BALUGOE Gravel bike Handle carbon handlebar road bicycle Handlebar 13Degree Outward expansion 340/360/380/400/420/440mm

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As a bigger rider (over 90kg with a pretty high power output), I was a bit scared to try a carbon handlebar but finally took the plunge this spring. Out of the box, the bar felt nice and light at around 270g. Gave it a good squeeze and flex test before mounting, and it felt solid enough. After about 2,500km of riding, it was stiff enough for me but not super stiff. Also showing no signs of flex or creaking even during hard sprints. It even survived a crash with no visible damage or structural issues. So no issues regarding the durability. The problem for me wasn't the quality, but the shape. Despite the official 77mm reach, the curve/bend from the tops to the hoods is so early that the effective reach is tiny. I could barely get my hands comfortably on the hoods. Also not nearly as much forearm support in the aero position as I would have liked. Another issue was the lack of clamping space next to the stem. It was impossible to fit a standard Garmin mount, so I had to buy a specific out-front mount to make it work. For the price (around 45 Euros), it's not a bad handlebar if the geometry works for you. If you have smaller hands and are specifically looking for a very short-reach bar, this could be a bargain.