Originally Posted by
mrchaotica
Nah, the best bar for downhills is a MTB flat bar just because it's wider and thus the steering angle changes less for any given linear arm movement. (Presumably, a trekking bar used with hands placed relatively outboard would be equally good, but I haven't installed mine yet so I can't speak from experience.)
It's not, even with a long stem. Mtb folk use wide bars because of leverage, not steering stability on tarmac descents. A straight bar also doesn't allow for dropping down like a drop bar, so dropping the centre of balance isn't nearly as simple.
Optimum would be a long reach drop bar with a longish stem and short frame for optimal weight distribution, but I've found a short reach bar and short stem to be effective enough