This really is an awesome bar for tarmac gravel riding. The Cowbell bar integrates great with the newer STI-type shiftbrake levers, producing a very flat junction from lever to bar. The Cowbell has enough angle to the drops to improve comfort while riding on the hoods, and the shallow drop with moderate flare allow me to use the drops more often, especially on gravel. This is a very comfortable bar for gravel riding, where you want the ability to roam all over the bar, depending on the terrain. My 42cm was about 280 grams, on my scale.
These shallow drop bars are perfect for gravel touring. More hand positions are always a good thing. Flare is a nice compromise.
Got the 46 width, descending and technical stuff is much easier, feels like I'm almost mountain biking...Highly recommended.
Smaller flare gives me road bike feel at the hoods and the flare makes a huge difference descending on gravel trail.
These bars are on my 'cross bike and I super duper love them. I have very broad shoulders and the slight flare of the drops allows me to not feel so crowded when I ride. They also provide an extra amount of leverage and control when trying to maneuver around some tight spots or when slogging it out through some mud.
The flair in the bars provides more stability by being slightly wider. I may put a set on my Madone as well as my Salsa Warbird
