Gravel and allroad cyclists tend to favor a wider bar design at the end of the drop for greater leverage and control on rougher surfaces. If you are looking for a cost-effective flared (12-degree) handlebar with compact geometry and a 15mm rise from the stem mount position, the Specialized Hover Alloy Flare +15 Handlebar could be your new bar. Specialized has worked for many years to improve and create options directly related to rider fit positioning and overall comfort. Hence the Body Geometry direction of shoes, saddles and gloves- the physical interfaces were the cyclist meets the bike. Yet the development of component designs that can offer new opportunities or starting points has always been in play, at several price points and material options. In most regards this is a shallow, short reach alloy handlebar, but the Hover designation speaks to lift, or rise, and the top sections of the bar do in fact rise from the horizontal axis of the stem clamp zone by 15mm.

The Hover Flare design can be used in a fit environment on an existing bike, say in a situation where the steerer was cut short, or the rider has lost flexibility. It can also be used in fitting a new bike with a forward thinking approach for future or variable needs. Perhaps the rider normally heads out for 2-3 hours on average, but once or twice a year takes on a century or long benefit with friends. Being able to raise the cockpit for the longer rides can be real comfort advantage and the 12-degree flare gives you the width and leverage you need for greater control. Options are good.

As noted, along with the flare this is a shallow compact drop curve, at 123mm, with a complementary 75mm reach. This allows for quick hand transitions, but maybe a bit tight for average to large hands. The drop gives you a physical structure that offers leverage and an immediate tactile safety response. The radius of the bar is fully compatible with current Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo levers in all variations, and puts brake lever reach in the best possible place while still allowing full lever pull and shift functions. Even wrapped in moderately thick tape, hand pressure and grip on the shape offers effective control.