Narrow handlebars?

[Xplora]

Inspired by my 3T thread and WTB post. I'm 6'2", and ride a sensible geometry 56/58 frame. I am given 44cm bars on the 58, 42cm bars on the 56, and I'm starting to wonder "maybe 40cm would be appropriate?". I've been using the Rotundo bars for commuting and find the horns TT position really comfortable on these bars, but I feel I'm too open at the front, and would benefit from a bit more aero tuck.

What experiences have people had with narrower bars? We're starting to compromise some serious leverage once we're down from 44 to 40 across

[rodneycc]

Unless you are a beanpole with no shoulders I wouldn't go there with the 40cm bars. I have 40cm bars on one of my bikes (42cm and 44cm on the others) and I ride a lot with heavy backpacks and find the 42s are fine but the 40 I get stiffness in the neck and shoulders. Its taken me ages to narrow the soreness down to the bars after thinking it was initially a frame size/geo issue and then a stem size issue but the latest theory is the bar size after a number of changes.

Maybe you need a backpack with a couple of bricks it it to test it out

[Xplora]

I am pretty slender - not quite Froome skeletal by any stretch, but point taken about the neck and shoulders - I had a shoulder massage at work and I'm feeling much more flexible through the traps and back than I usually would - especially when I'm not a sprinter, going in the break, more aero FTW!

[mitchy_]

if your shoulders are wider than the bars, i fail to see how you'll be more aero?

[danny the boy]

I've got 40 and 42's and swapped them around between different bikes. My view, all handlebars are different so it's hard to say one way or the other, I love the 40's when in the drops, feels comfy and handles well, on the hoods total opposite, climbing out of the saddle do not like at all. So the 42's are the bike I ride most, 40's are on a CX i just built and seem a good fit for that. I guess for criteriums narrower maybe better but for other riding I cant agree.

[macca33]

I'm 6'1" with larger shoulders and started with 44cm bars, then went to 42cm when I bought the CAAD10 - now using 42cm on all bikes. I mistakenly bought some 40cm bars (advertised by manufacturer as 42cm, but was bar-end, not width at hoods) and after fitting, immediately knew they were too narrow - I also got sore shoulders, etc.

I'd say stick with 42 - 44cm bars.

cheers

[Derny Driver]

Xplora - handlebar width is just a matter of personal preference. "Leverage" is not an issue because you dont use leverage to steer your bike. You lean it.
Narrower is more aero which is why we have the trend for super narrow bars on track bikes and why time triallists have their hands almost together in the tuck position.
I have no idea why bikes come standard with 44 cm bars these days. I guess manufacturers think everyone has the build of a gorilla. For about 80 years the standard width was 38cm then someone decided to change it.
My son is 6'2 and uses 42cm bars (I threw away the 44cm ones).

[g-boaf]

I don't know about you Xplora, but for me - and you know my build, I'm supposed to have 40cm bars. I've got 42cm on it at the moment and we've adjusted the hoods a bit to try and get around it until the 40cm bars do arrive. For me it isn't a matter of aero, but correct fit.

but I feel I'm too open at the front, and would benefit from a bit more aero tuck.

Why do you feel you'd benefit from this? More aero, or more comfort? Look at comfort and proper fit as the first priority. If they aren't right, then you won't perform properly because you'll be dealing with aches and pains. Don't just change them for the sake of aero alone. A bike-fitter can pick this easily enough.

Go talk to Tom Petty at Pave the way (http://www.pavetheway.cc/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) if you want a second opinion. He'll give you no nonsense advice.

[Xplora]

Should clarify that the most aero position is NOT the most comfortable or safe - face straight down, flat back, elbows together, completely impractical for riding except in a pursuit, maybe

I know there are limits around what you can cope with, width wise as well, you never know if you never try That said, I'm noticing I am much more comfortable with the Rotundos than the Bontrager "ergosum" bars, even on the same width.

[dalai47]

Will just take time to adapt.

I have continued to go narrower on all bikes - down to 40cm on the road bikes and just bought 37cm Scatto bars for the new track bike. Added benefit of narrow bars on top of aero is being able to slip through smaller gaps...

f your shoulders are wider than the bars, i fail to see how you'll be more aero?

Frontal area.

[coyote]

I use 40 cm bars on a 56 frame, I can ride a bike with 44 bars but one feels like superman with his arms spread out in front.

[CXCommuter]

Unless you are a beanpole with no shoulders I wouldn't go there with the 40cm bars. I have 40cm bars on one of my bikes (42cm and 44cm on the others) and I ride a lot with heavy backpacks and find the 42s are fine but the 40 I get stiffness in the neck and shoulders. Its taken me ages to narrow the soreness down to the bars after thinking it was initially a frame size/geo issue and then a stem size issue but the latest theory is the bar size after a number of changes.

Maybe you need a backpack with a couple of bricks it it to test it out

I am the exact opposite- used to ride with 44's- kept on tearing muscles in my mid back and getting a sore neck (caveat- I have an old whiplash injury with very, very tight facet joints in my neck), tried 40's at the LBS's recommendations- didn't resolve the issues but definitely helps, also doesn't slow me down. Biggest issue is the lack of usable real estate on the tops.

My new TCR has 42cm bars on it and I must say I prefer them to both the 40 and 44's, mainly due to being less stress on my back/neck (compared to 44s) but having more leverage and useable real estate than the 40's

[warthog1]

I am 184cm and 75kg ride a 56.5 cm tt frame nose of saddle ~5.5 cm behind bb 130mm stem. I have some of these in black and red;



3T ergonova team on the roadie and same shape but alloy on the commuter. They are 40cm c-c at the hoods but splay out to 42cm c-c at the drops = perfect for me. Best bars I've used

[fixedlegs2012]

Why wouldn't you go narrow? Its more aero. So many riders ride 42-44cm c-c because that's what came with the bike. Not many think about going narrow and being aero.

[m@]

Whoa - want those ones!

[ni78ck]

try the ENVE aero bars. 38cm at the hoods and 42cm on the drops!
they have a big flare out and are super stiff.

[Xplora]

Not digging the new school bar - traditional bend allows you to rest on the bars doing the TT by The Horns trick. I think it's just about time to pony up some cash and give the 40cm rotundo a crack.

[ldrcycles]

Not digging the new school bar - traditional bend allows you to rest on the bars doing the TT by The Horns trick.

I've got FSA bars and ride like that all the time. Started off with 44cm bars because they were supposed to be the "correct" size for me, now much happier on 42s and i'll try 40s when i get a chance.

[rodneycc]

Not digging the new school bar - traditional bend allows you to rest on the bars doing the TT by The Horns trick. I think it's just about time to pony up some cash and give the 40cm rotundo a crack.

These at Bikebug are the cheapest around I've seen in a while...

http://www.bikebug.com/3t-rotundo-team- ... -5707.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Xplora]

Ordered 40cm tornova alloys today from http://www.kangazilla.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; price was 3 bucks different to Bikebug and should be here tomorrow!

[toolonglegs]

Rule of thumb is your hips should fit inside your bars . I like 42cms or less.

[Strawburger]

Was riding for years on the 42's and felt like I was hanging sheets on the clothesline. On 38's now and loving it!

Im a small guy so the width is roughly my shoulder width (and hip width too )

[mikesbytes]

if your shoulders are wider than the bars, i fail to see how you'll be more aero?

Good question, it made me think. I'm assuming that aero is from the arms being aligned with your torso, not your shoulders as your arms are at the same height as the torso, which is lower than the shoulders

[CKinnard]

X, what's your shoulder width.
I agree with Derny and TLL on this. You'll only know when you try.
If you are not regularly out of the saddle sprinting, or climbing up 8+% hills, then there's no real need to stick to 44cm.

I think from a safety pov, narrower bars offer a hell of a lot of advantage. I've seen crashes on commute paths that would have been avoided with narrower bars....and same++ in races. You can get through gaps a lot safer too with narrow bars.

As for aero advantage, focus on getting a lower back angle. But be weary of iliac artery endofibrosus.
http://cyclingtips.com.au/2011/11/exerc ... ofibrosis/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/bicy ... opathy.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Xplora]

What point are we measuring our shoulders from? tip of the bone on top? Around the deltoid? I've got tons of space either side with the 44cm bars in the garage