Drop Bar Road And Gravel

Ideal Rider. Riders who love to push the limits of their ultimate speed and get low over the front of their bike when descending or sprinting ahead of the pack will excel with drop bars. On the flipside, riders who want to explore further into the wilderness while spending hours or days in the saddle will find extra comfort thanks to the multiple positions available while riding.

Ideal Terrain. Just as drop handlebars are available on multiple bike styles, they are capable on various types of terrain. Performance road bikes are ideal on roads and race tracks where speed and efficiency are key. Gravel bikes are ideal on looser terrain like gravel or dirt. Drop bars provide better efficiency and control on the tarmac while also adding comfort for longer days in the saddle.

Shifters. The shifting and brake levers are one piece and optimised for use when either in the hoods or in the drops. They use vertical paddles and brake levers to match the profile of the bars. While they might look unique and difficult to use, we can assure you that they are very intuitive.

Bar Measurements. Bar width is often measured from the centre of the hoods on one side to the centre of the hoods on the other side. It is generally recommended that the width of the bars matches the width of the rider's shoulders.

Drop bars are known as shallow or classic drop profiles. Classic bars have a greater distance from the hoods to the bottom of the bar. Shallow bars are more modern and they allow riders to get in the drops with less stress on their back or neck. It is extremely rare to see classic bars on new bikes these days, but it is important to consider the drop when swapping bars.