5 Main Handlebar Types: Which Is the Best? Pros and Cons

Numb hands, tingling in the fingers, tense shoulders, and hurting wrist or back pain can all be signs of using the wrong type of handlebar. When you start digging a bit deeper to see your options, you realize there is a vast variety of handlebars on the market.

What is the best handlebar for bike commuting?

The best handlebar is comfortable and safe and fits your personal preferences. It allows you to have good control over the bike, to have your hands and arms relaxed, and to ride your bike in the most favorable position. The ideal position mainly depends on the length and the terrain of the ride and your speed.

Two basic parameters will determine what a handlebar is best suited for, namely the width and the form.  These determine the position, aerodynamics, and the rider’s weight distribution. 

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Width

There is a wide range of handlebars you can find from 250 mm (10 inches) to 850 mm (35 inches). In general, there are a few key points you should keep in mind when it comes to handlebar width.

The handlebar’s width determines how well you can maneuver your bike and how sensible the bike will be when making turns. If you have a very wide handlebar, you have maximum control over your bike regarding steering maneuvering. 

Wider handlebars provide a better weight distribution because your body weight is more evenly spread out on three points of contact with the bike. 

A downside of wide handlebars is that it can be problematic to fit through tight spaces. It is pretty easy to hit a rearview mirror with the handlebar when inattentively weaving through traffic. 

To make a sharp turn with a wide handlebar, you need to perform a larger range of motion because its endpoints are further out from the stem compared to a narrow handlebar, which is very responsive but more difficult to steer with precision.

Moving a narrow handlebar, even just a bit can result in a sharp turn. Precise maneuvering with narrow handlebars can be a challenge, but passing among cars or in tight spaces becomes easier once you get the hang of it.

The form

Handlebars come in all sorts of forms: raised, dropped, flat, etc. Some forms allow you to lean forward more, some less. The more you lean forward the more pressure you put on your wrist and elbow. 

In an aggressive forward-leaning position (like on a road bike) you put more strain on the core muscles and the spine. When riding a riser bar, you sit in a more upright position which will spare your wrist and back too. Your butt might hurt after a long ride but you will definitely sit in a more comfortable position.

The form will also determine how you hold your hands and arms and influence the handling of the shifters and brakes. Some handlebars allow for more than one grip and you can hold them in several different ways. On particularly long commutes this can be an advantage because you can change your grip and relax your hands. 

From an aerodynamic perspective the lower you lean forward, the lesser air drag you will experience. This becomes really noticeable when you exceed 15.5 mph (25 km/h). The advantage isn’t significant enough to make a noticeable difference if you go slower. 

Flat bars

They are the standard type of bars on hybrid bikes and mountain bikes. Most of the bikes come with these completely flat bars (although some may have a slight upward sweep). 

Pros

• It’s a wider type of handlebar: it gives precise steering and good maneuvering at slower speeds,
• There is plenty of room on it: you can mount phone holders, lights, and other gadgets,
• Easy to fit bar ends: to relax your hands you can have additional hand positions
• It is fairly easy to shift your body weight on the bike. When climbing hills you can shift your body weight to the front to have additional leverage and grip. For hilly commutes, this is an advantage. 

Cons

• Inefficient aerodynamics: Although it’s considered a sporty handlebar, it’s hard to go into a forward-leaning position without losing leverage on the pedals.
• Hard to maneuver: due to their width it can be tricky to maneuver among cars in tight spaces.
• Exerts great pressure on the wrist and elbows: Without bar ends, you can have your hand only in one hand position. 

What type of commute are flat bars good for?

If you commute with a moderate pace in a mainly flat area with some hills and you like to have all your gadgets on the handlebar, this is a good choice.

Riser Bars

As their name implies, riser bars rise above the stem from the center clamp. The amount of rise varies from bike to bike. Generally, they are wider than flat bars. They rise upward also toward the rider. 

Pros

• They have a back sweep: the back sweep in addition to the upward rise, allows the rider to sit in an even more upright position. That gives stress relief for the lower back and the wrists.
• Offers good control: For a beginner, this can be an excellent choice to start with.
• Comfortable: Because you sit in an upright position, there is a smaller risk of back or wrist pain.

Cons

• Heavy and expensive: they tend to be heavier and also more expensive than the flat ones.
• Less room for accessories: as certain sections of the bars are bent you can mount fewer gadgets. 
• They are wide: it is harder to pass among cars and in tight spaces. 
• Harder to go uphill: it is harder to shift your body weight to the front to gain leverage for pedaling.
• Bad aerodynamics: going fast or riding in a heavy headwind is noticeably more difficult than on drop bars.

What type of commute are riser bars good for?

If you commute with a relatively low speed and want to feel comfortable then this could be an excellent choice. If your commute in a hilly urban area having to maneuver a lot in tight spaces this might not be your best handlebar type for you. 

Cruiser Bars

Cruiser bars are either attached to a high stem or have a quite high rise and they also have a sharp swept-back form. In some cases, the bar ends point in the direction of the rider. Even among cruiser bars, there is a wide variety, such as chopper-style or Dutch-style handlebars just to name two. The difference is in the rise of the bar and the degree of back sweep. 

Pros

• Extremely comfortable: it allows the rider to sit completely upright. You can even ride a bike with a cruiser bar in a suit.
• Precise steering: Usually they are pretty wide so you can achieve precise steering.
• You can mount a basket: there is plenty of space on the bars to mount a basket.

Cons

• Very poor aerodynamics: your upper body catches all the wind
• They can’t climb up hills: climbing up steep hills with this type of handlebar is very challenging.
• Hard to pass in tight spaces: due to its width maneuvering in tight spaces can be problematic 

What type of commute are cruiser bars good for?

The cruiser handlebar is recommended for urban commuters for short comfortable rides in flat areas. Important note: As the rider is seated in a totally upright position all his body weight will press the saddle. It is good to have a comfortable saddle to avoid butt pain.

Bullhorn

Bullhorn handlebars curve up and forward. They are commonly used for fixed-gear bikes. It was first used in track racing as it provides excellent aerodynamics.

Pros

• Excellent aerodynamics: By grabbing the horns, you can lean forward perfectly. The so-called “pursuit” bullhorn bars even have a drop in them so that you can lean forward even more. 
• Perfect for climbing hills: You can put your body weight completely to the front which makes them perfect for climbing steep hills.
• They are narrow: They tend to be narrower than flat bars. Because of their narrowness, they are suitable for passing among cars in tight spaces. The widest bullhorn bars are 50 cm.
• Multiple hand-positions: it allows you to relax your hands when they get tired
• Cool, aggressive look: Just to say that your bike has bullhorn bars sounds exciting.

Cons

• Steering can be hard: Due to the forward leaning position and the narrowness of the bar, steering might feel a bit difficult.
• Brakes and shifters are in an awkward position: The brakes can be mounted either right where the bar is clamped to the stem or to the end of the horns. Your .

What type of commute are bullhorn bars good for?

Having a bullhorn bar could be a good choice if your commute is particularly long and hilly. This bar might not have the best maneuvering capabilities and takes some time to get used to it but can be used well for urban commuting. Commuting with bullhorn on rough roads can cause back and wrist pains as your body weight is distributed more to the front. 

Drop bars

Drop bars are designed for long rides on good-quality roads that have diverse terrain. They are narrow, their width is between 36 and 42 cm. They have a straight central part attached to the stem and the ends curve forward and then backward toward the rider in a lower position. These are found on road bikes, cyclocross bikes, and gravel bikes.

Pros

• They offer multiple hand positions: You can ride on the bars, on the hoods and in the drops.
• Very comfy hand positions: When riding on the hoods and in the drops your hands and arms are in the most natural position, which is really favorable for long rides.
• Excellent aerodynamics. Riding in the drops, your body is in a perfectly forward leaning position, and therefore your body will catch little wind.
• Excellent for hill climbing: Ride on the hoods can allow you to lean forward even more, which helps you to climb steep hills.
• Looks cool: Drop bars look very sporty

Cons

• Difficult maneuvering: Due to their narrowness precise maneuvering is difficult with drop bars
• More strain on the back and wrist: your body weight is distributed more to the front, which can cause wrist and back pains, and it makes maneuvering in tight spaces somewhat difficult.
• Little space on the bars: There’s not much space for accessories because of their narrowness

What type of commute are drop bars good for?

Drop bars can be excellent for those who like to go really fast and don’t have to maneuver a lot. It requires strong core muscles to keep your body in a forward-leaning position. Your body weight is distributed more to the front although you can shift it backwards by holding the flat part of the bar. 

Not all drop bars are created equal. When choosing a drop bar beware of the three main parameters that determine their ergonomics: width, reach and drop. You can find a comprehensive explanation of these parameters in the following video.

Which handlebar should you choose?

In order to find out which of these is best for you, you need to know exactly what your commute looks like so you can strike a good balance between speed and comfort. For shorter city commutes choose a more relaxed type of bar such as a cruiser or a riser bar.

For medium-length commutes, choose a flat bar or riser bar with a slight rise.

For long commutes choose a bullhorn or a drop bar. These are only rules of thumb, of course. Once you try several types, you may prefer one over the rest so much that you have your mind made up. The important thing is to get out there and ride your bike as much as you can.

Happy riding!