Even though the absolute wattages saved are smaller, a slower rider is on the course for longer and therefore has more to gain, in terms of time, from the same percentage reduction in aerodynamic drag. Koop concurs that there is likely an aerodynamic advantage to be had from using a narrower handlebar. He cautions, however, that any resulting riding position needs to be sustainable for the duration of the event, and not have real-world implications that outweigh any aerodynamic advantages. It’s not uncommon to see narrow handlebars in the professional peloton, but pro riders are also known for having little regard for comfort or, to a certain extent, fit in pursuit of performance gains. Force input accuracy Nevertheless, if you regularly ride lots of very steep climbs or if you have a strong preference for climbing out of the saddle (efficiency be damned), then I can see this being less enjoyable and more tiring. The ugly It’s also possible to get around this issue by selecting easier gears and climbing seated because that’s usually more efficient from a physiological and aerodynamic point of view. This depends, of course, on how low your gears go and how steep the gradient is.

The problem with carbon handlebars is that they're much more expensive, and a bit more fragile. Though carbon can be very strong, if it's damaged, it's not always as readily apparent as it would be on an aluminium bar and could go undetected. I didn’t have any major issues using a handlebar that narrow, but it does make for a very aggressive riding position, with no space on the tops for a relaxed, upright position, for example. A narrow bar is all race, all of the time, and even a performance weenie like me enjoys riding slowly sometimes.Narrow elbow pads are an increasingly common sight on dedicated time trial bikes. Simon Bromley / Immediate Media So yeah, I’m a fan of narrow bars and tell (preach) to all my racing buddies about the advantages of narrow bars, but most are resistant. Well, all except one — he rides 36cm bars. He also has PhD in aerodynamics and has worked in NASCAR, so I guess I wouldn’t expect anything less.

It took a long time, but around the early 2000s manufacturers finally realised that the bulk of bike sales are not made to elite bike racers. If you don’t want to, or aren’t allowed to, use aero bars, then our wind tunnel testing suggests body position is still the area to pay most attention to. Joseph Branston / Our Media If you want eyeballs out, nose to the bar time trial efforts and tend to hold the bars close to the bottom of the drops, think traditional. Choose between bespoke aero bars or clip-on aero bars from Wiggle's wide choice of quality options. TT handlebars offer that transition to pure speed, and at Wiggle you'll find a wide range of pro-performance TT bars featuring lightweight materials and durable construction. Flat Handlebars As a consequence, you essentially lose the tops of the handlebar hand position, unless you don’t mind putting your hands right up against the stem, and you’re left with very little room for handlebar-mounted accessories (such as bike computers, bells or road bike lights).

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But a good one from Trek/Bontrager, there "Pro IsoCore VR-SF" handlebar (128mm drop, 75mm reach) exist on 36cm size, mesured at the drop so with the 4° flare, the levers have to be around 34,5cm The only downside is the weight, quoted at 225g at this size. Your body is the largest contributor to aerodynamic drag in the rider plus bike system and, as a result, anything you can do to improve the aerodynamic profile of your body, particularly on the leading edge, can lead to easy gains. Choosing the best handlebar shape for you comes down to your riding style. If you're after fairly relaxed endurance rides, think compact. For fast road riding, I found the handlebar surprisingly easy to live with, and the riding position very fast. Russell Burton / Immediate Media

Yet while the focus of development tends to be on refining bikes and equipment, it’s worth remembering the rider accounts for around 70 to 80 per cent of the total aerodynamic drag in the rider plus bike system. However, every product is different, and every brand has its budget products and big flops. Make sure to research the exact product you’re looking at to see if the quality is worthy of the brand it represents. Don’t go for the cheapest thing The two main choices when choosing handlebars for your bike are drop handlebars and flat handlebars. Above, you can find our complete range of drop handlebars -most commonly used on road bikes and gravel bikes. Though your power-to-weight ratio is a large determinant of performance on long, steep climbs, aerodynamic drag is the main problem almost everywhere else.Drop handlebars have been modernised recently, with more ergonomic and comfortable designs hitting the market. However, the design remains incredibly similar to the original design of the drop handlebar, and many manufacturers still manufacture drop handlebars in the traditional shape. These drop handlebars offer many different advantages to the rider, with some of the main advantages being three very different hand positions to use - riders can ride with their hands on the hoods, on the bars or in the drops of the handlebar - these different positions not only allow the rider to maximise performance and efficiency but also to be able to change hand position regularly enough to prevent fatigue. Another advantage of drop bars is that they are narrower than flat handlebars - meaning they are better for filtering through traffic on the daily commute; drop handlebars can be around 40cm narrower than flat bars, so it’s quite a margin. Handlebars that improve aerodynamics will often present a smaller surface area at the front, flattening out to create a longer surface area on the top. This measurement gives you a baseline - if it's 38cm, look for 38cm bars - and so on. However, personal preference and riding style play a role, too. If, for example, aerodynamics are important to you, perhaps opt one size down. This is a very simple but very important question. You may have heard the old adage ‘all the gear and no idea’. This concept is very much applicable to new riders that want to make sure that they have everything they need before their first trip on the pedals.