Handlebars
Bicycle handlebars help you steer and control your bike. Handlebars support the weight of the rider and provide a convenient place for mounting different bike parts like brake levers, shift levers, bells, cycle computers, baskets etc. Handlebars are generally made of high tensile steel, cro-moly steel, alloy or carbon.
There are as many different types of handlebars as there are styles of bicycles. Road Bikes, Mountain Bikes, BMX Bikes, Cruisers, Hybrid Bikes, Urban Bikes, Flat Bar Bikes, Fixie Bikes, Track Bikes, Triathlon Bikes, Adult Trikes… the list goes on. Each type of bike has a different function and purpose and for this reason they all need different handlebars.
Road Bikes and Track Bikes and Touring Bikes use drop style bars. It’s the curves, contours and multiple hand positions that make these bars ideal for long distance riding. The drop handlebars enable the rider to adjust hand positions, stretch out, sit upright or go into the drops to sprint or avoid headwinds. Manufacturers like 3T and PRO produce different styles of drop bars to suit different riding needs.
Flat or riser handlebars are used on mountain bikes, but they are also found on the modern fixed gear bicycles. A flat bar is a straight tube with a slight bent towards the rider. In a Riser, the outer section of the bars rises from the centre clamp area. Flat or riser hands can be extended using bar ends.
Triathlon bars create an extremely aerodynamic riding position and are commonly used in time trial events. Profile, PRO and 3T offer a wide variety of aero bars and clip-on bars to suit all applications and needs. Tri bars are generally made of alloy or carbon.
BMX bike handlebars are built for strength and durability. The material of choice for companies like Colony and Stolen is Cro-moly steel. Cro-moly is stronger and lighter than the hi-tensile steel used in most handlebars. To add more strength the handlebars are butted, this means that they are thicker at the high stress points and thinner where less stress will be applied. Most good quality Bmx handlebars have between 11 and 13 butted sections and some are heat treated afterwards for additional strength.
