42cm bars, 46cm shoulders.- wider bars - what do I need?

dru

Last month I bought a custom build bike from a person of similar height and inside leg.

I've used the several 'perfect position' guides that are out and about there and I have discovered that I am somewhat wider than the previous owner and need to find out what I can do.

The bike currently has on a ITM 42cm handle bar.... I've measured my width at the shoulders and I'm like 46-47cm

My question is - is the 42cm FAR too restrictive or should I upgrade to a 44 or 46 or even wider??

Also the next question would be, presumably as long as I buy a hanblebar with the same size bars 26mm then all of my original gears brakes stem aero bars etc will fit straight on.

I guess the last thing is I would also need to buy more tape as you can not reapply old tape right?

Sorry for the silly questions - I'm still on that first learning curve

Best Regards,


Dru.

Slow Downcp

I use 46cm bars, and I think 42cm would restrict my breathing and affect comfort. If you change, you just need to make sure that the bars are the same size (standard as opposed to OS), everything else should just fit on. Remember though that different bars have different shapes, so it's worth checking a few for shape etc.

Also worth getting new tape - you may be able to reuse if you take off with care, but for what bar tape costs it's not worth it.

dru

thanks for the reply

Regarding the size of the handlebars - I've got quite small hands - is it normal for me to struggle if I have my hands down to reach the brakes - or should I look at getting 'shallow drops' etc for instance - a ladies fit or something like that?

antfly

You should get bars with a shortish reach if you have small hands, something like the Fsa Omega compact which also have a shallow drop. As for width it just depends what feels comfortable. I always felt a bit cramped with my 42 bars but put with it until last week when I put 44`s on. My shoulders are about the same as yours but 46 would have been too wide. I haven`t ridden it yet but it certainly feels better.

dru

thanks for the tip.

Do the FSA's Omega compacts come in regular size 26mm? I can only find O/S ones at the mo?

Slow Downcp

Dru wrote:

thanks for the tip.

Do the FSA's Omega compacts come in regular size 26mm? I can only find O/S ones at the mo?

Are you sure they're not OS? It's only the part that clamps the stem that's 31.8mm on OS bars.

dru

just checked - and my current bars are 26mm at the clamp.

Does this limit my options?

If my stem is not correct then I night have to get a new one anyway - but I don't want to buy a stem if the current one is ok (deda Zero t6 100mm) just to fit a new handlebar.