Swept-back handlebars solve a specific problem that flat bars create—wrist strain from the unnatural palm-down position that comes with straight grips. The Ritchey Comp El Camino addresses this with 45 degrees of backsweep that rotates your wrists into a more neutral position, reducing the tension that builds up through your forearms on longer rides. This isn't a subtle ergonomic tweak; that much sweep fundamentally changes how your upper body relates to the bike, shifting your hands from a motorcyle-style grip to something closer to how you'd hold trekking poles.

The 660mm width and 20mm rise put this bar squarely in commuter and touring territory rather than aggressive trail riding. You're giving up some of the precise steering input that comes with wider, flatter bars in exchange for an upright posture that keeps weight off your hands and opens up your chest for easier breathing. The 31.8mm clamp diameter works with standard stems, so you're not locked into proprietary cockpit components to run this setup.

Material choice here is double-butted aluminum with shot-peened finishing—the same construction approach Ritchey uses across their component line to balance weight against durability. The butting process thickens material at stress points while thinning it where loads are lower, which keeps the bar from becoming unnecessarily heavy while maintaining the strength needed to handle the leverage forces that come with such aggressive sweep angles. For commuters, bikepackers, and anyone dealing with hand numbness on standard flat bars, the El Camino geometry offers a genuine solution rather than just a different aesthetic.