Danger - contains gravel-related content. A question of handlebars.

[Woz]

+1

Set-up for riding / climbing on the hoods. A wide drop-bar with short reach and short drop is ideal. Descend in the drops having a plenty fist full of brake lever. The Jura is exceptionally lovely. You can expect going up and going down for long periods so a variety of positions will be best IMHO.

A good few years ago I did this on a CX and was perfect. Stayed at Saint-Claude.
https://www.cycling-challenge.com/belvedere-des-avalanches-and-col-du-merle/

 

[bikeworkshop]

In almost the words of David Sylvian:

Whatever gets you on the bike,
Just keep on ridin'...
Whatever gets you on the bike
Just keep on ridin', babe...

Basically the rougher the terrain, the wider the bar and shorter the stem tends to be.

And the faster you want to go, the longer the stem, the narrower and lower the bar.

But you can basically ride anything anywhere

 

[2manyoranges]

In almost the words of David Sylvian:

Whatever gets you on the bike,
Just keep on ridin'...
Whatever gets you on the bike
Just keep on ridin', babe...

Basically the rougher the terrain, the wider the bar and shorter the stem tends to be.

And the faster you want to go, the longer the stem, the narrower and lower the bar.

But you can basically ride anything anywhere

Thanks indeed all for detailed advice about personal preferences - very much appreciated. Great to compare different views. I think I will experiment in good time rather than do the usual 'I have plenty of time before the trip so no need to build it just yet - oh sh't it's next week and I still have a bare frame hanging from the roof...aghhhhhhh.....'. Just need to do the Grom's new enduro bike, and get his spare enduro rig (rig....see) back in one piece after it was raided for parts, and service the Ragley... and .... and ...

Oh...and thanks Bikeworkshop for the Confucian feel of the 'advice at the level of principle':

'...But you can basically ride anything anywhere...'

In the quest for the elusive and obsessive perfect setup these are indeed wise words.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

I am a lifelong atb rider who struggles immensely with drops and hoods, not for me whatsoever. I had shoulder reconstruction, the angle causes pain. I am currently pondering some type of alt bar for my Bridgestone, even the moustache it came equipped with was too much in the "down" position.
Taste prevents me from the truly weird stuff like a Surly Corner Bar or Jones H Bar or butterfly, but something from the middle ground, like the Nitto Heron could be just the thing
or the Velo Orange Seine
Bar ends added somewhere between the grips could give the "hoods" hand position, VO has teased a CrazyBar version, but I am not sure of availability

 

[pictonroad]

Try some on-one OG bars, they have a great sweep to them.

If you can convince someone to sell you their carbon model then you'll be winning. They came in a 'chewy' spec that means they have loads of flex. I have some on my rigid cannondale singlespeed and they are transformational from a comfort perspective.

Jones bars are horrifically stiff. I couldn't deal with it on a rigid bike.

 

[pwebb]

You can indeed, but the solid front loop doesn't add too much extra weight ,and (for me) has been very handy for hanging all sorts of nonsense on I have also found on big gravel/forest roads,the wide flares added a bit of bounce,which took away some of the trail buzz. It did take me a while (offroad) to get relaxed on the drops at speed,but I had the advantage of having a long section on my commute to mess about on.

Lol I did read an account of someone sticking unwrapped power bars onto their bar extensions to eat later and using their own sweat to keep them soft, yeuch!

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Lol I did read an account of someone sticking unwrapped power bars onto their bar extensions to eat later and using their own sweat to keep them soft, yeuch!

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