Loaded gravel bikes need a cockpit that stays comfortable long after the pavement ends, and the Ritchey Comp VentureMax XL is built around that specific problem. Taking the idea of the original Comp VentureMax to the next level, or rather width, the Comp VentureMax XL widens it way up to a full 52cm , giving you the leverage and stability that heavier bikepacking rigs demand on chunky descents and loose corners. That extra width also means room to spare on the tops for a bar bag, a computer mount, and a light or two without everything fighting for real estate against your hands.

The bar is measured at the initial bend rather than at the hoods, which is the honest way to spec a flared drop bar. With 24 degrees of drop flare and 6 degrees of flare out , your hands sit meaningfully wider in the drops than at the hoods — the drops become a legitimate control position for rough terrain rather than a tuck-and-hope option. Reach comes in at 75mm and drop at 102mm , keeping the transition between hoods and drops manageable so you actually use the full bar instead of camping on the tops all day.

Up top, the aero-shaped 38x22.5mm tops flatten out the round tubing into an ergonomic shelf for your palms, and the 4.6-degree back sweep angles the grip into a more natural wrist position for long days in the saddle. The bar is built from double-butted 6061 alloy , which is the sweet spot for gravel duty — durable enough to shrug off rough surfaces and the occasional bag-strap abuse, without the price tag of a carbon bar you'd worry about scratching.... Read More