Change of handlebar width

[toby123]

Hi, a question:

On a 61 cm frame road bike, with 440 mm handlebars, what effect would changing to 420 mm handlebars have on the handling of the bike? Would it have a detrimental effect on cornering for example? I image there were would be some aero improvement though.

Toby.

 

[ianrauk]

Negligible on all counts.
Think about it.. you are talking 1cm each side of the bars.
I have 420 on one bike and 440 on another and there is no difference.

 

[vickster]

I swapped to narrower bars to help an injury. I can't see why you'd do it for handling - the bar width should match your shoulder width

If you would however like some 42cm bars, I have some in need of a good home for £15 delivered

 

[Kies]

As Ian says - negligible. I swapped my 420 bars for 440 ergo bars and it makes no difference to my speed or cornering ability.

 

[samsbike]

What they all said the width makes bugger all difference. However if yiou do change make sure you keep the same reach and drop of the bars otherwise you will have issues. I naively didn't and ended up having too long a reach and took an age of adjustment to get comfortable.

 

[AndyPeace]

I swapped to narrower bars to help an injury. I can't see why you'd do it for handling - the bar width should match your shoulder width

If you would however like some 42cm bars, I have some in need of a good home for £15 delivered

Not wishing to hijack someone else's thread From which points should the shoulders be measured (e.g. full width or shoulder socket to shoulder socket) I ask as I recently went from riding a hybrid to a race bike. Not sure if it's just a matter of adapting to the different style of seating position, as I've only done 400miles on it so far, but I feel achy on my shoulders after riding and often feel when I'm out that my shoulders are shrugged/curved. That said, I can get what feels like a flat back and pretty low when in the drops.

 

[vickster]

Erm I don't know, the guy measuring my shoulder blades was standing behind me - I am guessing shoulder blade to shoulder blade?

Sounds like your reach might be off? I developed tendonitis in my thumb from rolling my wrist in on bars that were too wide, never an issue with shoulders

 

[samsbike]

I thought it was from the top of the socket across.

 

[vickster]

No idea, as I said I couldn't see!

 

[ianrauk]

From the manufacturer of my most recent bike.

Road handlebars come in several widths. Correct handlebar width affects comfort, performance, and handling control. Most cyclists select a bar that is just as wide as their shoulders, measured as the distance between the shoulder joints. Be sure the shoulders are relaxed and you are standing straight. Take care that the tape is held level and the measurements are taken to the outermost part nearest the top of the shoulders. If your shoulder measurement is in between the available sizes, you will need to determine whether to round up or down. A wider bar opens the chest for better breathing and more leverage, but is less aerodynamic. You will need to weigh the importance of these variables when selecting your bar width.

 

[AndyPeace]

@vickster thanks for the reply. Another thread also rings true for me ( knee brushing the bike frame) so I think I'll get a bike fit and address it all properly.

 

[ayceejay]

If you are riding a 61 cms frame then 44 cms bars would be the standard fitted by a manufacturer. But be aware that not all 'bars are the same and their shape will make more difference to an aerodynamic position than width as will stem length. If you can get your hands on these feel the difference between 'compact' bars 'track' bars and what used to be called 'Belgian Drops' otherwise use the web to look. If you spend a lot of time on the flats wider bars will give you more space but if you ride mostly on the drops (like a track rider) narrower bars would be more suitable.