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What is the result when you add the 31.8 handlebar standard to the 35 handlebar standard?
Can someone explain why that would actually be a bad idea though and why MTB bars are round?
It's not that dissimilar to what roadies have had for a decade or more now.
Assuming it’s not an April fools, I think that if the round parts of the handlebar were ovalised, this would stop bar accessories (lights, bells, grips, lights, phones), from slipping around.
likewise, you see risers (monkey) bars with an extra brace/ support.
But the brace is so spindly and narrow, that it’s effectively useless for mounting any extra accessories.
Assuming it’s not an April fools
I'm fairy sure it is, I just can't figure out why it's not done.
From an engineering perspective, I think the half-circle shape would put too much stress in the corners, but you could have a round clamp and then blend it into a propper flattened oval, which is pretty much what drop bars do.
I think that if the round parts of the handlebar were ovalised, this would stop bar accessories (lights, bells, grips, lights, phones), from slipping around.
Sounds like a positive, but most things seem to mount above/below a garmin style out-front mount anyway these days so adapter compatibility isn't critical either.
likewise, you see risers (monkey) bars with an extra brace/ support.
But the brace is so spindly and narrow, that it’s effectively useless for mounting any extra accessories.
Maybe that just proves the point that actually we do like our bars vertically stiff and lateral compliance was never an issue after all, so a round bar is a perfectly good compromise.