Bike handlebars

handlebars Fixes, Reviews & Guides

Embedded thumbnail for Applying Finishing Tape on Handlebars

Applying Finishing Tape on Handlebars

Bike maintenance is something we take seriously here at Art's Cyclery. We want to make sure your bike functions perfectly every time you go out. Whether you're on a mountain bike, or a road bike,...

Part handlebars
Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for Properly Install Race Number Plate on Handlebars

Properly Install Race Number Plate on Handlebars

There are holes in the top left and right corners of the number plate, as well as the bottom. You will need about 3 ties, same as you would find on a garbage bag, about 6-8 inches.

...

Part handlebars
Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for Review of Ergon GS2 Bike Grips

Review of Ergon GS2 Bike Grips

Perfect for endurance riding, the Ergon GS2 Grips provide a better grip with less stress and effort. They have non-slip rubber inserts, plus innovative GFK 3-finger bar ends. The bar ends double...

Part handlebars
Company: Ergon
Type: Review
Embedded thumbnail for Routing Internal Cable Housing for Aero Road Bars

Routing Internal Cable Housing for Aero Road Bars

How to route cable housing for aero road bars:

Bend Cable With Needle Nose Pliers

Start by cutting housing long and using a pair of needle nose pliers to...

Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for Enve Compact Road Handlebar Review

Enve Compact Road Handlebar Review

Enve Compact Road Bar

The Enve Compact Road Bar fills the demand for the increasingly common compact road bar. Compact bars have a short and shallow reach and...

Company: Enve
Type: Review
Embedded thumbnail for Installing Handlebar Plugs

Installing Handlebar Plugs

Begin wrapping the tape at the end of the bar. It’s important to leave 1/2 to 2/3 of the length of the tape hanging over the end. This is needed later to secure the bar plug. Complete one full...

Part handlebars
Company: ODI
Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for Bar Mitts Handlebar Warmers Overview

Bar Mitts Handlebar Warmers Overview

A built-in hand warmer that goes on a bicycle?!?!

Bar Mitts Overview:

To get people to ride in the winter, we are always looking for some products that make it easier to ride. Bike...

Part handlebars
Type: Review
Embedded thumbnail for How to Put Hand Grips on Bike Handlebars

How to Put Hand Grips on Bike Handlebars

Here’s how to put a new hand grip on a bicycle.

To remove the old grip, you can just cut up the middle with scissors and pull it off. If you are trying to take it off and save it, then that...

Type: Repair Tutorial

Holiday How To: Candy Cane Bar Tape

Wrapping handlebars is one of those harmless things many people are intimidated to try. New tape is a painless purchase and often reinvigorates a tired bike. Read on to candy cane wrap your bars...

Tools Bar Tape
Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for Putting Handlebar Tape on Drop Bars

Putting Handlebar Tape on Drop Bars

For this you will need some bar tape, electrical tape or the tape that it comes with, and the bar ends.

Start off by putting your bar end in so it is straight, but don’t put it all the way...

Tools Bar Tape
Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for How to Install FSA Handlebar and Stem

How to Install FSA Handlebar and Stem

FSA Stem & Handlebar Installation: 

For this you will need a 4mm allen key and a torque wrench. Slide the FSA stem on to the fork steerer tube. Ensure that both threads have a light layer...

Company: FSA
Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for How to Mount a GoPro Camera on Your Bicycle Frame

How to Mount a GoPro Camera on Your Bicycle Frame

The GoPro cameras that typically mount on a person's head and capture their every moment throughout the day are all the rage lately. People tape themselves from their own point of view doing...

Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for How to Remove Bike Handlebar Grips

How to Remove Bike Handlebar Grips

How to Remove Bike Handlebar Grips.

Remove your handlebar grips in just a few minutes with these tips. You will need flathead screwdriver, spray lubricant, rubbing alcohol, and an air...

Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for How to Cut and Wrap Bull Horn Handlebars for a Bike

How to Cut and Wrap Bull Horn Handlebars for a Bike

I've had my fixie for about three years now if you've watched any of the other videos, but now what I want to do is I'm going to turn these handle bars into bull horns and I'm...

Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for Install and Mount Wired Cycling Computer

Install and Mount Wired Cycling Computer

We're going to go over how to install a basic wired bicycle computer. All you'll need is a third hand cable tightener and a pair of cutters. This particular computer users rubber...

Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for How to Remove a Bike Stem

How to Remove a Bike Stem

I'm going to show you how to remove the stem from your bicycle. First thing you want to do is to make sure that your wheel has been removed so that when you disassemble the top cap...

Company: Avid Easton Park
Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for DIY Change a Mountainbike Handlebar Stem

DIY Change a Mountainbike Handlebar Stem

For many consumers, once they buy their new bike they'll never think twice about the handlebar stem as it generally doesn't cause the rider any problems. There are times though when a bad spill...

Company: Park Dura Ace
Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for How to Wrap Your Bicycle Handlebars: Part One

How to Wrap Your Bicycle Handlebars: Part One

Handlebars are often overlooked but are a pretty essential device on any bike this side of a unicycle. For the ultimate in grip and performance many riders opt to use bar tape for even better...

Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for How to Overhaul a Threaded Headset

How to Overhaul a Threaded Headset

When you want to overhaul your threaded headset, remove the handlebar stem and use a wrench for the locknut. Remove the spacers and the top race. Check the races for pitting. Remove fork and...

Type: Repair Tutorial
Embedded thumbnail for How to Install a Threaded Headset

How to Install a Threaded Headset

A headset is basically the piece that holds the fork to the frame of a bike, thereby allowing for steering. A sealed bearing headset normally has a plastic or rubber gasket to protect the insides...

Type: Repair Tutorial
Handle bars are awesome, they allow you to control your bike and give girls rides on them. The also make a hell of a mustache. But lets get down to the good stuff. Handle bars come in all shapes and sizes and which one you choose depends on a few factors, your personal preference, whether you are a road, mountian, or hipster fixie bike rider.

Road Bike Handlebars

Road Bar Width

If you are a serious road rider you want to make sure your handlbars are the correct width, roughly the distance between your shoulders.  Starting with the correct width gives you a more comfortable ride.  Road handlebars come in a variety if widths roughly between 36cm and 46cm.  You might want to visit a bike shop to try a few options.  Then you pick whether you want to splurge and get some bad ass carbon bars or just skip the hamburger and get similar results with a set of aluminum handlebars.  Newer road bike bars also incoporate a more ergonimic designs by flattening the top of the bar to rest more comfortably in your hand.  

The Drops

The you've got the drop, and we're not talking dubstep here.  The drop is what makes road bikes so recognizeable, the curved part of the handlbar.  A classic drop is found on most older bikes and puts you in a lowers position when riding in the drop poisition, more aero, but maybe more uncomfortable.  Most moder bars have a shorter drop that is less curved and doesn't make you reach as far.

Clamp Diameter

Dropdown bars vary in sizing depending on the year they were made and the brand. Any relatively recently made bar is going to be either 26.0mm or oversized 31.8mm

Moutain Bike Handlebars

Clamp Diameter

Mtb bars measure either 25.4mm or 31.8mm for oversized bars. The handlebar and stem have a symbiotic relationship so you need to take them both into consideration when you are thinking about upgrading one or the other or both. I'm trying to think of a funny metaphor that I could throw in here, but I can't, put one in the comments.
Size Description
31.8 Common clamp diameter for modern oversize bars.  Interchangeable mountain and road use.
26.0 Formerly the most common size for road bars (previous to the oversize 31.8 clamp).
25.4 Formerly the most common size for mountain bike bars (previous to the oversize 31.8 clamp).  Also used on some Japanese and Taiwanese road bars (Nitto for example).