One person likes low, wide handlebars while the next prefers a high, relaxed handlebar position. Some ride short, straight handlebars, others prefer racing handlebars. The choice of the right handlebars is very individual and sometimes quite subjective. Trekkingbike presents 12 handlebar models and explains what you need to look out for.
Nevertheless, there are a few objective criteria, starting with height, which we can use as a guide when positioning and choosing handlebars. Anyone who rides competitively, whether on the road or off-road, positions the handlebars forwards and downwards; aerodynamics play a major role.
If you still want a sporty but more comfortable ride, mount the handlebars a little higher so that they are roughly as high as the saddle. This means you are no longer quite as streamlined, but you can cover longer distances more comfortably and you are more aware of your surroundings. Everything becomes a little more relaxed. Touring riders prefer this handlebar height.
Age and body type also play a role. A sporty 55-year-old will no longer have his handlebars mounted quite so low because his neck and back have become somewhat less flexible. If you have short legs and a long torso, you will tend to move the handlebars forwards and lower. If you have long legs and a short torso, you will mount the handlebars further up and back. If you want to be flexible in terms of height, you can use an adjustable stem or the Syntace VRO.
You can download the complete article on the subject of buying advice for handlebars as a PDF.
