[Closed] Gravel bike handlebars.

Never happens on the MTBs with a more upright position (& riser bars, shorter stem etc.)

Do you find riding a drop bar bike on the road comfortable? I don't like the drops, I find tri bars more comfortable.

I prefer flat bars and bar ends on my gravel bike, also known as a hybrid bike. I also find proper handlebar grips better for my hands.

Gravel bikes are bang on trend at the moment but that still  doesn't make them work for me.

Faffing around with stems is far easier than swapping bars. A higher and/or shorter stem would bet starting point

You don’t say how much riding you’ve done on it though. Could it be that you’re still getting used to it?

Sometimes when I'm tired, I have a tendency to ride with straighter arms which can give a bit of a sore neck and shoulders. Much better when I ride with a nice bend in my elbows and my hands further forwards. I think you need better core strength and flexibility with a drop bar bike. So maybe try some stretching and core strengthening routines off YouTube.

Or probably get a bike fit. Unless you're tight like me and try an online bike fit tutorial.

I'm not an expert but sounds like your weight is too far forward, I'd try moving the seat back a bit and maybe a shorter stem.

Should I have bought a Whippet

Everyone should buy a Whippet.

I have the Ritchey ergomax bars which have a little bit of rise plus also have a little backsweep on the tops and a little flare on the drops. I'm a big fan as they improve on normal road style bars without being too out there

You don’t say how much riding you’ve done on it though. Could it be that you’re still getting used to it?

This is the pertinent question. I went out for a 65 miler on my road bike a couple of weekends ago, my neck and shoulders were wrecked for a couple of days. 18 months of MTB and flat bar hybrid thing will do that to you.

Some good thoughts for me to ponder, thanks up to now.

18 months of MTB and flat bar hybrid thing will do that to you.

32 years of it for me.
Anyone want to buy an On One Free Ranger, XS frame, 200 miles only. 🥺

Ok too possibly silly questions
1) is the bike the right size for you?
2) are you wearing a peak on your helmet that you are having to hold your head at a strange angle to see past?

Otherwise a 70mm stem might work, be cheaper than a "riser" drop bar and won't affect the handling too much

Ok too possibly silly questions
1) is the bike the right size for you?
2) are you wearing a peak on your helmet that you are having to hold your head at a strange angle to see past?

Otherwise a 70mm stem might work, be cheaper than a “riser” drop bar and won’t affect the handling too much

Apparently I am. An XS One One Free Ranger. I'm 5'6".
Yes a peak. Which tilts up well out of vision.
Struggling to find a shorter stem than the 80mm I've got on with a bit of rise though.

I have a Redshift shockstop stem and kitchen sink bars with their tape and grips on mine. Very comfy.

CRC have 80/90mm stems from Ritchey and BBB with 30-45 degrees of rise. I've used both, currently running the BBB on the monstercross to get the bars where I want. Both perfectly good stems. Bear in mind that amount of rise effectively cancels out quite a bit of the length, rotating the clamp up and back.

In the picture below, the higher rise stem is 110mm, while the one holding the bars is 100mm.
[img] [/img]

In recent years I've spent hours/days wrestling with the same thing - convinced road bike and gravel bike were the wrong fit, too low etc..but been doing some sustained regularly rides on both recently, and not on the MTB, and have realised that a lot was just getting used to the position.
Over the weekend did 90miles on the gravel bike over two days and didn't have any issues at all, previously shorter, intermitent rides and I was convinced it was all wrong, so it might just be a case of sticking with it and seeing what happens.

Flip the stem?

Also I went with Ritchey Beacon bars, really low drop.

Apparently I am. An XS One One Free Ranger. I’m 5’6″.

Their sizing recommendations are very odd, I think it recommended Small for me, I ride a large - which seems fine. I'd have been banging me knees on the handlebars with a small......

If you’re not used to riding a drop bar bike, then expect it to take a few rides to get used to the position - bike riders aren’t reknown for their core body strength and flexibility anyway. A good starting point is having your bars level with your saddle. If your elbows still have a slight bend when in the drops then you’re probably not too stretched-out.

I’m not an expert but sounds like your weight is too far forward, I’d try moving the seat back a bit and maybe a shorter stem.

This ^

Try moving your saddle back 15-20mm as a cheap easy test. If that feels better you know you had your weight pitched too far fwd. Yes it increases reach but weight balance fore-aft is more important, reach to the bar can vary a lot once you're sat in the right place.

Thanks for the inputs.
The stem's an 80 with about 5-6 degrees & It's already flipped up. I'll bung the saddle back a bit & see how that feels.

Their sizing recommendations are very odd,

Bloody right theyr'e odd! My hybrid Sirrus is a small & It's smaller than the XS Free Ranger.
& you know what, I haven't even measured them side by side!

DOH!

Also I went with Ritchey Beacon bars, really low drop.

Ive got these and the find the really shallow drop very comfy. Also have a 80mm Redshift shockstop stem, which also help. Think the bars were the cheaper Comps and cost less than £40 so not a major outlay? Flipping the stem also worth a try...

Bloody right theyr’e odd! My hybrid Sirrus is a small & It’s smaller than the XS Free Ranger.
& you know what, I haven’t even measured them side by side!

Their large Free Ranger is bang on for a 56cm frame - very similar to all my other drop bar bikes.