Working with CFD specialist Jens Brix Christensen, we went through many iterations of possible cross sections and designs to minimize within the parameters given by ergonomic and structural requirements.

Not just wanting to rely on CFD, we brought the BST Road to the legendary GST wind tunnel. It confirmed an improvement of 8.8 W at 45 km/h compared with the already sleek ICH stem and a regular handlebar. This equates to roughly 52 seconds saved over 40 km. That is in the ballpark of a deep section aero wheel vs. an aluminum rim.

A handlebar can only be fast if the rider feels comfortable on it. By truncating it, we eliminated the sharp trailing edge of a typical aero profile, making it much more friendly to grip.

The reach number of your handlebar only tells half the story. Our very round transition into the drops places the lever hoods close to the tops for a short effective reach. The bigger radius also allows for easier adjustments of your lever position.

We consulted several bike fitting and bio mechanics experts before settling for our bar widths. The consensus was that the traditional 40-44 cm bars are too wide to match the general population. Did you know the average shoulder width of women is 35 cm, and even men average only 40 cm? Therefore, we chose to offer one size smaller than what is traditionally done. As a nice bonus, a reduced bar width also means better aerodynamics.

A 6° flare gives you a relaxed and aerodynamic position when in the hoods, 2 cm narrower then the drops. It also gives you full leverage and wrist clearance when in the drops.

Thanks to its efficient shape, the BST Road weighs just 315 g. That is lighter than most aero bar stem units on the market, and roughly the same weight as a lightweight round bar combined with a regular stem. So you get all the aero benefits without paying in weight.

We intentionally decided against using a step that defines the end of the bar tape, for several reasons:

• It leaves you the choice to wrap the bar tape the way it suits your riding style and road conditions best.
• Lighter and stronger: a step acts as a stress riser and increases the chance for manufacturing defects.
• More aerodynamic: Without a step, we can continue the minimal required profile thickness for less frontal surface.
  

With cable integration becoming the new normal, unfortunately most manufacturers went with their own, proprietary spacer shape. Token's Cable Box is a notable exception, offering a modular system that is used by many brands. Therefore, it was an easy decision to make the BST Road fit the Token spacers.

Following the same mounting standard as many other bars on the market, the BST Road fits many GPS mounts available on the market. For the ultimate integration and aerodynamics, a Rocket Mount will become available.