You probably know riding bars too small for you is a bad idea. Not only are they sketchy to ride, but they increase your risk of crashes and there are problems with biomechanics. Not recommended. Your fitter wasn't wrong.
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That’s exactly what we chose to AVOID with our aero models. We keep your bar tops full width finding big aero gains and other benefits in places below that are underutilized and often ignored.
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We typically show greater watt savings than any practical position on tiny bars. We keep you safer in the group and we won't wear you down forcing you in awkward and unnatural positions.
AERO GRAVEL
Aerobars are certainly a contentious topic in gravel racing, as the aero advantage is real at race pace but also a much-needed alternative hand/arm position to alleviate fatique and even nerve damage over long and exceptionally long events... It is also clear that pretty much all mass start racing events ban them, as you really don't want unfamiliar riders next to you in a bunch with their hands away from the brakes in a position that also compromises their ability to steer.
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- BIKERUMOR.COM January 2023
AERO GRAVEL
We've promoted our SVELTE aero, biomech and safety advantages in competition for a little while now. Still in denial? Slowly but surely bad ideas are exposed. After we made our case the UCI banned trick riding - perched on the top tube to get low, faking aerobars without holding on to anything, etc. More recently they require a minimum bar width, also favoring our new designs. For 2023 Unbound, formerly Dirty Kanza, banned aerobars and extensions even after they took the top 4 places the year before. Coincidence? Or, brilliance!? We won't have you teetering on children's bars, contorting yourself or taking on other sketch balancing acts to go fast. We bring you the best drop bar solutions for road and gravel. Bar none.
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​TERRAIN & CONTROL
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No nonsense. For rough terrain an upright posture is best most of the time. You can see better and react faster. Normal to wide-ish bar tops are stable. You certainly don't want narrow tops on rough, slippy roads or flared-out drops that force you down and drop your gaze just to get some stability. There's grip, good vision and control at the hoods and levers, and SVELTE bars retain all the options for safety and outright speed when it's time to make your move.
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Typically most of your time is on top, and only about 20% is spent in the drops. We exploit that underutilized fraction to bring you remarkably faster positions in an efficient and safe manner with controls at your fingertips, ensuring our bars stay easy to ride.
RACING & SPEED
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When conditions are right get low and tight in our drops and reap the aero rewards! Think about those long and sustained headwinds where it really matters.
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There's no arguing about it. It's a fact a small frontal area helps you pierce the wind. Small, low and tight is almost always faster. It's proven.
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Our drops taper to an ultra-aero 33, 35 or 37cm depending on size. That's FREE SPEED for you on demand. At 46 on top you still get 37cm under - a 20% savings! (Nothing marginal about these gains.) If you're not taking advantage, you're wasting energy and leaving free speed on the table.
COMFORT & ENDURANCE
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You want more options for changing conditions and very long days in the saddle. Traditional bar tops that fit give you lots of options and won't wear you down.
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Alternate fast positions tops and drops for speed and aero or just to mix it up for comfort. You might endure on awkward and ill-fitting equipment, but it won't be your best effort.
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Even our big 46 gives you the option of streamlined 37cm drops down below... less than most road bars! We say option because you're not locked in - small moves fore or aft let you adjust in and out organically, and our flares support your forearms better along their total length. More support = more comfort = more watts left when it really counts.
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