Bicycle handlebar

It is the equivalent of a tiller for vehicles and vessels, as it is most often directly mechanically linked to a pivoting front wheel via a stem which in turn attaches it to the fork.

The dandy horse, or draisienne, invented by Karl Drais and the first vehicle with two wheels arranged in tandem, was controlled by a bar connected to the front steering mechanism and held by the riders' two hands.

Typical drop handlebars feature a straight central section attached to the stem, with each end curving first forwards and down, and then back towards the rider at a lower position.

Track drops are characterized by large, sweeping ramps, effectively precluding the top and brake hood hand positions, but promoting the rider's use of the ends, or "hooks".

The shape of the drop may be a simple, traditional curve, or it can have a flat spot (straight section) which some riders find to be more comfortable for their hands.

[7] However the sudden popularity of 'gravel' bikes has seen them begin to make a welcome come-back, At one time, manufactures and racers experimented with drop-in bars that had an additional extension in toward the head tube at the rear end of the drops.

This was intended to offer an even more aerodynamic position, due to low and narrow placement of the hands, than just the drops, while still remaining legal for mass-start races.

Initially the flared portion in these handlebars was bent by hand, but now are available from manufacturers such as Salsa Cycles and SOMA Fabrications.

They are often paired with dedicated clip-on triathlon bars when used on the road (see above), and are also popular by themselves on track, single-speed, and fixed-gear bicycles.

This style of handlebar is named after the discipline of track racing where it was originally used, and has the common nickname of "bullhorn bars" for their appearance, especially when the rider's body position is fully extended to lean forward and maintain control of the bicycle.

However, being heavier than contemporary flat or riser bars and being less customizeable in height and distance from the body of the rider, they progressively disappeared.

Specialized shift levers (known as bar-end shifters) do exist that can be installed on some triathlon bars so that they can be reached without moving the hands from the aerodynamic position.

Aero bars are a recent addition to road racing time trials, with Greg LeMond first using them in the 1989 Tour de France.

In a controversial time trial on the final day, LeMond used them to beat yellow jersey wearer Laurent Fignon by 58 seconds, changing a 50-second deficit into an 8-second lead.

North Road bars are more or less swept back toward the rider; in extreme cases each grip ends nearly parallel to the other and the bike's frame.

They have recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity on some hybrid bicycles, city bikes, and comfort models.

North Road bars can easily be inverted to give an approximate ≈4 inch amount of drop when a more aggressive riding posture or a sporty look is desired.

The curve is usually almost flat in the center portion, then sweeps backwards towards the rider with different shapes, and with a slight drop in some cases.

It was diffused mostly in Italy from the 1950s onwards, and was marketed to customers wanting a sporty looking bicycle that could still be used for general purpose (going to work, etc.)

Whatton bars loop behind the legs of penny-farthing riders so that they can still keep their feet on the pedals and also be able to leap feet-first forward off the machine.

This style of bar allows the rider to remain relatively upright while at the same time providing a wide range of hand positions for comfort on long duration rides.

This style was designed in the early 90s by Grant Petersen for the Bridgestone XO-1, based on the semi-drop bars used by schoolchildren in Japan.

Ape hanger handlebars rise in a steep U-shape from the base, so that the rider's hands rest above waist-level.

[14] Ostensibly these regulations are for safety, though some commentators believe these laws are to allow police to have an excuse to pull over motorcyclists suspected to be part of an illegal gang.

There are several size parameters to consider when choosing a handlebar: Drop bars come in a variety of widths from 34 to 50 cm (13 to 20 in)[citation needed].

BMX style handlebars require a clamp diameter of 22.2 mm (7⁄8 in) and are therefore incompatible with any non-BMX specific stem.

Grips are usually made of firm or soft plastic, foam, gel, or sometimes leather, depending on expected use or desired price.

Foam grips can be applied by submerging them under water and then inflate them with 200 kPa (2 bar; 30 psi) air while massaging them onto the handlebar.

Finally, a small amount of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol may be applied to the bar surface during removal or installation of grips in order to provide lubrication, which when allowed to dry, leaves no residue.

Bar ends can prove troublesome when negotiating twisty tracks between trees as they may hook around branches and cause a crash.