Narrower bars - has anyone NOT got on with them?
neeb
Posts: 4,445
Thinking of switching to 38mm bars (from 40mm, although with 42mm drops). Basically for the aero benefits.
A lot of people seem to rate narrower bars, but has anyone found that they haven't got on with them? Thinking about comfort over longer rides, possible affects on handling etc.
My shoulders are probably 40-41cm centre to centre (i.e. between pivot points, maybe about 43-44cm total external width).
A lot of people seem to rate narrower bars, but has anyone found that they haven't got on with them? Thinking about comfort over longer rides, possible affects on handling etc.
My shoulders are probably 40-41cm centre to centre (i.e. between pivot points, maybe about 43-44cm total external width).
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didn't make any differenxe to handling just made the bike uncomfortable to ride.
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
The original bars fitted were 42cm
So I would suggest only switching to 38 if riding aero is the most important thing for you or if you are a smaller than average rider.
The original idea for many years is to go with a wider bar even when racing because it opened the lungs up by spreading out your chest, now they say the opposite is the case, quite frankly I don't think they know! I've talked to people who raced with both wide and narrow bars and in the aspect of breathing they said they couldn't tell the difference, and for that I agree.
Of course if you'll be racing the aerodynamics can be an issue, the other issue with racing is that a narrower bar can help you thread through tight crowded bicycle traffic a bit easier, but if you're not racing go for comfort and don't worry about the slight aerodynamic advantage or being able to thread through a crowd of cyclists, it will make your riding experience more pleasurable. On a heavily loaded touring bike it's actually more beneficial and more comfortable to go with a bar that is about 2cm wider than normal even though your wrist might angle out a bit more but the less work you have to do to control the bike will return any discomfort from that. Most of that touring bike stuff is because most touring bikes have a higher trail than a standard road bike and bikes with this higher trail geometry have a tendency to have a wee bit more wheel flop then a lower trail bike and with a load it gets more exaggerated so the wider bar tames that sensation. The problem with going to wide can result in pain between the shoulder blades so you have to be careful on a touring bike you don't go too wide, and usually 2cm extra shouldn't cause a problem (by the way, that is how you can tell if your current bars are too wide).
Also you have to consider the drop of the bar, too much of a drop means you have to lift your head more to see where you're going and this can lead to a sore neck, so generally for the non racer it's better to go with a shallow drop due to better comfort making your riding more enjoyable which means you'll want to stay with cycling for years to come.
Just opinions by the way.
Felt weird for a few minutes then you get used to them tbh
I bought them by mistake because the quoted width of 40 was measured outer to outer but they really suited me.
My clavicle is about 38.
Or team/individual pursuiters on the track, for that matter. Even track endurance riders tend to favour bars around 36-38cm width, generally-speaking. Assuming one has a normal skeletal structure (ie, you have a rib cage with lungs inside it), how close-together your arms are is not going to affect your ability to breathe. The shoulder width thing is also a red herring..
Because it's a totally different position. Their arms are forward and the chest is open.
Personally I prefer the wide bars. I can see they won't be as aero but most of the time I'm not that bothered. If you're not racing on the bike - I don't think it's necessary.
Clearly the only real option is to try it and see how I get on. I like the 3T ergonovas / ernovas. Current ones are 42s, which with the slightly flared drops means they are actually 40 on the hoods / top of the bars. There are some good deals around right now on these as 3T have replaced them with the superergos (which seem to be pretty similar although critically are sized by the measurement across the hoods, so a 40cm superergo = a 42cm ergonova/ernova).
Need/want new bars anyway as current ones have been crashed (although they seem OK they are old and it's probably about time I replaced them), also mine are the older ergonovas without the internal cable routing and I could use that. Going to try the 40cm ernovas which are close to 38cm at the hoods.
(Incidentally if anyone wants some *really* narrow bars Merlin have a great deal on the 38cm Ernova Ltds (which are effectively 36mm..). £150 (these are the uber light ones). Equivalent superergos are £325 and they don't come in a size that small (the 38cm is 38cm)).
Sweet baby Jesus. What do £300 bars do for their money ?
http://darimo.eu/en/darimo-ellipse-road-handlebar
I wonder if it could also be an issue climbing out of the saddle - slightly less leverage?
this on today of all days, totally and utterly this.
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
¿but WILL NO ONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN????!!!!
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
Not had a chance to try them outdoors yet though.
Does not compute. Or are you not being serious?
No offence intended neeb
now I'm not racing anymore, i'll just go for comfort... and not worry about aeros.
When I had a (albeit rudimentary) bike fit for a new frame build a few years ago, they recommended that as I lived in a hilly area, then going 42 rather than 40 would be better for this precise reason.