Ritchey RL1 VentureMax Bar Black

Tom Ritchey has been riding off-road and riding far – and designing products for such adventures – decades before anyone thought to call it “gravel riding” or “bikepacking.” His real-life experiences directly inform every product made by Ritchey – such as the beloved VentureMax handlebar. With its short reach, shallow drop and purposeful flare, the original VentureMax offers comfort and confidence to legions of riders looking to settle in and have some fun on those dirty drop bar adventures.

Like its WCS- and Comp-level siblings, the new RL1 VentureMax is influenced by those life experiences and inspires riders to chase gravel and other mixed surface adventures. But the RL1 VentureMax also delivers Ritchey’s unwavering reliability and practical performance for budget-minded riders looking for components to upgrade their current ride or to complete their next build.

With its round tops, short reach, and shallow drop the RL1 VentureMax offers multiple hand positions for comfort and confidence on any ride. Bolstering its comfort and performance in the rough stuff is its wide 24-degree flare at the drops. But it’s the Bio-bend in the drop that adds yet another design element that is practical and welcome for whatever surface you choose to ride upon and for however long your adventure endures.

• Width is measured at the initial bend rather than at the hood