According to accessories specialist Profile Design, ‘gone are the days of simply measuring a drop bar by the standard reach, drop and width.’ Instead, the DRiVe metric by Profile Design ‘pinpoints the precise position in the drops where riders instinctively place their hands.’
The metric is incorporated into a new series of progressively sized handlebars designed around a cyclist’s most powerful hand positions.
“Profile Design has almost three decades of knowledge in product fit for fast, powerful – and comfortable – cycling. Discovering and linking the variables that dial in the ideal ride positions is the expertise of our team,” said Mark Vandermolen, Director of Product Development.
“We have found that there is frequently a mismatch between the modern geometries used to develop bike frames and the geometries used to develop bars. Where we used to see riders comfortable, powerful and in control while riding in the drops and hoods, shorter head tubes and modern shifter designs have forced most riders exclusively into the hoods.”
He continued, “Compounding this problem are drop bars that need to be rotated upward to gain a flatter angle to the shifter hoods in order to maintain a comfortable and powerful position. This rotation moves the drops into an even more unrideable position. We wanted to design a series of bars that eliminated the need for these adverse adjustments and reclaim the ideal positions that give the comfort, power and control back to the riders.”
The tops and hoods complement the DRiVe position and the Reach and DRiVe are progressively sized as the bar increases in width.
Product Manager JD Herbert described the research that guided the progressive sizing of the DRiVe Series. “Our design process focused on developing a line of bars that conform to rider morphology rather than riders adapting to the bar. Morphological studies have shown a progressive nature of the body. Specifically, one study performed by the US Military identified progressive correlations among handbreadth, shoulder width and height.”
He added, “This information allows us to easily identify a DRiVe that will be most compatible with a rider by simply measuring a rider’s handbreadth.”
The focal point – the location Profile Design has christened as the DRiVe (Drop Reach Variant) metric – is measured via a 73deg line beginning at the bar bore. The DRiVe metric pinpoints the line’s intersection with the drop.
According to Profile Design, modern drop bar designs are deeply tied to tradition… They are designed based on outdated road bike sizing and shifter hood designs – rendering many of cycling’s intended hand positions unattainable when riding a modern frame geometry. The ride positions that are the most powerful and allow for the most control have now shifted into virtually unattainable positions. Designing a bar series based on the DRiVe metric reclaims many of the ideal positions most critical to comfort, power and control.
To complement the DRiVe position, five ergonomic touch-points were each fine-tuned to ‘keep the most comfortable and powerful positions right where they are needed’:
Tops
31.8mm diameter full bar width opens up a wider array of comfortable hand positions.
Transition to Hoods
The long radius of the upper curve provides both smooth distribution of pressure on the hand and clearance for the wrist/forearm when sprinting in the drops.
Hoods
The hood slope is a shallow 7deg, eliminating the main reason why we so often see riders make detrimental bar rotation adjustments in a desperate effort to flatten out the hood slope. The DRiVe Series handlebars deliver a seamless transition from bar to shifter hood without affecting how the drops were designed to fit.
Reach
The shorter reaches of the DRiVe Series better match current shifter hood geometry and create comfortable hand positions.
Drops
The canted 4deg design grants a wider array of hand positions, while the gradual, dual radius arc erases sharp angles and pressure points caused by more traditional drop shapes. The dual radius is also designed to make the brake levers reachable when riding in the drops.
Profile Design DRiVe bars come in three DRiVes:
- 1/ZeroFive (105mm DRiVe metric for smaller riders in 36, 38, 40 and 42cm widths)
- 1/Twenty (120mm DRiVe metric in 40, 42 and 44cm widths)
- 1/ThirtyFive (135mm DRiVe metric for taller, more broad-shouldered riders with larger hands in 42, 44 and 46cm widths).
Profile Design began in 1988. The company was born ‘dedicated to purposeful engineer multisport solutions through functional technology and turned the industry upside down in every category.’ For over 25 years, Profile Design has been an industry expert in multisport and cycling technology focusing on engineering, adjustability, fit and aerodynamics.
