Handlebar Sizing

I use the Felt Geometry Downloads website, they have them going up as the frame size increases, stem length and crank length are also proportional.

What size do you ride?

gclark8 said:

I use the Felt Geometry Downloads website, they have them going up as the frame size increases, stem length and crank length are also proportional.

What size do you ride?

I ride 56 cm. Stem length undetermined at this time.
Carl

This may help. Error on a wider bar than narrower bar.

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/bikefit/

gclark8 said:

I use the Felt Geometry Downloads website, they have them going up as the frame size increases, stem length and crank length are also proportional.

What size do you ride?

What is the correlation between frame size and handlebar width?

I thought that the handlebars were always sized to the distance between the shoulder joints of the rider.

HappyGilmore said:

I need to know what the rule of thumb is for sizing the width of my handlebars. This is for drops on a road bike. C to C. Can somebody help?
Thanks, Carl

My understanding is that the bar width should be equal to your shoulder width. This allows your arms to be parallel when in the drop and over the hood. Wider bars are fine but there's an aero penalty for going wider.

HappyGilmore said:

I ride 56 cm. Stem length undetermined at this time.
Carl

Then a 42 or 44cm depending on your build.

C-C. Ideally should be as wide as your shoulder bone.

gclark8 said:

Then a 42 or 44cm depending on your build.

Perfect! I always knew that you used shoulder width (for mtb) i didn't realize that it applied to road. I'm deciding on 42cm.
Thanks, Carl

HappyGilmore said:

Perfect! I always knew that you used shoulder width (for mtb) i didn't realize that it applied to road. I'm deciding on 42cm.
Thanks, Carl

Never been one to subscribe to convention - I have wide shoulders but use a 38cm c-c bar. In crits I like having the narrowness to be able to manuever in tight spots, and during road races I appreciate the greater aerodynamics over using the wider bars. I find there's absolutely no loss of control. Use what works for you...not what everyone says you should...

HappyGilmore said:

I need to know what the rule of thumb is for sizing the width of my handlebars. This is for drops on a road bike. C to C. Can somebody help?
Thanks, Carl

i agree with Tonyzachary's response. Whereas a shoulder width rule of thumb is a reasonable starting point, individual rider preference and comfort are probably more important determinants. Some small riders like wider bars, and some broader shouldered riders like narrower bars.

+1 on the narrow bars for crit racing, I use 42s which based on my shoulder width probably would be too small.

tonyzackery said:

Never been one to subscribe to convention - I have wide shoulders but use a 38cm c-c bar. In crits I like having the narrowness to be able to manuever in tight spots, and during road races I appreciate the greater aerodynamics over using the wider bars. I find there's absolutely no loss of control. Use what works for you...not what everyone says you should...

I guess contrary to conventional wisdom, the narrow bars haven't restricted your chest expansion and breathing.