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Questions and answers about sports

Correct position of hands on flat handlebars

6 min read

Asked by: Robert Staniszewski

How do you hold a flat bar on a bike?


Quote from video: And at low speeds as you can make small adjustments to help keep your balance a high steering leverage is also particularly. Important if you use front luggage as any weight at the front of the bike.

Where should hands be placed on drop handlebars?

Quote from video: Position as you hold on the bars. Keep your elbows tucked in when you ride on the drops. If you're thinking about aerodynamics. This is really important and crucially it looks more Pro T.

Where should your hands be when cycling?

Generally, your hands should be placed in whatever position you most frequently ride. The most comfortable position for the majority of road and gravel bike cyclists is where the angle between the torso and the upper arm is around 90 degrees (see illustration right).

How do you set up a flat bar?

Quote from video: Set the faceplate and bolts to the side. Next lift the handlebars into position ensuring that the cables cleanly cross in the center if the cables are overly crossed or twisted. Turn the bars over.

Why flat bars are better?

Flat Bars Offer Better Bike Handling



With a wide flat bar, you can expect better bike control at high speeds, as the additional leverage helps to counter the ground forces that are constantly nudging your handlebar, and at low speeds, as you can make small adjustments to help keep your balance.

How much slower are flat bars?

For example, maybe you travel, on average, 1 mile per hour slower with flat bars. Over the course of a full day of riding, you might cover 6-8 miles less than you could with drop bars. Not as good for climbing hills- You can’t shift your weight as far forward with flat bars.

What angle should your handlebars be?

On drop handlebars, the ends should angle downward five to ten degrees. This flattens the part of the bar behind the brake levers, turning it into a good and comfortable place to put your hands. Never, ever rotate the bar up, so that the ends aim upward of horizontal.

How can I make a drop bar more comfortable?

How to Get Comfortable With Drop Handlebars

  1. Check Bike Fit. To ride effectively in the drops you need to roll your hips forward, keeping the hip angle (between torso and thigh) open. …
  2. Practice in Position. …
  3. Be Flexible. …
  4. Stretch Out.


How do you align drop bars?

Quote from video: Move your Garmin that helps all right close first one right then the other and try and line up. Center of the stem bolts with the center of the tire.

Should I pedal with my toes?

Quote from video: Front to back actually makes a big difference how easy you find moving your weight around on the bike. I see an awful lot of people stand too far forward on their toes on the pedal.

How do you engage core when cycling?

Here are the ultimate 9 ways that you can engage your core while cycling:

  1. Get in Position. …
  2. Sit Upright. …
  3. Brace Your Abdominal Muscles. …
  4. Keep Your Abs Tightened. …
  5. Keep the Weight off Your Arms. …
  6. Switch Hands. …
  7. Stand after Intervals for Added Intensity. …
  8. Choose a Recumbent Bike.

How can I lose weight by cycling my hands?

Having a reach too long for your body increases the weight distribution through the hands. By stretching forward for the bars, your centre of gravity is shifted into the front of the bike, meaning you will have to constantly brace your torso upward with locked elbows – essentially doing a plank while riding.

Is it better to ride in the drops?

By riding with your hands in the drops you have not only lowered your center of gravity and allowed yourself to lean farther to either side for better cornering, but also have a more aerodynamic profile that allows you to ride with less effort at the same speed than if you were riding with your hands on the brake hoods

Are flat bar road bikes fast?

Flat Bar Road Bikes are similar to the traditional Drop Bar Road Bike in that they are designed for fast, efficient riding over longer, on-road trips. The main difference is the addition of Flat Handle Bars which provide a more upright seating position, and improved handling at low speeds.

Can I put flat bars on a road bike?

And some of the positions are more aerodynamic, for times when you want to ride faster. But it’s still perfectly ok to ride a road bike that has flat handlebars. You’ll get the advantages of a bar that gives you a steady grip like a mountain bike, which can help give beginner cyclists more confidence.

Can you put flat handlebars on a road bike?

And some of the positions are more aerodynamic, for times when you want to ride faster. But it’s still perfectly ok to ride a road bike that has flat handlebars. You’ll get the advantages of a bar that gives you a steady grip like a mountain bike, which can help give beginner cyclists more confidence.

Can I replace drop bars with flat bars?

Your drop handlebars levers (brakes/shifters) will not work or either fit within the new flat handlebars, therefor you’ll need to get a new flat handlebars brake setup.

Can you sit upright on a mountain bike?

Unlike racing road bikes, which require completely forward-bending postures, you sit nearly upright on mountain bikes with just a slight forward lean under most circumstances. Support the posture with arms slightly bent and gripping the ends of a flat steering bar, as opposed to the curved handlebars of road bikes.

What are bar end shifters?

What are bar end shifters? These are gear shifters that sit at the end of your bars, whether that’s drop or straight bars. They have levers that you click one way to shift up and one way to shift down, so are also indexed. Each hand controls a different derailleur.

How do you use a bar shifter?

Quote from video: The web between my thumb and my forefinger is right across the end of the handlebar. Here creates a nice leverage point. And allows me to use my fourth. And fifth fingers to do all the gear shifting.

Are bar end shifters any good?

When compared with integrated brake/shift levers they are inexpensive, simple and reliable; all prized traits in touring gear. For my money, they’re the flat-out best shifter for a drop-bar touring bike.