The wider the the better? Learn about MTB handlebars

Handlebar is one of the most important contact points between bicycle  and human body. Handlebar will affect the steering and control mode of bicycle. As a key component of bicycle, it will affect the riding comfort to a great extent. A handlebar suitable for personal riding style can make you have a better experience in the process of riding.

What should we pay attention to when choosing MTB handlebars?

Although there are no rigid regulations on the selection of handlebars, it can find the best balance between riding style, road condition and frame size, or just because of personal preferences and needs. It is not so easy to find a suitable handlebar. You should keep the following points in mind: width, off-set, back sweep angle, diameter and material.

How wide should I buy a MTB handlebar?

In recent years, the mountain bike handle has become wider and wider, because the increased width can improve the rider's control over the bicycle. Some people also believe that it can expand the rider's chest and improve the rider's breathing

The wider the handlebar, the more leverage the rider can exert on the front wheel, so can ride on a more aggressive route; At the same time, the steering angle of the wheel is also less affected when turning, so the rider can control the front wheel more finely. At present, the width of MTB handlebars is usually between 700 mm and 800 mm. The handlebar width is also related to the size of the bicycle. With the increase of the size of the bicycle, the handlebar will become wider and wider.

Once your handlebar width exceeds 750 mm, you have to consider the type of terrain you ride. Riders who often ride the technical Forest path may worry about touch the trees on both sides. On the contrary, If you're a speed rider, you can choose wider handlebars. If you are not sure what width handlebars you want, it is recommended to choose handlebars that are slightly wider than you think you may need, because you can shorten them at any time. If you switch to a wider handlebar, you may want to change to a shorter stem, because a wider handlebar will effectively increase the extension distance of the bicycle

How does the handlebar affect the rider's handling of the bicycle？

Although changing the width has the most obvious impact on the handling and fit, the shape of the handlebar will also affect the steering and comfort.

The back sweep will change the position of the hand on the steering shaft, and then change space in the bicycle and the position of the upper body on the bicycle.

If you want to replace a mountain bike handlebar, it is best to find a handlebar with the same back sweep to ensure that a similar position is maintained. More lifting will make the hand upward, so as to reduce the center of gravity of the front wheel and stay in a more comfortable position. However, The operation control during turning will be rigid.

The lower and flat handlebars have better attack posture, and the front wheels will get more center of gravity, which helps to speed up the turning and reduce the lack of sensitivity during turning. On the other hand, it will be relatively difficult to pass through obstacles, and arm fatigue is easy to occur.

The diameter of handlebar 

The handle of the mountain bike handle has only one diameter: 22.22mm. This means that you can cut and replace the handle at will.

However, the clamp area's diameter can be25.4mm or 31.8 mm or 35 mm. If you want to replace the handlebar instead of the stem, you need to ensure that the diameters of the two components match. Generally speaking, 35mm is more used on speed drop and endurance bicycles because it has greater strength.

Material： Carbon fiber or aluminum alloy

Mountain handlebars are often made of aluminum alloy or carbon fiber. Of course, there are titanium handlebars, but they are not very common. Aluminum alloy is a conventional choice. It is durable and relatively cheap. It can better withstand the bumps of mountain bikes without worrying about being easily damaged.

Compared with aluminum alloy handlebars, carbon fiber handlebars have greater advantages. Carbon fiber lamination can better absorb vibration and help reduce arm fatigue. The weight of carbon fiber rod is also often lighter, which is the choice of riders pursuing weight. The biggest determination of carbon fiber rods is cost, but with the development of technology, the price of carbon fiber bicycle accessories has become more acceptable. In addition, when they encounter an impact from the side, they are not as strong as the front.