Hi guys! I’m Marcell, the co-founder of Booda Bike. We had a question today in our team and I would like to ask for your help based on your experience.
We are looking for new gravel handlebars.
Which one do you prefer? 16° Sweep or 25° sweep?
by Worth-Ad-5951
16 Comments
i think they are both pretty awful not for the different angle of the drops but for everything else they offer.
whats wrong with an easy straight tube, a 90° bend and then some angle for the drops?
I have the 16° version and the amount of flare already quite enough. Feels ok riding seated but sprinting out of the saddle feels like shit, even more flare will just make that even worse.
I think the AGX is fundamentally flawed, because a forward sweep on the tops is illogical. For wide widths there should be backsweep for ergonomic reasons, and for narrow widths there should be backsweep to keep the elbows in tight to the torso.
I’m having a hard time figuring out where “sweep” is a spec for these bars, but between the two show, I’d go for the oneswith more offset, the K-Force AGX Drop Bar.
For gravel, 25° sweep is good.
The subtle slope down is also quite nice for riding on the tops.
I would do a bigger drop though as gravel bikes tend to have higher stack, and bigger drop would help with handling (at least for me)
Depends on the bike, but I think more sweep is safer if it’s going to be standard spec.
These bars are the best I’ve ever ridden, and you won’t go wrong with either. I was one of those shop managers who wanted to try everything and develop an opinion, but these bars are pretty close to perfect and I never got around to taking them off until it was time for the whole bike to go, I miss the bars though.
16 degree for me, my favorite handlebar to date.
Another vote for 16 degrees, that’s the sweet spot for me.
You’re referring to flare angle of the drops, not sweep. I’d say it depends on your preference and what you ride. Mostly road or an even mix I’d say 16° is great, lots of off-road and want to use a big front bag, more flare is better.
THAT SAID, both of these have a forward sweep of 10° on the flats which is actually very uncomfortable on the wrists if you spend much time on the flats (I do) and forces your elbows outward. I’ve owned the K-Wing AGX bars and found the forward sweep to be super uncomfortable and ended up selling them for that reason and getting Whisky Spano bars instead (which are super comfortable).
I would not pick either. As others said, forward sweep makes no sense. Also, I ride my gravel bike on mountain trails and I avoid carbon bars. Weight savings and alleged “comfort” are negligible. But the risk of being stranded with a broken bar is real.
Ritchey WCS Venture Max V2 – amazing bars for me. 24 degree flare is a bit much when I put my road wheels on, but with my 2 inch tires in the mountains, it is perfect.
I just use a 42cm Enve compact road bar just like I use on my cx bike and road bike. seems like everyone is overthinking the “gravel bar”
I have a 42mm deda gera bar with 24 degree flare and, IMO, its overkill and there is no better comfort or control than if it were a 42 cm bar with a 16 degree flare.
I’m going to second the questions about forward sweep. How is a forward angle more natural at all? Set your hands shoulder width apart on the table in front of you and look at your knuckles. Backsweep promotes a more natural wrist angle every time. Take a look at the Ritchey EvoCurve, the Gera Alloy, even the coefficient bar.
Down with frontsweep!
Any bar that has a forward sweep instead of a backwards sweep I would ignore. That is just dumb design.
I have the 25mm flare (as opposed to the 50mm) and I love it!
I have a pair of 42c K-Wing AGX bars. Let me explain the forward sweep, and why it works.
You will notice that the ditch of your elbows are pointed inward when you hold your hands out in front of you and simulate holding the tops of a drop bar. When you follow the imaginary line from your ditch to the space between your thumb and forefinger, you will notice that the hand is also rotated in and almost down. The thumb will rotate even further in and down as you simulate bouncing over some rough terrain and your elbows poke out. (I get that you can tuck your elbows in, but good luck keeping that position if it’s rough.)
Because of the biomechanics (I think I’m using that word correctly here) described above, a forward sweep is actually more comfortable and provides better control.
On a separate note, I really enjoy the shelf the bar gives you at the intersection of the tops and the hoods. Getting tucked and staying close to the levers is nice and comfy.
I only use the drops for bombing and sprints. I don’t chill there because the shelf lets me stay well tucked and in control.
I hope this helps