Borrowing shapes from their ultralight MCD E100 carbon bar, the new AX drop bars bring a much wider flare to their new “Adventure Cross” series.
Two models will be offered, the aluminum EA70 AX and the carbon fiber EC70 AX. They use the same top shape and 80mm reach of the MCD, but push the drops’ flare from 4º to a whopping 16º. That puts them wide enough to all but eliminate any wrist contact with the upper part of the bar when you’re trying to go aero on the rough stuff. That figure, says Easton, is the widest they could go and still give you full control of brake and shift levers.
Both bars have a 120mm drop and 80mm reach and come in 40, 42 and 44 cm widths measured center to center at the hoods. The drops’ flare adds 68mm to the overall width. The $283 EC70 AX comes in at a claimed 220g (42cm), and the $120 EA70 adds 70g to come in at 290g.