Flat bars etc

PeteinSQ
PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
edited August 2008 in Workshop
My wife has (in addition to her road bike) a Specialized Sirrus which she has had for something like 4 years. I want to renovate it for her and one of the most obvious things that is wrong with it is that the bars are miles too wide for her. I think Specialized fitted the same width bars to all of the different frame sizes and she has one of the very smallest frame sizes that they did that year.

So the way I see it I have two options, option one is to cut the bars down to size, option two is to buy some new narrower bars. I don't like option one very much as it sounds like things could go horribly wrong. That leaves me with option two.

How do you determine the correct width? Which bars should I buy (entry level ones from someone like Easton would do), how do I determine what size stem she has now (i.e. what is the measurement to take?).
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Comments

  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    option 1 is the easier.....

    take the grips off (use WD40), move the levers/shifters inwards to the desired position - the bulge in the centre of the bar will stop the shifter brackets at some point. Add on the width of the grips and mark where you want the cut.

    Measure the mark from the end and place an equivalent mark on the other side of the bar.

    Then either with the bar on the bike, or remove and hold in a vice, cut the bra with a suitable, sharpish 24tpi hacksaw.

    Refit all the gubbins and you're laughing. In practice you can't go much narrower than about 48cm. Something like 50-51cm will be fine. Comfy yet fairly fast.

    If you buy a barthen chances are you'll need to chop it down anyway.

    Having said all this I've got loads of bars in the workshop that are already trimmed. Pm if you want one.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    maddog 2 wrote:
    in a vice, cut the bra with a suitable, sharpish 24tpi hacksaw.

    That some industrial underwear!
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    Thanks for the advice and the kind offer of the bars. If I make a mess of it I may come back to you on that offer!
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  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    I always dress to impress (in the garage)

    basically the mistakes you could make are

    - not measuring it correctly (cut it too short, cut it assymmetrically etc.)

    - or cut it wonky (just use some insulation tape or and old bar end as a guide)

    other than that it's straightforward
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer

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