Cyclocross handlebars - narrower than a road bike?

[Bryan C]

I recently bought a Fuji Cross, frame size 54cm. The handlebars are a
very narrow 40cm, as opposed to the 42cm that came on my Fuji Roubaix.
At the bike shop, the salesmen told me that cyclocross bikes are
supposed to have a smaller handlebar, so that they can clear trees
better. True? Is this accepted cyclocross wisdom?

I bought the bike mostly for road/commuting, but I am having so much
fun on this bike that I am considering trying a cyclocross race. I
actually need at least a 44cm handlebar, so this 40cm is very cramped.
But I don't want to change it if this is "the setup". Thanks

 

[maxo]

On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 04:58:37 -0700, Bryan C wrote:

> "the setup"

is the one that works best for you.

I've uglified my traditional old steel bike by adding Ritchey bars with
those ergo bends.

tradition be damned, I'm comfy now.

 

[Booker C. Bense]

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In article <[email protected]>,
Bryan C <[email protected]> wrote:
>I recently bought a Fuji Cross, frame size 54cm. The handlebars are a
>very narrow 40cm, as opposed to the 42cm that came on my Fuji Roubaix.
>At the bike shop, the salesmen told me that cyclocross bikes are
>supposed to have a smaller handlebar, so that they can clear trees
>better. True? Is this accepted cyclocross wisdom?

_ Doesn't make much sense to me. Cyclocross races are not single
track MTB races and even then the widest drop bars are
significantly narrower than most MTB flat bars. Wider bars make
slow speed handling, climbing and steep dirt descents easier.

_ Here's a very helpful article on cyclocross bike fit.

http://www.bike.com/template.asp?date=9/27/2001&lsectionnumber=5

>
>I bought the bike mostly for road/commuting, but I am having so much
>fun on this bike that I am considering trying a cyclocross race. I
>actually need at least a 44cm handlebar, so this 40cm is very cramped.
>But I don't want to change it if this is "the setup". Thanks

_ "The setup" is the one that fits you best. On my cross bike I
run a bar that's really a bit wider than I like since I have
much better control on the descents. I also highly recommend a
set of inline brake levers for the bar tops if you don't have
them already. I don't race though, so I may have it all wrong.
This setup works fine for fire road blasting though.

_ Booker C. Bense

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