Bars too narrow?
thegreatdivide
Posts: 5,807
At the moment I have 40cm c2c Ritchey bars on my Izoard but reading about how the size of the bars should relate to your shoulder width I'm starting to think they could be too narrow for me. I'm only 5' 7.5" but I have very broad shoulders - roughly 46cm wide. Coincidentally I've started getting a dull ache in my right shoulder - although I've had the bike since Oct last year and this is the first ache I've suffered.
Should I change them?
Should I change them?
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Comments
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yep, to narrow they effect your breathing as well, you will notice when you change, if you change0
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Thanks nakita222, I'll get on the case now...0
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My LBS measured my shoulders and recommended that I buy 44-46cm depending on how they are measured.
Changed all my bikes over and it made a massive difference.0 -
You can think and think about bar width but nothing will put you as straight as buying some in a different width and actuall trying them.
Note that the way manufacturers measure bars varies. I have always used 3T and know that they are measured outside-outside at the ends, but can't speak for other brands.0 -
The narrowest I would consider is 42cm and my shoulders aren't 46cm.
You need 46cm bars.0 -
So how do you measure shoulder width??? Suspect i need a wider set as well...0
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Measure the width of your elbows tucked into the side of your chest - should roughly correspond to centre-to-centre width of your bars. FWIW over the years, bar width has got wider and wider - before aero bars, people rode narrow roads bars for aerodynamics - it didn't stop them from going quite quick.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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A lot is personal preference - I bought a set of fairly wide bars based on the idea they should match your shoulder width - I don't like them. Personally if you are otherwise happy with your bars I wouldn't change them just because you have a shoulder ache - it could be caused by any number of things.
The idea that narrow bars restrict your breathing is a myth imo - certainly people manage to breathe OK with much narrower set ups on time trial bikes.
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.0 -
