Handlebar Height

[DeltaOscar]

Something I've been pondering for a while now:

 

Variously it is the combination of bar sweep and height, with stem length and rise which determines ones hand position relative to the steerer tube.

 

Does it matter/affect the handling which combination of the above is used to acheive hand position.

 

i.e. If one were to use a flat bar in conjunction with a 100mm stem with 10deg rise, OR a riser bar with a 90mm stem with zero rise, would there be any difference in handling assuming the hand positions were identical?

 

If so, then why risers?

[Iwan Kemp]

Variously indeed. Flat bars are usually quite narrow. WAY too narrow for trail / AM use. I would say too narrow for genreal riding and moxt XC too, but that's just me.

I know FUNN and one or two others make wide flat bars for their sponsored riders like Sam Hill, but you don't get too many of those and seeing that they're used for DH they'll be seriously heavy. Which means XC/Trail riders won't use them.

 

Stems with high rise are for FR or DH use as they are quite bulky, short and heavy.

 

Also remember that a 70mm stem with 6degree rise will be "longer" than a 70mm with 20 degree rise. This has a big influene on steering and manouverability.