Ovalized top sections separate bars designed for all-day comfort from bars designed purely for weight savings. The Roval Alpinist Handlebar manages both—167 grams in the 40cm width with ergonomic shaping drawn from thousands of Body Geometry fit sessions. That combination of low weight and refined hand positioning comes from Roval's engineering team, the same group responsible for the Tarmac SL8 and Aethos framesets where gram-counting meets real-world rideability. If you're building up an ultralight climbing rig or just want to drop grams from your current setup without downgrading comfort, this is the bar that doesn't ask you to choose.

The bar shape uses a compact 125mm drop paired with 75mm of reach, dimensions that work for riders who prefer a shallow bend without sacrificing leverage in the drops. A 4-degree flare at the drops increases wrist clearance and opens up your chest slightly when you're down low, which matters on longer efforts where restricted breathing becomes a factor. The flare is subtle enough that it won't feel unusual if you're coming from a traditional round bar, but the extra room adds up over hours in the saddle. Riders who stay in the drops during fast descents or paceline work will notice the difference in wrist angle immediately.

Weight savings of this magnitude typically require compromises somewhere. The Alpinist hits 15 percent lighter than Roval's S-Works Short and Shallow bar while maintaining equivalent stiffness. That's 30 grams less bar with no sacrifice in power transfer when you're standing on the pedals or sprinting for a town line. Carbon construction handles vibration damping without the harshness that sometimes accompanies ultralight components, so the Alpinist works for long days as well as race efforts. The layup delivers a balanced feel that transmits road information without punishing your hands on rough pavement.... Read More