Flared drops have become the default for gravel handlebars, but plenty of riders find that geometry creates wrist angles that don't work for their anatomy or riding style. The Ritchey WCS Skyline takes a different approach—a compact road bar shape with a shallow drop and short reach that positions your hands closer to the controls without the outward sweep that defines most adventure-oriented designs. For gravel riders who came up on road bikes and prefer that familiar hand position, or who run primarily on fire roads where aerodynamic tuck matters more than technical descending leverage, the Skyline delivers a proven ergonomic platform in Ritchey's WCS-grade aluminum construction.

The bar's geometry centers on accessibility. A 125mm drop and 73mm reach put the drops within easy rotational range of the hoods, which means you're more likely to actually use both positions rather than camping on the tops because the drops feel too far away. This compact shaping works particularly well for riders with smaller hands or those who've struggled to find comfortable drop positions on traditional 130mm+ drop bars. The 4-degree flare adds subtle outward angle in the drops without dramatically changing the bar's character—enough to open your chest slightly on longer efforts, not enough to require brake and shifter repositioning if you're coming from a road setup.

Ritchey builds the Skyline from double-butted 7050 aluminum, a material grade that allows wall thickness variation for weight optimization while maintaining the stiffness needed for responsive handling. The WCS designation indicates Ritchey's competition-level component tier, which means tighter manufacturing tolerances and quality control than their Comp line. A 31.8mm clamp diameter fits standard oversized stems, and the matte black finish resists showing cable rub and minor scratches better than gloss alternatives.... Read More