Ritchey pulled inspiration from the randonneur world and pushed it toward the drop-bar mountain biker crowd with the WCS Beacon XL Handlebar. Its 520mm width from hood to hood and 36° flare equate to a massive 667mm width from end to end , which is a genuine departure from what most drop bars offer and puts this bar squarely in the conversation for anyone building a bikepacking rig or a drop-bar hardtail.

Triple-butted 7050 aluminum construction keeps the claimed weight at approximately 295 grams , and the shape carries a short 65mm reach paired with a shallow 80mm drop. That combination matters when you're spending hours in the drops on rough terrain — the shallow drop keeps you from getting stretched out on descents, and the short reach means the hoods sit closer to your body than a traditional road bar would place them. A 4.5° backsweep on the tops helps create a more natural hand position when you're grinding out flat sections with your hands on the flats.

The bar uses Ritchey's anatomical drop profile with two distinct hand positions — an angled section further up and a straight section toward the end of the bar , so you can shift between climbing posture and full descent grip without repositioning your hands dramatically. The ergonomic round top section gives you plenty of real estate for a third hand position when the terrain mellows out.