Zipp

I love this handlebar. I came from the aluminum version of the SL 70 XPLR, and the difference in vibration control is much bigger than I expected. The carbon bar does an excellent job taking the edge off rough gravel and trail chatter without feeling soft or disconnected. On longer rides, especially over washboard and rougher sections, my hands and arms definitely notice the difference. The shape and flare work great for gravel, and it pairs really well with my riding style. Whether I'm cruising gravel roads or heading onto singletrack, it gives me a comfortable, controlled feel. I honestly wasn't expecting the carbon version to make this much difference, but after riding it, I wouldn't go back to aluminum. The added details are also really well thought out. The dedicated cable-routing grooves keep everything clean, and the built-in indentations for blips are a great touch. I run blips on mine, and the combination works incredibly well.

I purchased these for my 2026 Trek Checkpoint SL6 that i got earlier this year. I chose the SL6 over the SL7 specifically because i wanted more choice over the carbon wheels. After months of research i settled on these. I am using them with the Goodyear Slick 40mm tires. I have picked up 1-1.5 mph consistently on my usual rides versus the stock wheels.

These maintain speed in a way that is very noticeable and make the ride very comfortable. Pavement bumps that used to be jarring you barely notice with these. Cornering feel is very predictable. I would highly recommend these!

GP 5000 30 tubeless

Great tire for all around road riding in hilly and mountainous areas.

Acceleration is fast. They hold speed well enough on the flats. Compared to an enve 4.5 or a roval clx they are less fatiguing (for a lighter weight rider) in crosswinds. They make it easier for me to ride longer in both flat and hilly terrain. Climbing is noticeably easier with these wheels. The road feels flatter no matter the grade below 5-6%. The biggest surprise is how well they descend. In high mountain area these are exceptionally good for technical descending. They mute crosswinds and respond well to slight changes bike and body direction. When descending in hilly terrain they are stable and confidence inspiring at high speed. The hub is a little louder than an enve but not nearly as loud as a scope or cadex.

This is my second set of the Zipp Service Course SL-70 XPLR handlebars. The first was given to me by JOM of gravelcyclist.com for review. I loved them back in 2019, and I love them now.

The shape is so perfectly designed for off-road drop bar bike use. I feel like Zipp hired a team of kinesiologists to figure out exactly how people move from the hoods to the drops and back when designing the shape of the bend, the depth of the drop, the angle of flare, and clamping area for the levers. Moving between positions is so natural. The kinesiologists then stuck around to figure out the back sweep angle on the tops. Every position on the bars is perfect and I never feel any discomfort when on them for long periods of time. The terrain in my area is made up of steady river roads punctuated by steep ramps up and down. Being able to naturally move from tops/hoods when climbing one of the steep ramps to the drops when descending gives you a lot of confidence.

Another great feature of these bars is the channel for routing brake hoses and shift outers (should you have them). Internal routing is cool too, but I don't want it on a bike that is primarily used on unpaved roads. With these bars, I don't have to hear hoses rattle in the bars or frame, and I can easily replace headset bearings that see all sorts of dirt. The channel hides the hoses, prevents rattling, and eliminates the need for colorful language when servicing the headset.

These bars are great. Get them and enjoy your dirt road drop bar bike even more than you already do.