In search of the perfect ergonomic hand position, >snip< .I'd love to be able to experiment with small increments of both rearward sweep and downward sweep to find the perfect angle/bars.

For Whom?

After 20 years...I have it figured out-for Me.

 

For whom? For each rider base on their anatomy, body position and ultimately - purpose. My purpose is comfort during long sessions of relatively easy riding. I'm seeking comfort from being in a natural, neutral postion with minimal tension - which means that the bar I am gripping needs to be swept backwards and downwards. That allows for a natural neutral position for my spine, back and shoulders.

Hence my investigation of sweep options. I'm just posting the results of my search as raw data. It's always nice to have a concise list of one's options. Do what you want with it.

 

I like the ones that angle forward first so they don't impact your stem length requirements. Tho, I suppose a shorter reach could be useful if you're trying to fit a bike that has a long toptube. I've been a fan of the Fleegle for a few years--that 15-degrees feels about right. But since I tried the Salsa 17-degree Bend, I think I have a new fav. That 5-degree upslope really feels good! It's not enough of an improvement to rush out and replace the Fleegles on my current bikes, but for any bikes I build up in the future, the Bend is the way to go.

 

The Syntace Vector (carbon) has a 12* sweep. I like this bar, however I have noticed that it doesn't have enough angle to keep the wrist in a neutral position, so I'm looking for a more or less straight carbon bar with a 15*-20* grip bend (last 8" or so).

Also, I'm curious how a higher sweep angle bar will do on gnarly downhill sections? I know it helps when climbing, but some have noted that the higher sweep angle >20* is disconcerting going downhill.

 

Sixfifty Maid bar, 680 mm, 31.8, $30. Sweep similar to a Mary but wide and robust.

New Sixfifty Maid Bar Black 31 8 Clamp 680mm on One Mary Bar Mountain Bike | eBay

 

Looking at handlebars and found this. oldglorymtb.com alternative mountain bike handlebars. pictures and complete specs

 

Here's the link:

Alternative or "Alt" Mountain Bike Handlebar Round Up | Old Glory MTB - Mountain Biking Made In America

I used that a year or so ago, glad to see it's still up.

 

SQlab GmbH - 314 City / Trekking Lenker, ergonomisch, City, Trekking, Bike. I would like to find some like these. Anybody seen anything like it from the US? I have seen similar angles, but nothing that comes this far back from the stem. The SQlab 345 is specifically what I was looking at.

 

Soma Sparrow? Soma Sparrow 490/520/560 Bar

 

Maybe the NC-17 high riser?

 

I keep looking at that one too.

 

Those SQ Lab bars look very interesting. The 335 trekking bar with 10* of downsweep really intrigues me for bikepacking. I've read that it is the same company that owns Syntace and a few other high-end brands. Do they have North American dealers?

SQlab GmbH - Handlebars, ergonomic, cross country, biking, mountain biking, all-mountain, trekking bike, city bike

 

I bought the SQ Labs 311 from Radsports USA. It works perfect for me with 16 deg sweep and 50mm rise.

311 MTB Bar

 

No north american dealers that can supply these bars. Couldn't find a European exporter that is able to provide them either. Found a list of the the major european exporters. No go. Contacted a couple of German bike shops. No go. Now I have seen these bars with the comfort end grips. Really lusting after them now. Found them on a german or austrian amazon site. It let me sign in, so I tried to order them. No go. First time I have ever tried to internationally source anything. Probably other ways and means that I am completely clueless about. .will break my budget and order Jones Loop bars. Will try again on this bar in the future

 

What about the Bontrager RL Big Sweep flatbar? I have two on my bikes and quite like it. Both have different sweeps.

 

thanks for the reply. Not enough sweep. What I am looking is a raiser with 45 degree sweep and most of the bar behind the stem, to bring the handlebars back towards me

 

Love the Salsa Bend with 23 deg.

 

2 other interesting new choices:

Misfit FME Bars: FME Bar Handlebar - PSYCLESTORE

Soma Gator Bars: Gator Handlebar | SOMA Fabrications

 

Both of those are drop bars

 

Cool diagram on SQ Labs:

 

Cool diagram on SQ Labs: View attachment 994430

SQ labs has some cool bars but I think not available in the USA

 

Building my own! I shpuld have pics up soon - maybe false teeth soon as well...

 

Custom made Integrated Bar/Stem

This was my first attempt at a comfortable bar. The angle is around the 42* mark, bar at 580mm width. As I was using Aero extensions, I made these a little too close together. The blood flow through the wrists greatly improved over flat/riser bars and I found that the leverage at the wide position was excellent as I was in a better mechanical position to lever the bar. The Aero position allowed for stable straight line tracking but being un-supporting of the forearms, a little too narrow. I found I preferred the junction position, but this was a touch too narrow also, especially if you got out of the saddle (it would want to throw you over the H/Bar).

This is my second attempt and very satisfying. It is setup on a 'new' bike that more correctly set me up for reach. This allowed me to ease the angle to 38* and 600mm wide. The corrections with width at the junction and Aero spacing allowed me to have full bike control in either 'Narrow' positions as well being very comfortable.

The lessons I learned I pass on to you here. All people are physically different. I am tall (6' 2") and with longer arms found the slightly wider 600mm @ 38* perfect for me. I built a bike for my daughter and at 5' 6", we settled on 17* and 560mm. My bike is set up aggressive with a h/bar drop of 70mm. My daughters bike is up-right, h/bar sits 30mm above the saddle.

I illustrate this because in correctly bike fitting this area of the cockpit, the ideal position requires a lot of lateral thinking. I caution the 'cataloguing' form of purchase over first establishing what will fit you correctly. Do some Dumb stuff like get an old h/bar and prop yourself on your bike with the bar freehand and work reach/angles/drop or rise until you hit on your ideal and note the angles. You may need someone else to help you. The wrist angle is very important, keep the blood flow direct and the bonus is nerves also benefit. Once you have established the angles, width, and stem length, then look at the bar that will give you the optimum position.

You will not regret a good setup, and the alternative can look good.

Eric

 

Eric. Nice bars!

 

Pulling my hair out trying to find a set of bars with approximately 25 degrees of sweep that don't have any sweep forward first. Rise doesn't matter, width needs to be at least 660mm, and clamp preference is 31.8 but 25.4 would work.

Anybody know of a set?

 

Watson Cycles can bend you what you want out of titanium tubes. He has 4 models but will bend to your desires. I have his 31 degree sweep called the Revelation and it has changed my long rides to comfort for the entire trip. Only issue at the moment, he is waiting for a new shipment of titanium. I am waiting as I need a new bar for my Farley. I am done with flat bars for any distance ride. Big sweep is the way to go for distance. If you call, Andrew Watson will answer the phone. All great!

 

Surly Moloko bar has 34 degree sweep angle, at 735 wide, with zero rise.
https://surlybikes.com/parts/handlebars/moloko_bar

eric
fresno, ca.

 

Soma Eagle

650mm wide

55° sweep

1" rise

Sent from my LG-H910 using Tapatalk

 

I have been running a set Origin8 Bat Wing MTB Handlebars...25 degree sweep angle and zero rise. Similar construction to the Soma Eagle posted above. I use a Delta Cycle Stem Riser to give them about a 4.5" rise.

The riser is about $25 and the bars are about $40 via Amazon.

Very pleased with both....just be careful because you may run out of brake cable when you start using the higher risers or bars with a lot of rise.

 

sqlab-usa.com usa source for sq products direct from mfg----

 

SQ Lab makes some really good stuff...a little pricey but you get what you pay for. Everybody should read their info on "Sit Bone" measurement. I see sooo many people wiht a seat that is too large and they buy it for comfort when in reality a smaller seat would be more comfortable.

Even if you don't buy from SQ Lab, you should go to their site and learn: https://sqlab-usa.com/ I learned a lot just from reading thru their info.

Oh yea...since this thread is about handlebars, they discuss those too .