Choosing handlebar width?

"HardwareLust" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Any comments on choosing the proper (drop bar) handlebar
width? Is this like an "aero-penalty-versus-comfort" type
of thing? I was thinking a slightly wider bar (like a 46
vs. my current 44) might be more comfortable on the road.
Am I wrong in thinking this?

Handlebars as wide as your shoulders depends somewhat on how
you measure your shoulders. Another guideline is that the
handlebars should be as wide as the widest part of your
chest. Women with narrow shoulders may want to make their
handlebars as wide as their hips, otherwise their knees
could be bumping into the handlebars.

Yes, tourists often choose slightly wider handlebars for
more stability when you're riding on the brake hoods. Some
racers choose slightly narrower handlebars for more
maneuverability.

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In article <[email hidden]>,

HardwareLust said:

I've been told from several sources when fitting a road
bike, that you should choose bars that are approximately
shoulder width.

_ I think this is just a rule of thumb that works for most
people. A lot depends on the rest of your riding position.

Quoted message said:

It seems, after watching the pros on TV for several years,
that not everyone follows this particular bit of wisdom. It
would seem to me that some pros have bars that are wider
than what conventional wisdom would indicate.

_ Are they perhaps climbing or sprinting specialists? Wider
bars really help when you're out of the saddle.

Quoted message said:

Any comments on choosing the proper (drop bar) handlebar
width? Is this like an "aero-penalty-versus-comfort" type
of thing? I was thinking a slightly wider bar (like a 46
vs. my current 44) might be more comfortable on the road.
Am I wrong in thinking this?

_ Unfortunately, the only way to know is to try and a lot
depends on what you're used to. I road 38cm bars for years
because that was what was on my bike and poor grad students
don't have money to experiment. I've tried wider bars and
you can definitely go too wide. 42cm seems about right for
me, which is slightly narrower than the common wisdom would
suggest. At this point I'm only concerned with comfort on
long rides. I think wider is generally more comfortable
until you get wide enough that it gets difficult to ride in
the drops. Also, you have to look at the style of the bar,
IMHO the width across the top bends is much more important
than the width at the bar ends[1]. What works for me is to
have the bars "wide enough" so that your hands naturely rest
centered on the top of the drops before the brake levers. I
wouldn't get wider bars unless you feel like you have to
"squeeze in" to rest your hands on the bars.

_ Booker C. Bense

[1]- This is the standard place to measure bar width. On a
standard bend bar it's roughly the same, on a flared bar
it can be quite different.

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"HardwareLust" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've been told from several sources when fitting a road
bike, that you should choose bars that are approximately
shoulder width.

It seems, after watching the pros on TV for several years,
that not everyone follows this particular bit of wisdom.
It would seem to me that some pros have bars that are
wider than what conventional wisdom would indicate.

Any comments on choosing the proper (drop bar) handlebar
width? Is this like an "aero-penalty-versus-comfort" type
of thing? I was thinking a slightly wider bar (like a 46
vs. my current 44) might be more comfortable on the road.
Am I wrong in thinking this?

Unfortunately, handlebars seem to be one of those individual
preferences that is hard to experiment with. I retired an
old (42) set and replaced it with a 46 and kicked myself for
not doing it sooner. I have big shoulders, so I should have
known it would be better. I discovered that I didn't like
the shallower drops on the new ones though. Oh well, in
another few years I'll get to experiment again.

"HardwareLust" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I've been told from several sources when fitting a road
bike, that you should choose bars that are approximately
shoulder width.

It seems, after watching the pros on TV for several years,
that not everyone follows this particular bit of wisdom.
It would seem to me that some pros have bars that are
wider than what conventional wisdom would indicate.

Any comments on choosing the proper (drop bar) handlebar
width? Is this like an "aero-penalty-versus-comfort" type
of thing? I was thinking a slightly wider bar (like a 46
vs. my current 44) might be more comfortable on the road.
Am I wrong in thinking this?

Regards,
H.

I'm certainly no expert, but you are correct in my way
of thinking. You must've had "thoughts" about the wider
bar, and if you're a big person (6'+), a 46cm may be
just what you need?

Remember this, if your buying online, make sure you know if
the bar is measured center to center, or end to end on the
bars. Different Manufacturers use these two different
methods of sizing. Mark

If yr drop h-bars are narrower than yr shoulders, when u drop yr hands to the bars' lower level, u don't scratch inside yr forearms. This is nice. Plus, the narrower the bars, the smaller an item yr forearms are to slice thru the air. Their narrowness get u to improve yr grip, so broadens yr shoulders, narrows yr waist and sets yr head on straight.
Double-plus, if u hang off yr finger-ends bowing out with yr arms, u further bull yr chest, strengthen yr lower stomach and power on yr legs.
My h-bars are parallel, off a rod-n-lever. [Not light, but sturdy]. This sets my shoulders square, which is nice; the same as drops. Plus, when I drop my elbows to have a horizontal back and hang off my fingers, I can back-line my thumbs to tuck my elbows in my waist and be even more aerodynamic.
The bars are only 47 cms across, which is neatly narrow for winding thru the competition in a race, and shimmying thru traffic. And cool for parking.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by chillingaround [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

If yr drop h-bars are narrower than yr shoulders, when u drop yr hands to the bars' lower level, u don't scratch inside yr forearms. This is nice. Plus, the narrower the bars, the smaller an item yr forearms are to slice thru the air. Their narrowness get u to improve yr grip, so broadens yr shoulders, narrows yr waist and sets yr head on straight.
Double-plus, if u hang off yr finger-ends bowing out with yr arms, u further bull yr chest, strengthen yr lower stomach and power on yr legs.
My h-bars are parallel, off a rod-n-lever. [Not light, but sturdy]. This sets my shoulders square, which is nice; the same as drops. Plus, when I drop my elbows to have a horizontal back and hang off my fingers, I can back-line my thumbs to tuck my elbows in my waist and be even more aerodynamic.
The bars are only 47 cms across, which is neatly narrow for winding thru the competition in a race, and shimmying thru traffic. And cool for parking.

So very little of this has any basis in fact, and so very little of it is readable

Narrower bars are easier to race with.

But for most purposes whatever comes with the bike seems to work for most. (I replaced the handlebars on my newest bike after my accident. I could not find the shape of bars I liked in the width I was after. So I just took waht was available. No big deal.)

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Hardwarelust [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I've been told from several sources when fitting a road
bike, that you should choose bars that are approximately
shoulder width.

It seems, after watching the pros on TV for several years,
that not everyone follows this particular bit of wisdom. It
would seem to me that some pros have bars that are wider
than what conventional wisdom would indicate.

Good observation. Bars started getting wider around the mid-80s, ostensibly for opening the chest for easier breathing and better leverage for times when you pull on the bar hard. The down side is increased wind resistance and more bumping in tight double pacelines.

Decades ago, I got Fit-Kitted for 40 cm, medium drop, but I considered myself Eddy-size, and Eddy used a 42, deep drop, the widest bar Cinelli made at the time. When I finally pulled the plug (it was the late 1980s), I leapfrogged to a 44 and fell in love with it immediately. I've since tried a 42, finding it different but something I could still get used to.

Some racers and ex-racers might tell you narrower bars are better for sneaking through the peloton for sprints. For a definitive comment on that I'd consult Robbie McEwen.

Good observation.

My training partner and I were discussing this very subject only yesterday!

He's of the "wide handlebar persuasion" on the basis that they help open his shoulders/chest cavity and aids his breathing.

I've always used narrow handlebars because I taller and thinner and my shoulders aren't that broad.

I guess selecting what is appropriate is down to personal choice and physical build.