ENVE Composites Traditional Road Bar
The road bar range from ENVE provides two distinct Carbon Fiber options; Standard and Compact. This particular bar uses a simple curve and straight top profile to provide a more traditional profile with a 144mm drop and 85mm reach, and comes in 3 different widths. With an impressive reputation for engineering some of the highest quality carbon fiber handlebars, stems, seatposts and rims on the market, Enve Composites back up their lightweight components with impressive strength thanks to meticulous construction and top shelf materials. While many brands choose carbon fiber for weight savings, Enve have always worked with composites for their strength and durability to produce quality components that are designed for the real world, not just the scales.

Carbon Fiber is a material that has been well received and accepted by road bikers, thanks to its lighter weight and vibration-dampening qualities. However, that is not to say that all carbon is the same, and if you read into Enve Composites design process, you will understand that not all carbon is created equally. Their traditional road handlebar is a high quality option for road cyclists looking to shed some weight from their bike, while improving ergonomics (and aesthetics - let's be honest!). They feature a decent 144mm drop that allows you to get into a low and efficient race position for when you need to put the hammer down and the 85mm reach stretches out your standard riding position. If you're the type of rider that dislikes riding in the dropped section of the handlebar and want to avoid being too stretched on your road bike, you may be better off checking out the Compact version of this bar. For racers and more flexible riders wanting maximum aerodynamics and power, this is the option for you.
Constructed with a proprietary carbon and resin layup process, the Enve Carbon bars are able to be whittled down to an impressive 205 grams with no sacrifice in strength. In fact, these bars are substantially stronger than their alloy counterparts, whilst also being more resistant to fatigue so they'll likely last longer than you. Having confidence in your cockpit when snaking around the back of a mountainside at 60+ kph is a big deal, and the last thing you want to think about when braking hard into a steep left-hander is whether your bike is going to stand up to those kinds of forces. Sure you can get cheaper carbon road handlebars, but you're unlikely to find anything else that is designed and built as strong as the ENVE road bar; as Keith Bontrager put it: "Strong, Light, Cheap. Pick any two".


From ENVE:

"Thoughtful, precise, and innovative are words that best describe our road handlebar. This bar was designed to provide comfort without gimmicky “ergonomics”. Every contour is designed to fit the hand and allow for a custom placement of brake levers and drop position. No stone was left unturned in designing this bar. As with all ENVE products functionality is priority #1. Features like recessed dual cable routing and integrated bar end plugs are standard fare on this light weight road bar. The end result is a trustworthy bar that will not yield under any demand you place on it."


Choosing the right width
The road bar is available in 3 different widths depending on the broadness of your shoulders; 40cm, 42cm and 44cm, which are measured from Centre-to-Centre. The easiest way to determine correct handlebar width is to have someone measure the width of your shoulders from the 2 boney points on the top/back part of your upper arm. Another method is to hold a straight piece of tubing with both arms outstretched and shuffle your hands along the tubing until they are parallel all the way down from your shoulders to your hands. Measure the distance between your palms and this should give you the optimum bar width.


The ENVE Carbon Road Handlebars feature:

• Material: Enve Hi-Mod Carbon Fibre
• Weight: 205 grams
• Width: 40c, 42cm or 44cm (center-to-center)
• Drop: 144mm
• Reach: 85mm
• Clamp diameter: 31.8mm
• Finish: UniDirectional Carbon