Try to borrow as many as you can to nail down the best one for you and your setup. With so many variables to consider, nothing beats sampling different models over a series of long rides. Still, handlebars are a good place to begin. This page by the biomechanic experts at SQlab is a good place to start your research. Bike fit is a topic in itself and will be saved for another guide, within which saddles and grips also play a role. This can have a knock-on effect on the position and angle of your wrists, arms, and shoulders. Reach is also likely to be affected, which may require a change in stem length. Bear in mind, too, that changing handlebars will also affect weight distribution across your contact points, cranks, and front wheel. For instance, your sense of control and steering will initially feel markedly different. Just remember that muscle memory is a powerful thing, so however you experiment, allow yourself time with a new setup before deciding if it’s the right one for you. Alt bars is another term that’s become common when describing these handlebars.Įxactly what rise, width, and sweep you prefer will boil down to personal preference, your bike’s geometry, the terrain you ride, your body type, and even your age. By “comfort mountain bike,” we’re referring to handlebars that are rated for mountain bike use and suited to riding challenging terrain, be it on trails or dirt roads, rather than comfort bars in a more traditional touring sense, like the butterfly or trekking bars favored by many long-distance road tourers.

After all, a comfortable setup allows you to cover more miles, recover more easily, and enjoy the scenery while riding.įor folks looking at alternatives to their stock handlebars-ones with more backsweep, rise, or width-we’ve collated our favorite alt bars and comfort mountain bike bars (for lack of a better term). While this style of handlebar may well suit a trail rider’s needs, it’s not necessarily the best option for big backcountry rides or long-distance bikepacking. Modern mountain bikes often come with relatively wide and straight handlebars, typically with a subtle rise and a nine-degree sweep or less.

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