In a world of electronic shifting and hydraulic disc brakes, the humble handlebar still matters. The Canyon H21 matters a great deal. It is, quite simply, one of the finest flat bars ever to grace a production bicycle.

If you swap a standard Canyon aluminum flat bar for the H21, the first thing you’ll notice is the silence. Aluminum rings like a bell; it transfers every vibration from the tire contact patch directly to your palms. The H21 dampens that frequency. It turns the chaotic static of a rough trail into a dull, manageable hum. You will ride faster simply because you aren’t subconsciously braking to spare your hands.

Because of the 9-degree sweep, standard lock-on grips fit perfectly. However, you may notice that the end of the bar has a specific inner diameter to accommodate bar-end plugs. Use expanding rubber plugs, not cheap plastic hammer-in caps, to avoid cracking the carbon edge.