Easton EA70 AX Handlebar

The 'Gravel King', that's what Easton calls its new EA70 AX handlebar. Part of its new range of gravel and adventure components, the AX has a wide flare at the drops for stability and a shallow drop that makes it great for blasting over the rubble.

• Pros: Wide 16-degree flare; plenty of room for fitting light or computer brackets
• Cons: Could do with wider cable grooves for 2x systems

I ride a lot of gravel/adventure bikes as a tester, and I'd say the biggest benefit I've seen over the last year or so is the adoption of flared drop bars. If you haven't come across them, they are basically a handlebar that is the same width at the hoods as a road bar but kicks outwards as it reaches the drops. This gives you a wider stance when descending on rough, moving terrain, making for more composed steering and a better feeling of control.

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It's not just for gravel either. I've taken to using this on my T2, my all-weather machine, and the benefits on wet, greasy roads are noticeable.

The EA70 AX flares out by 16 degrees, which increases the overall width from the tops to the drops by 68mm across the 40/42/44 and 46cm options.

On the gravel I found it a nice place to be, offering plenty of stiffness but not being so rigid that it's battering your wrists when out for a long ride. Stiffness is compromised a little when really hauling on the bar for a short, sharp climb, but it is negligible.

The wide flare also helps when you are riding into the wind on the road. You can still keep your shoulders pretty narrow as you hunker down into the drops without feeling constrained when doing it for miles on a long straight section.

The only criticism I have is that the grooved channels for fitting the cables underneath the tape are quite shallow. Probably not much of an issue if you are running 1x or electronic shifting, but fitting two outers either side can leave them quite pronounced under the bar tape.

At £79.99 rrp it's on the pricier side of some bars we've tested lately (though a lot cheaper than others!), but it does look and feel very good quality, especially thanks to that gloss central section.

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I really liked the Ritchey Comp Ergomax bar which is a touch heavier but only £52.99. Its wing-shaped tops did restrict the fitting of lights and computer mounts, though, things you are going to need for an epic tour off the beaten track. I do like the Easton for having a long 31.8mm diameter clamping section to help with this.

Others I've tried include the Genetic Drove, which is less than half the price, if a little heavier. The Easton does look a bit more special when on the bike, though.

Overall, the Easton EA70 AX is a great shape for use on the gravel or road, looks the business, and comes in at a decent weight for the money.

Verdict

Good looking handlebar with a wide enough flare for plenty of stability off the beaten track