Questions on flared bars (may have been asked, I'm asking again)
#26
Non omnino gravis
#27
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Short answer to your question, "I'm always wondering, do the flares really make a difference? My gravel bike is really more of a do it all bike, shod with file treads, blocks, or slicks, depending on my mood....so while doing it all, flares or no flares?"
Depends, if you are comfortable, confident, and have total control that and you are happy with what you have, stick with what you have..
Depends, if you are comfortable, confident, and have total control that and you are happy with what you have, stick with what you have..
#29
Senior Member
I may be the weirdo then because I don’t care for a lot of flare. My old bike had Eroica bars and I couldn’t stand the amount of flare the had. I don’t know if that’s just because of the roadie in me not being used to it or not.
My current Giant Revolt Advanced has drops that i have heard nothing but bad things about but I really like them for whatever reason. They don’t have much flare are all.
My current Giant Revolt Advanced has drops that i have heard nothing but bad things about but I really like them for whatever reason. They don’t have much flare are all.
#30
Senior Member
I may be the weirdo then because I don’t care for a lot of flare. My old bike had Eroica bars and I couldn’t stand the amount of flare the had. I don’t know if that’s just because of the roadie in me not being used to it or not.
My current Giant Revolt Advanced has drops that i have heard nothing but bad things about but I really like them for whatever reason. They don’t have much flare are all.
My current Giant Revolt Advanced has drops that i have heard nothing but bad things about but I really like them for whatever reason. They don’t have much flare are all.
Last edited by u235; 08-05-19 at 09:40 AM.
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Hover Bar
I was told by a guy at a bike shop that the hover bar may put things too high on my diverge, because it's so high already. What kind of bike do you ride ?
#33
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Has anyone gone too far with flare and regretted it? My bike (Trek Checkpoint) is 85% commuter/pavement, but i'm interested in some shallower drop bars and like the idea of the flare ergonomically as well as for control. I'm leaning toward Cowbells (12deg) or Ritchey Evomax (12deg) or Easton AX (16deg) as they aren't as extreme. Would i regret not going for more?
Pictured is the 42cm Pro Discover Big Flare on a 54cm Checkpoint ALR 4 with 2cm of spacers under the stem.
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#34
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I am. I ride the drops now, pretty regularly, and have for years...I think it's the roadie in me. That said, I cannot shake the feeling at certain points, especially when railing downhill on a winding maintenance road at 50km+, that wider position on the drops might add just a bit more stability and control. I appreciate the advice on the brifter set up. I have a set of Spec'd Hover Flares coming (12° flare, and appear to be about 2cm wider, 4cm total, at the ends), and it's clear that I'll need to do some experimentation to get the right position for the controls. Thanks!
Last edited by Badger6; 08-22-19 at 11:00 PM.
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The sun is up now, so I snapped a couple of photos, the flare is noticeable, but not extreme...whihc in my opinion will give me what I was looking for a bit more width, but not something that is essentially a twisted MTB bar. I still prefer a distinct drop at the bar end...I think.
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#37
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So far so good...two rides down, both commutes, but to be completely honest, my commutes are never boring affairs that occur at a PE of 1.1 on the shortest route.
I replaced a standard 420mm bar with the 420mm Hover Flare, so I expected some similarity with additional options. Due to a shorter reach on the bar, I also swapped a longer stem back in, effectively extending the bar reach by about 8-10mm (estimated). While I will need to get used to the extension, it is not too dramatic and I haven't noticed an appreciable change in steering behavior. The brighter setup, with the tops of the hoods parallel to the bar top and the longitudinal axis in line with the flare feel a bit more comfortable, albeit my initial riding has been relatively short, less than 2 hours so far. I tested the flared drop on a few fast, winding descents I know pretty well, and the numbers say I was faster by a little bit, but I cannot be certain if that's due to surface conditions or some new confidence.
Regardless, initial impression is that this was a wise upgrade/investment, and it strikes me that the gravel/CX experience is only going to be better going forward.
I replaced a standard 420mm bar with the 420mm Hover Flare, so I expected some similarity with additional options. Due to a shorter reach on the bar, I also swapped a longer stem back in, effectively extending the bar reach by about 8-10mm (estimated). While I will need to get used to the extension, it is not too dramatic and I haven't noticed an appreciable change in steering behavior. The brighter setup, with the tops of the hoods parallel to the bar top and the longitudinal axis in line with the flare feel a bit more comfortable, albeit my initial riding has been relatively short, less than 2 hours so far. I tested the flared drop on a few fast, winding descents I know pretty well, and the numbers say I was faster by a little bit, but I cannot be certain if that's due to surface conditions or some new confidence.
Regardless, initial impression is that this was a wise upgrade/investment, and it strikes me that the gravel/CX experience is only going to be better going forward.
#38
Gravel Rocks
I'm debating between the Cowchipper Carbon and the Enve Gravel bars. I like the wider clamping area on the Cowchipper, but the Enve looks like it has more flat area on the top for more comfort when riding the hoods or the tops. Anyone have experience with both?
#39
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Where did you guys buy your hover bars? I sent an email to the mfgr in England, and the US dealer they recommended is flaky.
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Specialized Hover Flare bars
Last edited by Bryan C.; 12-13-19 at 12:32 AM.
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https://www.geneticbikes.com/shop/ha...riser-16-bars/
UPDATE: The bars are now being sold by Universal Cycles, who are definitely NOT flaky.
Last edited by Reynolds 531; 12-13-19 at 10:19 AM.
#42
Mostly Mischief
As companies offer more and more MTB like gravel bikes, the handlebars are following along. Just look at Crust’s Towelrack and the crazy wide ones from Curve.
But it makes sense. The extra flare and width comes in handy for sure the more gnar you ride on the gravel rig. But the opposite is true for me too.
On my Stigmata I have a barely perceptible flare and modest width. They look and feel like road bars and for the riding I do on that bike it’s perfect. The Cutty on the other hand is used for single track, 4x4 roads and other adventures and the classic Woodchippers are great. But seeing such hideous flare on a more road oriented frame would be cringe worthy imo!
But it makes sense. The extra flare and width comes in handy for sure the more gnar you ride on the gravel rig. But the opposite is true for me too.
On my Stigmata I have a barely perceptible flare and modest width. They look and feel like road bars and for the riding I do on that bike it’s perfect. The Cutty on the other hand is used for single track, 4x4 roads and other adventures and the classic Woodchippers are great. But seeing such hideous flare on a more road oriented frame would be cringe worthy imo!
#43
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It's like a totally different bar was used for the 2nd pic.
The top pic has the bar ends slightly visible from the inside of the drop curve.
The bottom picture has the bar ends significantly outside the drop curve.
I get that perspective changes the look, but wow that's significant, since both pics are from level and direct at the top middle of the bars.
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It's like a totally different bar was used for the 2nd pic.
The top pic has the bar ends slightly visible from the inside of the drop curve.
The bottom picture has the bar ends significantly outside the drop curve.
I get that perspective changes the look, but wow that's significant, since both pics are from level and direct at the top middle of the bars.
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I may be the weirdo then because I don’t care for a lot of flare. My old bike had Eroica bars and I couldn’t stand the amount of flare the had. I don’t know if that’s just because of the roadie in me not being used to it or not.
My current Giant Revolt Advanced has drops that i have heard nothing but bad things about but I really like them for whatever reason. They don’t have much flare are all.
My current Giant Revolt Advanced has drops that i have heard nothing but bad things about but I really like them for whatever reason. They don’t have much flare are all.
#46
Gravel Rocks
I apoligize for not being clear at all. The bars I am intrigued by are these, from England (by way of China I assume)
https://www.geneticbikes.com/shop/ha...riser-16-bars/
UPDATE: The bars are now being sold by Universal Cycles, who are definitely NOT flaky.
https://www.geneticbikes.com/shop/ha...riser-16-bars/
UPDATE: The bars are now being sold by Universal Cycles, who are definitely NOT flaky.
#47
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Out of curiosity, what else would you need besides that other than a bell (shameless plug for commute sponsor Spurcycle). Plenty of mounts now combine computers and GoPro/light...what am I missing that needs to be clamped on up there?
#48
Gravel Rocks
For Dirty Kanza I use aerobars, a light, and a Garmin. The mount for the 1300 lumen light and the light itself is pretty wide. 120mm of clamping space at a minimum is what I need, and that doesn't leave any room for anything else like a second light, camera etc. Most companies are now in the range of 120mm, and some like Salsa are at 140 for their carbon drop gravel bars, there's no reason not to have more clamping space for versatility in my opinion.
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Of course...thanks for the enlightenment, I've never considered mounting anything like that. Now it makes sense!
#50
Senior Member
You can buy accessory brackets for mounting more things in a tight space on the bars. I've used similar to the link below with great results. Two headlights with batteries mounted on it all winter long with no issues.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Cycling...t/123551575555
There are larger 2x mount models.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Cycling...t/123551575555
There are larger 2x mount models.
Last edited by u235; 12-17-19 at 07:44 PM.