Here at Velorution we strive to provide options to suit everyone. We’re getting kind of obsessed.

Sure, we specialise in high-quality town, folding and Christiana cargo bikes but we also do our very best to make sure every cyclist gets the exact ride they want. (See our Scorcher – we provide a sturdy steel base frame, let you choose your components and build it up bespoke for you in our London workshop.)

So, what’s our current bugbear? Handlebars. And the gloriously vast variety of them. So huge in fact, that our head mechanic Roman is on a mission to make Velorution the most thoroughly stocked supplier of handlebars in London.

“I think that handlebars are something that completely changes the character of a bike, so we plan to stock as many as possible in the next year” he says. “They can totally change the look and feel of a bike.” But he’s quick to add that it is the “feel” rather than the “look” that is crucial.

Drop bars may look hardcore, but are not exactly the most practical of positions when it comes to navigating London streets with a shopping bag. Ever-narrowing risers, too, are growing in popularity but can prove troublesome if you want to attach a basket or babyseat to your bike.

So, in addition to carrying a bunch of bars from Deda, Cinelli, ITM, Woodman, Zenith, Dimension, Raleigh, Acor, Truvative, Gran Comp, Outland, Etc…, Pro and all three of the Pashely-specific bars, Roman has made sure we’re now stocking some very sought-after new-look French-style classics from Velo Orange and Nitto.

Says Roman with a prideful glint: “We were the first suppliers of VO and Nitto French-style handlebars in London.” All the bars sit perfectly on classic Dutch bikes, so pop into the shop or email us to talk to the city’s handlebar expert – our head mechanic, Roman.

About the bars

Belleville (VO) -

Belleville

In keeping with the traditional French style, the Belleville bars stretch a very narrow 43cm (45mm outside-to outside). With zero rise, a generous 150mm of grip and a diameter of 23.8mm, the bars accept inverse brake levers or bar end gears. Reach is roughly 18cm. Subtle VO logos are laser etched under the grips. 25.4mm clamp area.

Great for urban riding; the narrow, light bars (Aluminum alloy) facilitate excellent manoeuvrability through bustling city streets.

Montmartre (Nitto/VO)

VO/Nitto Montmatre handlebars

Another narrow French bar (42cm center-to-center) but this time with the added strength (yet light weight) known from Nitto, these alloy bars are a thing of beauty. The rise on the Montmartre bar is about 6cm and reach about 18cm. Grip area is around 12cm. Clamp diameter is 25.4mm on both.

With Nitto craftmanship and a classic French design, the Montmatre match strength with style.

Porteur (VO)

VO Porteur Handlebars

Bars made for style mavens and history buffs, the shiny new Porteur have been crafted in homage to the now-defunct NOS Belleri Porte handlebars. They are 48cm wide; reach is 14cm and grip area about 13cm. They have about 2cm of drop, providing a gentler transition than the Belleri originals. The clamp area is 25.4mm and like the Belleville are made from 23.8mm tubing so can take inverse levers or bar-end shifters.