As 29ers have evolved and gained mainstream acceptance, we've witnessed riders drift from flat bars sporting ubiquitous barends to trendy moto-esque riser bars. However, after thousands of miles and countless forum flame wars, flat bars are now becoming the bars of choice for 29ers. And, Easton's aluminum flat bar, the EA70 XC Wide Handlebar, has quickly become one of the more popular handlebars for both the 29er and single-speed sects.

This is because they deliver the width and sweep of a riser bar, without raising the front end even higher than it already is. Another reason for this bar's popularity is its 685mm (27in) width, and Easton's reputation for making quality components.

Each design has to pass rigorous testing developed through more than two decades of refinement for sports as widely varied as baseball, hockey, and lacrosse. And to ensure the utmost quality, the testing is done at Easton's in-house quality lab. A result of this testing, Easton increased this bar's wall thickness in the clamping areas to make sure they're plenty strong.

The Easton EA70 XC Wide Handlebar features an ergonomic, wrist-pleasing nine-degree bend and has a 31.8mm clamp diameter. Its durable anodized black finish will look great for many miles.