You can't ride a bike without the handlebars. With them, you have everything under control and set the direction and speed. There are all kinds of shapes and designs of handlebars. MTB bars, fixie handlebars or drop bars for road bikes, each type needs a specific bike handlebar that fulfils certain characteristics. A high-quality bike handlebar not only influences the bike's handling, but also your posture. In our shop you will find a wide selection of bike handlebars that fit your bike and riding style.
Handlebars made of different materials and shapes
Bike handlebars come in different materials and shapes. The different genera require diverse characteristics. For example, there are particularly lightweight handlebars made of carbon or very massive made of steel. So it's not just the shape of the handlebars that determines their area of use, but also the material. What are these differences? In the following paragraphs we will go into the different properties of bicycle handlebars.
The MTB handlebar - your control center
There are a wide variety of mountain bike handlebars available for maximum riding efficiency and steering control. Especially in the areas of downhill, freeride and enduro, very wide handlebars with 35 mm clamping are used. These handlebars with a bend allow an upright sitting position and offer an even higher steering control according to the area of use.
The all-mountain handlebars usually have less width and less rise. The somewhat stretched seating position in favor of uphill suitability requires this special and typical design. Flat handlebars or flat bars are mainly used for cross-country riding and are characterized by a sporty, stretched riding position. With the flat riding position, you have more pressure on the mountain and are thus even faster on the road.
MTB handlebars are not only available in different shapes, but also in different materials. Apart from aluminium and CroMo steel, carbon is also used for the production of handlebars. Carbon bike handlebars stand out for their extremely low weight and are very popular in all areas. The resistant carbon fibers impress despite the very low weight with a high stability and therefore safety.
Race bike and fixie handlebars - All handlebar shapes for your roadrunner
A wide variety of handlebar shapes are available for steering control and the right amount of style. Very narrow handlebars are used especially in narrow cities. The classic racing handlebars or drop bars allow a flat riding position and offer hardly any attack surface to the headwind due to the sporty stretched riding position. For singlespeed bikes and road bike conversions with comfortable seating positions, flat bars, noodle or riser bars are especially suitable.
Fixie handlebars made of aluminium and CroMo steel are often preferred, but carbon handlebars are also becoming increasingly popular due to their low weight. When buying a handlebar for your fixie or singlespeed, you should pay attention to the different clampings of the stem. Adjust your handlebars to your personal taste with a matching stem or new grips.
What should you look out for when buying a new handlebar?
When buying a bicycle handlebar, you should pay attention to the different clamping of the handlebar stem. The stem, which is already installed, has a fixed dimension to accommodate the handlebars. Depending on the genre of the bike or the area of use, this size can vary greatly and is not compatible with each other.
The common dimensions for clamping the handlebars are:
- 22.2 mm (7/8 inch) - BMX, old mountain bikes
- 25.4 mm (1 inch) - on most upright handlebar shapes and old road bike handlebars
- 25.8 mm - many road bike handlebars preferred by Italian manufacturers
- 26.0 mm - current standard of Italian drop bars
- 31.8 mm (1 1/4 inch) - standard for many mountain bike handlebars and some drop bars
- 35.0 mm - a common measurement for downhill handlebars and some road bike handlebars
In addition to the clamping, of course, the bike itself will determine which handlebar or design you should choose. For road bikes, usually only a drop bar, i.e. a downward shaped handlebar comes into question. Such a handlebar offers the rider a variable seating position. This allows you to react quickly to wind and road conditions. The classic mountain bike handlebar offers you better control and safety on rough descents due to its width. Handlebars for trekking bikes especially support an upright riding position, which provides very good comfort on weekend rides. Deciding which design you need includes the question of riding comfort and control over the bike.
The key questions in a nutshell:
- What kind of clamping does the existing stem have?
- What kind of bike am I riding?
- How much control do I need, or how wide do the handlebars need to be?
- Drop bar, flat bar or rise bar? What shape do I want to ride?
Fitting bike accessories for the handlebar
Of course we also offer you a wide range of bike parts like grips or bike bells for your handlebar. Open handlebar ends are not only unsightly, but also dangerous. You can quickly eliminate this nuisance with handlebar end caps. What the handlebar grip is for upright handlebars, the handlebar tape is for drop bars. In this area, we also offer a wide range of handlebar tapes made of different materials and in many colours.
