Author Topic: gravel handlebars for a fully internal setup? (just bar, not barstem)  (Read 5490 times)

Blueberry

I've been keeping an eye out and haven't been able to find much. I have a gravel bike that has fully internal cable routing but the handlebars have 80mm of reach and I would really like to use something shorter (70mm or less). In a perfect world, I would basically want a Salsa Cowchipper handlebar, only with holes drilled for internal routing. I'm a big fan of the Cowchipper's wide flare combined with shallow reach and drop.

jonathanf2

Re: gravel handlebars for a fully internal setup? (just bar, not barstem)
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2025, 10:55:27 AM »
My favorite gravel bars on AliExpress. They come in both semi and full integrated cable holes. You can find them from 34cm to 46cm hoods, with ultra wide flare, but shallow drops. Bars feel quite stiff and sturdy. I use them on both my gravel bikes.

Link with either 34cm/460mm or 38cm/500mm bars:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806404062021.html

Link with either 42cm/550mm or 46cm/590mm bars:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806636665429.html

Blueberry

Re: gravel handlebars for a fully internal setup? (just bar, not barstem)
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2025, 03:04:15 PM »
ooh this one looks quite good, thank you!!

Right now I have Enve's gravel bar which I got for only $100 but it's a bit wide for me plus the drop and reach are too long. I had to scoot my saddle more forward than I intended to compensate for the increased reach. That 380/500mm option looks solid.
« Last Edit: August 17, 2025, 03:15:36 PM by Blueberry »

s3si1u

Re: gravel handlebars for a fully internal setup? (just bar, not barstem)
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2025, 05:49:25 PM »
I'm using the Deda Gera alloy bars. They're compatible with internal routing and have a really short reach, something like 55 or 56 mm. I know there's a carbon version as well.

jonathanf2

Re: gravel handlebars for a fully internal setup? (just bar, not barstem)
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2025, 09:09:00 AM »
ooh this one looks quite good, thank you!!

Right now I have Enve's gravel bar which I got for only $100 but it's a bit wide for me plus the drop and reach are too long. I had to scoot my saddle more forward than I intended to compensate for the increased reach. That 380/500mm option looks solid.

I think you'll like them. The cable holes also spacious and were fairly easy to route shift/brake through. They sell the narrowest gravel bars I've found as well. I'm using the 34cm/460mm bars and now it's hard for me to go back to wider bars. The 460mm drops give plenty of control on the trails and even single track.

lidation

Re: gravel handlebars for a fully internal setup? (just bar, not barstem)
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2025, 06:12:14 PM »
My favorite gravel bars on AliExpress. They come in both semi and full integrated cable holes. You can find them from 34cm to 46cm hoods, with ultra wide flare, but shallow drops. Bars feel quite stiff and sturdy. I use them on both my gravel bikes.

Link with either 34cm/460mm or 38cm/500mm bars:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806404062021.html

Link with either 42cm/550mm or 46cm/590mm bars:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806636665429.html

Any bar+stem integrated ones looking like these?

jonathanf2

Re: gravel handlebars for a fully internal setup? (just bar, not barstem)
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2025, 07:36:54 PM »
Any bar+stem integrated ones looking like these?

Perhaps the SPCycle gravel bar?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804748880059.html

Blueberry

Re: gravel handlebars for a fully internal setup? (just bar, not barstem)
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2025, 11:58:48 AM »
I think you'll like them. The cable holes also spacious and were fairly easy to route shift/brake through. They sell the narrowest gravel bars I've found as well. I'm using the 34cm/460mm bars and now it's hard for me to go back to wider bars. The 460mm drops give plenty of control on the trails and even single track.

I ordered the 380/500 ones! I like slightly wider bars on my gravel bike and where I live, most gravel biking is just underbiking on MTB trails XD

jonathanf2

Re: gravel handlebars for a fully internal setup? (just bar, not barstem)
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2025, 12:09:10 PM »
I ordered the 380/500 ones! I like slightly wider bars on my gravel bike and where I live, most gravel biking is just underbiking on MTB trails XD

I think you'll like them. My gravel/mtb buddies think I'm a bit of sadist using 34cm on Los Angeles single track trails and fire roads. Though I'm only on the hoods when climbing and always switch to the drops on descents. Plus I have a rule to mostly ride my bike to trails, so the narrow hoods help when cutting through LA urban traffic!  ;D

Blueberry

Re: gravel handlebars for a fully internal setup? (just bar, not barstem)
« Reply #9 on: September 14, 2025, 11:20:59 AM »
I got the bars and they're great for the gravel!  the super shallow drop felt funny at first but now I'm used to it. This past Wednesday I rode my road bike for the first time in several weeks. When I went into the drops on the descent I was like "ooh wow, those are way down there XD" regular road drop does feel weird now but I'm still very happy with them!