Handlebar Width - Pros and Cons

bernithebiker

I'm riding a 42cm (end to end, not centre to centre) handlebar.

My shoulder width is 41cm.

As I'm building up a new bike, I'm tempted to go for a 40cm bar, this one in fact;

http://www.syntace.com/index.cfm?pid=3&pk=1831

Any ideas on pros and cons? Here's what I reckon;

Pros; more aero (arms more in line with body), possibly more comfortable, touch lighter

Cons; could feel constricted, perhaps less leverage when sprinting or 'en danseuse'.

mfin

I think it's more important to actually feel that new bar in your hands and see what you think, they all feel different after all don't they.

drlodge

Definately have a feel on different width bars, its a very personal thing. I have 44cm c-to-c bars on my Rourke which are quite wide (obviously) and I prefer the feel of them - it opens up the chest area although is a little less aero. When I get on the CX which has 42cm bars it feels considerably narrower.

mfin

Here's another bar in the same ballpark for you Bernie, same drop within 1mm but 5mm less reach (but still not daftly short on the reach like an Ergonova) http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/zipp-contour-sl-short-shallow-road-bar (measured O to O again) ...it's quite nice as it's flatish on the top. I was looking for bars with a bit less drop but without going too short on the reach and this fitted the bill, so maybe an alternative to the Syntace you are looking at.

ai_1

Well my shoulders are significantly wider than yours at around 45 or 46cm IIRC. I originally used 44cm bars and was perfectly happy with them. Then I wanted to clamp my clip-ons to the bars so needed new bars with more clamping area - the LBS happened to have a set of suitable 42cm bars they'd taken off another bike which I got cheap. They seemed a smidge narrow at first but I quickly got used to them and if anything I preferred them. My new bike also has 42cm bars Ritchey WCS Evo Curve but the 42cm is measured at the end of the drops which flare out like the Syntace ones in your link. Therefore the hoods are actually much closer together (About 400mm I think) than my previous 42cm bars. It originally felt slightly cramped although I seem to have adapted and I haven't noticed it causing any discomfort on long rides. A few weeks ago I was planning to change them but now I think I might wait and see. I do still find the bike a little less stable than the old one when sprinting. Not sure if the bar width is responsible since the whole bike is different but i think it may be.
I'd agree with your pros and cons. If the narrower bar puts your arms more straight forward then I'd go for it. For me the unflared 42cm bars were probably most in-line and were very comfortable. The narrower bars do reduce lateral leverage "en danseuse" but I think they've forced me to adopt a more stable position and improved my out of the saddle technique.

Moonbiker

I notice alot of newer bikes generally seem to have wider bars than most older ones for some reason, seems a fashion/trend for wider bars.

Dippydog2

I recently bought a bike with the same width bars as my existing one. When I compared it though they were two cm different. If seems one manufacturer measured bar end centre to bad end centre and the other measures outside edges.

Buyer beware.

I have got used to it though.

mfin

Dippydog2 wrote:

I recently bought a bike with the same width bars as my existing one. When I compared it though they were two cm different. If seems one manufacturer measured bar end centre to bad end centre and the other measures outside edges.

Buyer beware.

I have got used to it though.

Yep, this is quite a normal thing to look out for. Some bars are also narrower at the hoods, and can be measured there or at the bar ends.

bernithebiker

mfin wrote:

Here's another bar in the same ballpark for you Bernie, same drop within 1mm but 5mm less reach (but still not daftly short on the reach like an Ergonova) http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/zipp-contour-sl-short-shallow-road-bar (measured O to O again) ...it's quite nice as it's flatish on the top. I was looking for bars with a bit less drop but without going too short on the reach and this fitted the bill, so maybe an alternative to the Syntace you are looking at.

Looks good, but they don't seem to do a 400?

I love the Zipp stems - I just ordered another Service Course SL in 130mm for 60 Euros, but Syntace make some cracking stuff too, and I'd rather have a circular top to the bar to be able to clamp a tri-bar on.

jonny_trousers

Unless you're a pro sprinter, it surely comes down to what you find most comfortable?

paulbnix

Just like Dippydog2 I bought some bars for a new build.
The current bike had 42 C-C and the new bars are 42 outside edges.
I didn't realise they were different until I rode the new bike and it was quite obvious from the feel.
Now I swap between the bikes and don't notice the width change.
The bars are a different shape as well so the two bikes don't feel the same anyway.

bernithebiker

I've gone for the 40cm Syntace CDR (outside to outside) so really quite small.

My new frame is a 52 small, (down from 54) so seems only right to reduce bar size too.

If it doesn't work out, you might find them in the Classifieds next week!

But I'm only losing 1cm off each side compared to my current bars, so shouldn't be too big a change.

MountainMonster

I have 2 sets of bars, one is a 40cm centre to centre and the others are 44 centre to centre. I certainly prefer the wider ones as I don't feel as off balance on them, and at the end of the day, they are more comfortable for me. It's gotten to the point where I no longer want to ride the bike that has the narrower bars as much due to this.

That's why I put clip-ons on them and use it as a TT bike of sorts.

ai_1

MountainMonster wrote:

I have 2 sets of bars, one is a 40cm centre to centre and the others are 44 centre to centre. I certainly prefer the wider ones as I don't feel as off balance on them, and at the end of the day, they are more comfortable for me. It's gotten to the point where I no longer want to ride the bike that has the narrower bars as much due to this.

That's why I put clip-ons on them and use it as a TT bike of sorts.

It's easy and can be fairly cheap to switch bars!

MountainMonster

Ai_1 wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

I have 2 sets of bars, one is a 40cm centre to centre and the others are 44 centre to centre. I certainly prefer the wider ones as I don't feel as off balance on them, and at the end of the day, they are more comfortable for me. It's gotten to the point where I no longer want to ride the bike that has the narrower bars as much due to this.

That's why I put clip-ons on them and use it as a TT bike of sorts.

It's easy and can be fairly cheap to switch bars!

Worked out even cheaper for me to simply put clip-on extensions on that I had laying around, and i'm happy with the results. I may consider bringing that bike back to life in the coming months with some better bars, but budgets will tell what I can do. I still want to build a cross bike eventually!

whitestar1

I changed my default handlebar. It was a 42. I found when pedalling at my highest my knees will hit my elbows. I got a easton E50 for £40 size 44. It has made a world of difference. I was thinking of a 46 but this is perfect for me.

thegreatdivide

Moonbiker wrote:

I notice alot of newer bikes generally seem to have wider bars than most older ones for some reason, seems a fashion/trend for wider bars.

The Pro's are riding narrower bars these days.

imposter2.0

Comfort is the main issue. Width v performance is a bit of a non-issue really, when you consider that trackies tend to use narrow bars without problems. The 'opening up the chest' argument doesn't really wash when you consider that TTers are able to sustain high speeds for long periods while in an aero tuck on (narrow) tri-bars. Just go with what you prefer.

thegreatdivide

Imposter wrote:

Comfort is the main issue. Width v performance is a bit of a non-issue really, when you consider that trackies tend to use narrow bars without problems. The 'opening up the chest' argument doesn't really wash when you consider that TTers are able to sustain high speeds for long periods while in an aero tuck on (narrow) tri-bars. Just go with what you prefer.

I was going to mention the opening the chest thing. It's nonsense. Breathing is done from the diaphragm.

I run 40c/c and 42 o/o bars on my bikes with no issues.

MountainMonster

thegreatdivide wrote:

Imposter wrote:

Comfort is the main issue. Width v performance is a bit of a non-issue really, when you consider that trackies tend to use narrow bars without problems. The 'opening up the chest' argument doesn't really wash when you consider that TTers are able to sustain high speeds for long periods while in an aero tuck on (narrow) tri-bars. Just go with what you prefer.

I was going to mention the opening the chest thing. It's nonsense. Breathing is done from the diaphragm.

I run 40c/c and 42 o/o bars on my bikes with no issues.

I was under the impression that the opening of the chest is still valid, as it opens the airways deep in the lungs more as they are not compressed, thus aiding in deeper breathes. This was also approved by a nurse back in Austria who said it should be true.

imposter2.0

Well, if a nurse in Austria said it.....

MountainMonster

Perhaps a nurse dealing in sport respiratory research at a research campus? Is that enough credentials?

imposter2.0

MountainMonster wrote:

Perhaps a nurse dealing in sport respiratory research at a research campus? Is that enough credentials?

Not really, no. It doesn't actually matter who said it. In any case, she obviously isn't getting through to 99% of TTers and trackies, who are all still riding quickly on narrow setups.

bernithebiker

Imposter wrote:

Well, if a nurse in Austria said it.....

MountainMonster

Imposter wrote:

MountainMonster wrote:

Perhaps a nurse dealing in sport respiratory research at a research campus? Is that enough credentials?

Not really, no. It doesn't actually matter who said it. In any case, she obviously isn't getting through to 99% of TTers and trackies, who are all still riding quickly on narrow setups.

That doesn't mean that the lungs are not better off open with a full chest.

With TT bikes the common saying is find a position which offers the best performance compared to aerodynamics. It's about finding a balance.

bernithebiker

Well i just got a KOM with my new 40cm bars (outside/outside).

So that's settled then.

thegreatdivide

bernithebiker wrote:

Well i just got a KOM with my new 40cm bars (outside/outside).

So that's settled then.

Me too :-)