wider bars for that.

[@rollinrat4850]

'Supposedly' I'm supposed to be on 42 or 44cm for road riding. I've always been an 'underbiker' and I've been riding road bikes, exploring on trail since the '70s, before MTBs existed. Even on sew ups. Even for road racing, at least 46cm wide bars helped me BREATHE better. I don't give a rip about silly fashion rules, roadie fit rules nor aero BS. I experimented and figured out what works best for ME. These days, I ride paved roads only to get somewhere or between dirt trails. Road riding is an evil necessity at most times around here. The wider I go, the happier I am. I'm now riding 48- 56cm bars. Only one of my bikes still uses 46s. Learn and get set up to ride in the hooks most of the time. The hooks are there for a reason! THIS will make a huge difference to how your bike handles, traction, braking, safety and how you apply your body's power efficiently. My advice for offroad riding? Get off those freakin hoods. They're like a crack addiction!

[@xbmarx]

I've actually moved away from drop bars over time. All my bikes have either the Velo Orange Crazy Bar, Surly Moloko, or Jones Bar.

[@seanhayes2112]

Nice video Russ. I’ve got a Gunnar Crosshairs that I’ve been using for more gravel than road. Looking for bar suggestion to replace my FSA bars. Something with more flare.

[@carlpower5884]

I really like my CowChippers - I would typically use a 42cm but my CC is a 44, and I'm thinking my Journeyman build will probably get a 46cm CC in prep for touring on NZ gravel trails

[@dcv9460]

Very HELPFUL! 👍👍👍

[@steadfast_1669]

Hey, just something to think of: wider bars increase your reach as well. I thought similarly for quite some while with wider bars but with "too wide bars" (everything bigger than 42 with me) my wrist tended to bend too much resulting in numb hands. I'm comfy with 40c bars but would even consider 38c bars when I find some that I like. (I'm 1,72m and have something like 39cm shoulder width)

[@ronmatthews1738]

After all these years I have only just noticed the big difference in reach between plain brake levers and combined brake and gear levers. It completely changes the look and feel of a bike.

[@GreatEgret]

The cowchipper is a great bar. I had one on a Wolverine I built. That's one bike I sold that I wish I didn't.

[@joansheppard9611]

Great review

[@acousticgearhead7820]

Went through the full gamut of handlebars from narrow to wide, different types of flare, unflared, ergonomic and classic drops, bullhorns, TT-style, flats etc. Absolute favourite to date are the Easton EA70: wide, rather large flare relative to a vertical line instead of the bike-axis and they are as light as I would want to go on a gravel/adventure bike. The only thing missing are the ovalised and pulled back tops you are mentioning in this video, but I can't have everything, I guess ^^ Used the Ritchey WCS Evomax before, great bars but I couldn't get to grips (pun totally intended) with the classic round shape of the drops.

[@samuelryker]

Love the cowbell's

[@jshchrchll3180]

Hey Russ, great info. do you know if the Cowbells, Cowchippers, and the VO Nouveau Randonneur's are measured from the same part of the handlebars? i'm currently running Cowbells in 42 (my favorite over the last 7 years), but i have also had my eye on these two other bars. also, for reference, how tall are you?

[@Nix_sound]

I use the Ritchey venturemax. It's quite similar to the cowchipper, but backswept and has a 'power bump' in the drop (jury is still out on that). I'm a similar height to you and also have rather broad shoulders, I use 46cm wide bars as they are definitely more comfortable.

[@rollinrat4850]

I dig that bump, it helps support your weight better, but the coolest thing for me about these Ritcheys is the nice back sweep and the shallow drop. I'm using a really high stem though. That was the key for me! For a fairly flared bar the hoods position is great for out of the saddle hammering and short punchy climbs. Usually in the hooks is where I ride in my rough and techy trails.

[@Chicagoschwinn]

I am trying to get into a drop bar set up but have yet to find “the one”. Currently have the wood chipper but think it’s not the one for me. Same situation as you stated. Puts my wrist in a funky position. I keep tweaking the hoods for optimum position but may try the cowbell next. Thanks for your videos, there are fun and informative! Cheers🍻

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Would give the cowchipper a try. Current favorite.

[@discowhisk483]

I have flared bars on ALL of my drop bar bikes. Ritchey EvoMax Comp came with my Jamis Renegade gravel/adventure bike and inspired me to put it on my single speed road bike for the comfort. I then Salsa cowbells on my carbon race bike. Won’t have it any other way now. Standard straight bars don’t even feel right to me.

[@JesseHill1015]

I was pretty terrified of the angled-in hoods on the Woodchippers but I actually really like the wrist position that way. I sort of want the hoods on all my bikes angled in a bit now. I do have them on a Fargo with a lot of stack, but I ride the hoods as my primary position, not the hooks.

[@brian_simmons_]

Any thoughts on the Easton EC70AX??? seems to be a middleground between cowbell and cowchipper in terms of flare.

[@WanderABit]

Many many thanks! What is your width shoulder to shoulder (bone to bone, not biceps)?

[@brasstinmancrazy]

Thanks for the handlebar site link, great site. Like the video on bars, thank you

[@alexball5907]

Yes that link is golden. Thanks Russ.

[@NeilHodges]

The Nitto UI-12 and VO "Quill Stem with Removable Faceplate" are a couple of traditional quill stems that'll work with 31.8mm bars. I love the satin nickel finish of the UI-12. I managed to track down a UI-12 with a 90° (or 0°) angle a few years back (well before VO started selling their version), but it ended up being too short horizontally for me once I recently and finally figured out that my knees actually wanted my saddle a couple inches lower than where I was running it only months earlier. I don't think the 90° UI-12 is available at all anymore, and searching for it is impossible due to how search engines work ("90 degree" will often bring up 90mm stems that aren't 90°, for example). However, at this point, it's slammed down all the way, so an easily-obtainable 73° (or -17°) UI-12 will work fine at full extension to start.

[@lovettmj29]

I love the Ritchie venture max comp bars. Super comfortable and dampened vibrations! They totally changed the feel of the 2 bikes I put them on. I got the 46 ( the widest width they come in) hopefully they make wider options, I feel like a 48 would have been perfect.

[@rollinrat4850]

I'm diggin' mine as well. I put them on an old singlespeed 'Cross bike I just rebuilt. I really like the small amount of drop and the back sweep. Very comfortable! I just wish they were wider as well. I use them with a very high stem to have bars level with saddle and ride rough trail primarily in the drops. I like my 52cc cm Nitto Dirt Drops on my touring bike and a fixed gear 'cross bike. Great shape but a pretty deep drop. They also require a high stem for rough trail and long ride comfort.

[@rollinrat4850]

I've had the same 56cm Ritchey bars on my monstercross for about a year now. I love them even more. I definately need shorter stems now. A really dorky looking high rise stem will make ALL the difference. EVERYBODY needs to relearn what those hooks are used for!

[@zbigniewandruszkiewicz7703]

Hei! Love your vids!

[@zbigniewandruszkiewicz7703]

Dajia Far Bar, if you please....

[@rollinrat4850]

@@zbigniewandruszkiewicz7703 Theyre ok, but only if you get a really high stem. The hoods are way too narrow to spend much time there (for me) and there's even less space to put your hands on the tops. I rode mine in the hooks about 80% of the time and I really liked that hand position. It felt very in control and aggressive on rough trail. But I like moving my hands around lots on long rides so these are going on a singlespeed drop bar mtb that I won't take on real long rides. I like hammering out of the saddle on the hoods so these just don't work. After experimenting with a few positions and bars, It turns out I like the really high stems so I can comfortably attack those rough trails in the drops. Its just a more stable hand position, you have better leverage over trail obstacles and the most leverage on the brake levers. My favorite bars are Nitto Dirt Drops RM013 52cm, Nitto Noodles 48 and the latest bars Im really diggin are the Ritchey Venturemax 46cm. I just wish they made them much wider.

[@jonsteinhauser1573]

Did you ever follow up with a long term review of the Velo Orange bar?

[@davegehr]

The Salsa Cowchipper bar is my favorite, splayed, more than the Cowbell, less than the Woodchipper. Cowbell on my road bike only, Cowchippers on the rest of my stable... very comfy both and good control offroad and onroad.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yep. Current favorite.

[@MAGAIVER]

Just ordered a cowchipper for my Trek Checkpoint, can't wait to try it. The reach on the stock bontrager handlebar is too long for my liking.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Rafael Malmegrin it’s a good one.

[@mikaelsamuelsson86]

What width are you guys using compared to a more traditional/straight road handlebar? I've previously used same width (narrow), straight bars on gravel as on road, but want a more angled and flared bar now, but not sure if I should also go up one size in width (and compensate with a slightly shorter stem) or if the curvatures make enough of a difference?

[@brucewilliams8966]

Russ, do you know if the SRAM Rival 1 Brake/shifters will work with the Nouveau Randonneur Handlebar?

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

Be a little wary of excessive width, my on one midge dirt drop bars are awesome on a 29er but on my hybrid with a lower head tube I got really bad pain at the base of my neck. I didn't get this with narrower Rando bars. For me also flare is a must on bad roads

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yes. Dirt drop bars (like the Woodchipper) in the video require higher stack or a stem that brings them up.

[@rollinrat4850]

A high stem is the key to it all in my opinion. Being comfortable and able to spend the most time in the hooks is best. You have best power and leverage over obstacles in this position. You also have the best leverage and power on the brakes. The hoods and tops are just alternative resting positions Id use on easy parts of the trail. I really like the ramps just behind the hoods though. On short punchy climbs I hammer out of the saddle with hands on the hoods. But Most of my trails are rough singletrack, so I'm usually in the hooks and aggressive.

[@timmayhorn3731]

Love the Cow Bells. Just got the Cow Chippers. Want some Wood Chippers.

[@beauwilliams-orser3204]

Very helpful video - thanks!! Wondering about bar width to fit a swift industries 2020 zeitgeist bag (one size). Any experience with this?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

At least 44 if not 46.

[@nickerickson2719]

So many thoughts: Hand and wrist position have a bunch movements but pronation and supination is the flipping over of the palm. Hand positioning can change everything. Fitting a handlebar and stem properly can be very nuanced. Handlebars and stem combo affects so much from the neck and spine position but as well as power output. Personal input is vital but seeking professional help can work wonders in reducing pain, and increasing comfort and confidence.

[@rollinrat4850]

The key is to experiment. Get your hands in a neutral and most powerful position. I recommend riding in the hooks the majority of the time. 'Dirt drops' are designed for this specifically. The hooks are there for a reason. Riding mostly on the hoods offroad is inefficient and insecure in a number of ways. Stop the compromise. Get on the 'right bike', suitable for your specific use. Invest in your riding, even if you need to buy extra stuff to find out what's best.

[@cattalkbmx]

Any thoughts on the Surly Truck Stop or similar bars?

[@GMoneyLove]

Great advice: you need to find a shop that listens to you and works for what your goals are. We are lucky that there are some really good fit specialists. A bike fit is KEY to being happy on the bike as a baseline. The right sizing and fit can make a huge difference between enjoying riding and not. If the bike store you go to doesn't give you more than adjusting the seat height, go elsewhere. I had a great fit for my road bike and now find my old bars not as comfy as they were, even though the rest of me feels awesome. This was a great video to get some ideas for a replacement. And as for bars.. most everything can come down to personal preference- the human body is one of the most adaptable machines out there, but sizing makes the difference. Even width of bars can add to comfort and better control of the bike. I had 42cm bars on my bike when I got it and the fitter said, nope, use 40's and he was right. He knew I didn't race or anything like that, but the narrower bars, for me, gave me better control of the bike. Another great video... I know what bars I'll be checking out for my U.P. build.

[@code3xiv]

Just got meself the ergotek toulouse handlebars. I dont use drops so this is smthing i wanna try in a few months.

[@robbykills]

Russ, V.O. also makes a 31.8 quill stem in case you are worried about losing the ~supple~ qualities of the quill that you have from the quill on the bike right now.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yes. Those don’t work with smaller frames however.

[@MrParacristo]

In one of your videos you featured a double handlebar like the Hover bar from Canyon. I have some buddies that want to get a set for thier bikes can you post a link to those bars?

[@jon.e19]

Love to see a comparison on Ritchey Beacon VS CowChipper (46cm)

[@almuntassermohammad7862]

You should try and review the "Farr Aerogrvl alloy drop bars" would like to know what your thoughts are on it.

[@RogerWarszawa]

That quill stem adapter thingie is interesting, I might have to investigate that for the two 80s bikes I’m planning on putting back together this winter (especially as I’ve already managed to smash one of the quill stems; oopsy). One bike is a basic, mid/late 80s Hercules that has sentimental memories for me which I’ll use as a ‘to the shops’ bike and general runabout, the other bike is a 1980 Peugeot road bike that’s recently spent about 8 years in my sister-in-law’s basement then 4 or 5 years in mine and now really needs to be rebuilt and ridden… I can’t wait to remind myself what downtube shifters feel like again.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

It works pretty well. Nice flexibility to swap stem lengths on the fly.

[@MikeKoPhotography]

Question - what are the differences between Gravel and road drop bars? Are gravel bars made stronger or is it just a matter other things such as flare? I use FSA energy compact bar (Road). Would it be ok to use only my Kona Rove? I'm more worried about whether it will be "strong" enough for gravel. Thanks

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Good question. Might save the answer for the next Q&A vid.

[@dirtnastyish]

I thought I would always ride with the Woodchippers until I tried the Cowchippers. The Cowchippers are just more practical and comfortable for long days riding for me personally.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yeah. Love em.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

@@christtiiaaannnnnnn I prefer Cowchippers esp where there are headwinds (always).

[@nc4801]

Any thoughts on the soma condor 2 bars or surly truck stop? Need more stack from my bike and I heard these might be good.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Condors are great. You do lose mounting real estate near the stem though.

[@cosmicheretic8129]

I just ordered some PNW Coast bars in 44cm length like the stock bars so I don't increase the already long reach of my new Giant Revolt Advanced 3. I wanted to ditch the flat top bar and increase mounting area and round shape for components. I also wanted the 65mm short reach as I installed an 80mm Redshift ShockStop stem but couldn't get it in 70mm like the previous stem. The stock bars also had no flare so I want to experiment with that so it may interest me in actually using the drops.

[@oskibila3938]

I have the TFHPC GRAVEL SERIES HANDLEBAR (440 x 31,8 MM, 26º of flare) but I feel uncomfortable on the climbs because my wrists have to twist too much outwards and I feels it's not a natural posture. I still don't get the point of the flare thing. The wider the better for technical, but why not for example 48cm wide "normal" handlebars with no flare?

[@kenmoum162]

Russ!! If the flares are good, and flat bars are bad, then having the ramps angled in should be perfect. They're going to be just like the Jones bars. In fact, on my gravel bike I even have the brake hoods turned in so I get the neutral wrist position of Jones bars. And, I have it on good authority from my bike fitter that Shimano brake hood are intended to be turned in. He got that straight from a Shimano designer at Interbike. So there.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

It’s complicated. Not all flares are good and not all flats are bad. The ramps on the Woodchippers flare in too much for me and are actually narrower on the top than I like. It’s like two radically different bars.

[@kenoneputt]

@@PathLessPedaledTV I get that, the Woodchippers have a really extreme flare. So I imagine even tbe drops are a problem. Because I value your opinion, it would be interesting if on, your new bars, you'd try setting the levers so the hoods match, or almost match, the flare of the drops. My fitter got me started doing it and it kicks the levers out and makes them way easier to reach. I have small hands and even with the reach all the way in I can barely get my fingertips on them, so turning them helps.

[@samperez28]

So what did you think about the bars on the poly I was thinking of buying both the bars and the poly and wanted some feedback

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Both are great! Love the new bars. Closer to the Cowchipper bars that I like.

[@kellymckenzie4865]

What is that quill adapter? It looks like the only one that doesn't look stupid

[@davehoover8853]

Love the Cowchipper in carbon. However, they have a recall now. I tried the Cowbell, but don’t like the forward section of the ramps. Any ideas on what carbon bar is very close to the Cowchipper? Short reach, small drop and some flare is all good. I also like the flare to come after the controls so that your levers/hoods are fairly vertical, then comes the flare. I tried the app, but didn’t really find the magic one.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Ritchey VentureMax

[@davehoover8853]

Thank you, I will take a look.

[@simonguard5087]

Russ, have you tried the Ritchey Adventuremax in either of the two versions or have any views? Thinking about trying a set on a new bike build. Thanks Simon in the UK

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yes. They are on my Crust. They’re great.

[@simonguard5087]

@@PathLessPedaledTV thanks for coming back to me I've heard all good things so appreciate your comment.

[@jeffreyardziejewski2547]

52mm cowchipper deluxe. Favorite bar ever!!!

[@bionautic]

I am interested in something similar... What model of Velo-Orange handlebar are you installing? Having trouble capturing that. Tks

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Installing the Noveau Randonneur bar. Great so far.

[@bionautic]

Thank you for the model name. Any insights on differences versus the Ritchey Comp EvoMax?

[@SpaceDjoxy]

What about Ritchey's Venturemax?

[@rollinrat4850]

I just put one on my singlespeed 'cross bike with a really high stem. I love this h'bar! The back sweep on the top is nice to relieve wrist pressure when resting and the short drop combined with a high stem allows most time to be spent in the drops, where you have the most control, strongest brake action and best leverage over trail obstacles. Awesome bars. I just wish they came wider than a 46cm. Dirt drop type bars need to be wider and use shorter stems. These are not road bikes! My other favorite bars are Nitto Dirt Drops RM013 52cm and Nitto Noodles 48cm. I always use the widest bars available for use in technical singletrack.

[@DavidPulsipher]

Russ - do you ever see yourself moving away from drops? have you considered some of the non-drop options out there? My favorite bars by far are the Nitto Albatross. Comfiest bar in the world.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Maybe. There is just no bike in the current fleet other than the mtb and Jones bike where it would make sense.,

[@DavidPulsipher]

Path Less Pedaled seems like your fleet needs a little expansion then. :)

[@nianonreyes7088]

It is compatible with bar end shifters? Thanks

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Yes

[@medvjek]

I wish VO made their new bars in 26.0mm. I just can’t get over the idea of swapping out my quill stem. So for now I’m using the soma highway 1 until I can find the perfect bar!

[@rollinrat4850]

Check out Nitto bars or Ritchey(a stem swap might be worthwhile!) Nitto has made them longer than anyone else. Nitto Noodles are one of the best shapes for all day rides IMO. I also dig my 52cm wide 25.4mm RM013 Dirt Drops. They fit any size stem with a simple shim. They're heat treated, comfortable and pretty flexy. The last couple years I went out on a limb and tried the Ritchey Venturemax. This might be the perfect shape for mixed road riding. I'm using the 46cm and their newer 52s on a 'cross bike and a monster cross 29er.

[@medvjek]

@@rollinrat4850 four years later, and after trying some others, the highway one bars are still doing great for me lol

[@rollinrat4850]

@@medvjek There's the trick! Invest in your ride. Try some different fit parts and experiment. Being comfortable while riding is the key to spending more time rolling around. I don't 'need' to go faster. I just want to go farther.

[@benyujr.6545]

Hi Russ. I saw one of your bike reviews with the Nitto x Crust Shaka bar (560mm) but couldn't find it again. I'm interested to know your opinion of that bar as compared to these bars. Some pros and cons of Shaka vs these “cows”. Thanks.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Biggest pro/con is the width. Great for bags, but you have to get use to it.

[@benyujr.6545]

@@PathLessPedaledTV is the "offers better stability & handling" noticeable?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

@@benyujr.6545 I personally notice it. But I also ride a lot of weird bikes back to back. I also like a wider bar for standing and climbing.

[@benyujr.6545]

@@PathLessPedaledTV sounds like that's my cup of tea. I was forced to put a 600mm straight bar on my gravel bike 'coz I find road drops to narrow and unstable, especially during descends. Guess I'll give those Crust wide bars a try. Thanks for the info.

[@danmathis4046]

Also, put a 46 flared 'cross' bar on my road bike. Works great; more stable in descents & rough roads.

[@apfyts]

My favorite bars are the Wald 8095.

[@davidbierbaum4881]

I'm kind of disappointed that whatbars only has one example of trekking (butterfly) bars. I'm quite happy with my XLC Ergobar trekking bars, and would like to compare them with the many other offerings out there...

[@TimTheMusicMan]

What bike stand do u use ? and what model bike is that orange one ?

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Feedback Sports. Salsa Warbird.

[@TimTheMusicMan]

Path Less Pedaled thank you...

[@peppermintp2610]

Cow Chipper....Wood Chipper...I am dizzy now. :-) Love this educational piece. Other than on my first "10-speed" bicycle I got for my 11th birthday, I have not used drop bars as an adult cyclist. I went from flat bars to a Nitto dove bar on a hybrid several years ago. Then I experienced H-bars on my Bike Friday, which are perfect for me at 42 cm. I run Shimano bar end shifters and am one happy cyclist in a more upright position. Love my H-bars!

[@arminhess1512]

Moved from Syntace to Ritchey EvoMax. That's it.

[@ericpmoss]

I just can't use short-shallow bars, despite the concept sounding good. Long ramps give me another hand position. Long straight drops distribute stress on my hands. Too bad Compass Maes bend bars don't come in carbon.

[@squeakygiant]

eric moss I used to prefer short shallow, but like you I now prefer longer ramps with deeper drops. Most of it has to do with improving flexibility over my younger years. I think it was undoing years of bad posture from sitting too much and slouching.

[@mjcrites1738]

I find flared drop bars to be more comfortable on my wrists than straight bars.

[@leinie2317]

Yes! More bike nerd websites are welcome!

[@johnjerizlopezignacio3891]

How much did you pay for that bar mate?

[@CaptainShiny5000]

Well, I could have used a little more Cowbell!

[@OldschoolDT]

🤣😂👍

[@NoFrictionZone]

Cowchippers FTW!

[@QuigonFAA]

Excellent Video!, Hi Russ, may I know what is your shoulder width. You do look like you have broad shoulders.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Don’t know the exact dimensions but my suit size is 39.

[@stroudnick]

Ok I'm a racer, but when you said 46-48cm my eyes almost popped out. I remember reading a long time ago that "optimal" handlebar width is directly related to your shoulder width, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_handlebar#Width ... However over time and after riding MTBs I have always have come to the conclusion that wider is normally better and cyclocross bikes should have bars that are slightly wider. Personally I'm riding 40cm for the road and 42cm for CX. Traditional bars with a short drop feels right, however my levers keep moving inward to emulate the cowbar style and I'm interested to get a flared handlebar to try out. I'm just thinking out loud, maybe someone will share these thoughts or have been down this path and can provide some feed back or feelings. Cheers!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

I should mention I don’t race so aero isn’t important to me. Most of the rides I do are mixed terrain on rough surfaces so the width and being more upright helps there too.

[@sajid2906]

Hey Nick ! Quick question ! What is your shoulder width ? (Bone to bone)

[@stroudnick]

Sarge Mine are around 38cm.

[@stroudnick]

Path Less Pedaled Totally understand, comfort can be more important than aero. I'm not sure if this fit metric is directly based on aero factors though. We can all agree that being stretched in both width and length can also be detrimental for the long term and when put in a more upright position this allows a rider to rely less on core/upper body strength making handlebars a less significant pressure point. I would recomend that people get a bike fit and go from there when starting off and make changes from there ... Again just some thoughts

[@sajid2906]

Nick Stroud Thank you

[@davidcummings5826]

Dajia Shallow Drop bars too straight for you? They come in 26.0 and you could have kept the stem. But if flare is what you are after, I can see why they wouldn’t work. That being said, why do we have to have a new clamp standard?! It was hard enough with 26.0 and 25.4. Now we have to throw in 31.8! 🙄

[@daddy-jake]

The search continues for a drop bar with straight hoods and flare. The inward angle of the hoods is not comfortable for me.

[@gravelbikepirate5986]

Have you ridden a Fargo? That bike was designed around the Woodchipper. I personally think it is the best bike ever built. Check out my video on my channel and you can hear what I really feel about it the video is Salsa Fargo Story time. I actually sold the bike and ended up buying it back 4 years later form the same guy I sold it to. Woodchipper and the Jones Loop bar are my favorite bars.

[@ilanpi]

It turns out that a deep drop on track bars is not aerodynamic. Current track handlebars have a shallow drop. Track sprinters use a very shallow drop, in order to simulate the "on the hoods" position on a road bike when they are in the drops.

[@klunker289]

Where is Russ?????????????????????????

[@Niidea1986]

Have you tried Nitto bars? They have these typical Japanese craftsmanship that I really like... Always feel that talking about Japanese products in the way some people do, as soulless in opposition to some western brands is ignorantly unfair, specially when it comes to bicycles.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

I’ve owned a lot of Nitto racks and bars. To my knowledge they don’t have many wide flared bars outside of the collab with Crust.

[@BigganStinky]

i luv mesumcowchippa

[@scottwistinghausen1888]

I prefer narrower bars because it inherently shortens the reach of the bike.

[@p.a.ch.3861]

a warm suggestion , most of you guys/ girls U tube KOL tend to camera aiming at your face and movement rather than to focus more on the products.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

It takes a lot of time to shoot b roll and edit in esp with a long video only to have people complain about the free content they get to watch. Start your own channel and find out.

[@johnpark8637]

I've got a fever. and the only prescription is more cowbell!