My personal experience is that flat bar is better if you've got to do a lot of maneuvering (multi-use paths, tight turns).

My context is about 8 miles one way, mostly on 40-45 mph posted roads with few cross streets and about a mile of MUP. I ran for about 12 years with a flatbar aluminum hybrid before the frame cracked. I replaced it with a steel touring setup. For my commute, the touring bike is better but I notice that the slow-speed, tight handling is not near as good. I really like the bar end shifters, but they get in the way when turning tight. Also, the wider flat bars gave more leverage.

One other issue I ran across is the drop bar with bar end shifters has very little real estate for lights and mirrors. I got a bar extender to solve the light problem, and I learned to use a helmet mirror.

I'm glad I switched, but if I had a more urban, crowded route I'd sing a different song.


Current steel tourer.

Previous aluminum hybrid.