Bar Width?

donnie murdo

New to Road Biking and need to know what size is most common when it comes to handle bar width? I see that they come in 30,40,42 and 44 cm and I am not sure of the differences.

Can someone explain?

Cheers,

shaw8670

Bar width is usually measured "centre to centre" ie;from the centre of the outer part of the bar to the corresponding part at the other side. An average to large man will normally be fine with 42cm bars. Some (including Deda) measure "outside to outside". The manufacturer's website usually says. in which case add on 2cm. If in doubt phone the shop before ordering.

redddraggon

I use 46cm outside-to-outside (the widest I commonly see sold).

When I first got into road cycling I found finding a comfortable bike very difficult. I'm 5"8 but for some reason the first bike I bought was a size large - and came with 46cm bars (o-to-o). However I found the bike very comfortable albeit a bike stretched out for me.

When I came to buy my second bike I'd done a bit more research into bikes and found I needed a smaller frame size. However when I tried these so called better fitting bikes my shoulders kept wanting to give up and were painful. As it turns out I've got very wide shoulders needing the 46cm bars, but the frame size I needed invariably came with 42cm (o-to-o).

To cut along story short, the bars should be about the same width as your shoulders allowing your arms to be close to parallel if not slightly wider when on the hoods or drops. Too narrow bars will cause shoulder pain!

heavymental

Don't them too wide or it feels like you're riding a cow!

redddraggon

Heavymental wrote:

Don't them too wide or it feels like you're riding a cow!

I can't find any wider - otherwise I would get them! lol