width of bars

Standard advice is to size bars to match your shoulder width, but folks differ in terms of what feels comfortable. Sounds like you should go to narrower bars.

Here's a good link on handlebar width and shoulder measurements:
Find Your Bike Handlebar Width - bicycling.com

-Dave

slowfoot said:

i ride a stock specialized roubaix.

sometimes i feel the bars are too wide and make me significantly less aero.
my hands are wider than my shoulder width by 2-3 inches.

i cannot find info on the "ideal" bar width besides "what's comfortable". i don't think narrower bars would be uncomfortable.

where should i measure them also?

thanks

dave t

Put three people in a room and ask about 'ideal' handlebar width, get four opinions. What is comfy for you is what is comfy for you. If they 'feel' too wide, get a narrower one. The 'aerodynamics' of 2cm handlebar width differences is lost in the noise.

thanks

i'll measure my shoulders using the "formula". at least i will have a reference

i think the comfort factor will be more inportant than the aero

dave t

Better yet, go to a bike shop and get on bikes with different size handlebar widths to determine which feels best to you.

Forget formulas. FWIW, my shoulder width measures around 47cm but I run no wider than 38s on all my road bikes - feels most "comfortable" in the tight confines of crit racing...

slowfoot said:

i ride a stock specialized roubaix.

sometimes i feel the bars are too wide and make me significantly less aero.
my hands are wider than my shoulder width by 2-3 inches.

i cannot find info on the "ideal" bar width besides "what's comfortable". i don't think narrower bars would be uncomfortable.

The so-called conventional wisdom on what the handlebar width should be for any given rider has changed from the recommended width in the past, and it will probably change again at some point in the future -- that is ONE reason why finding a consenus is difficult.

Also, the riding conditions can influence whether you opt for a different width handlebar.

In that regard, wider (than "normal" for an individual) bars can be a good thing if the roads you ride involve a lot of "climbing" ... but, not 2-to-3 inches wider!

N.B. The length of the STEM will affect the way the same bars feel -- not that you should retain them, but as wide as YOUR current pair may be, they probably won't feel as uncomfortable if you were to change the stem for one that is shorter.

Regardless, if the bars feel to wide, then changing them to a narrower handlebar is something you should consider.

BTW. If you decide to shop for a narrower pair of handlebars, you need to know that the SHAPE + DROP & REACH may vary from handlebar to handlebar unless it is the same model from the same manufacturer; SO, decide if you like the shape of the drops or if a different shape might be better, too, when you are buying/ordering a new handlebar.

man,

too many variables as usual 🙂

but this'll give me a good reason to ride some of the new bikes!!

i didn't realize that there were so many styles. all i know is that i want to be narrower. when on the hoods i have to ?pronate my wrists to get comfortable (make like the bars are narrower)

i appreciate the inciteful replies.

dave t

I've alway gone by putting the bars up to my shoulders and resting them on that bone on each side, the scapular, and if the bars are the same width as the end of the scapulars then the bars will be good for me.
I've a narrow shouldered blok - 42cm c to c for me.

The idea of having wider bars doesn't gel with me - it would seem to give more arm strain supporting the upper body.