Handlebar Width

[Gerry Attrick]

I am looking to replace the bars on my road bike and I have just realised I do not know how the width is measured. Is it overall width or between centres of the bar ends?

Help much appreciated.

 

[Mortiroloboy]

Straight across the top of the bar AFAIK, i.e. place your tape measure on the top of the bar just behind the hood, and measure across to the other hood. That's how I do mine anyway.

 

[02GF74]

do a search - pretty sure this has been asked before, if I recall, it is between centre to centre of bar ends (where you put the plugs in).

yep - an picture to prove it:

(actually that is measuring at the lower section of the drops, which in almost all cases are parallel hence same as the bar ends)

 

[derosa]

Depends. Some manufacturers measure bars centre to centre, others outside to outside.

 

[02GF74]

well the others have got it wrong.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Thanks for the replies. I'll go with the picture.

 

[swee'pea99]

CENTER TO CENTER
Cinelli, Terry, Profile Design, Ritchey, Dimension. Salsa
These brands are measured from center to center--buy the size that's 2cm wider than your shoulder measurement.

OUTSIDE TO OUTSIDE
ITM, TTT, Deda
These are measured outside to outside, so add 4cm to your shoulder measurement to find the right size.

more athttp://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-5-28-1056-1,00.html

 

[spandex]

Bicycling is a US mag and in the US they do most things different to us in Europe. The way we do it in the UK is from Ball joint to Ball joint to find out your shoulder width.

The bars should be the same as that no matter how they are measured.

 

[John the Monkey]

Manufacturers websites may be worth checking too - I'm fairly sure some of the Nitto bars are measured between centre of the curve of the drops, not the ends of the bars.

Edit: in fact, all of the bars Rivendell sell are measured like that;

All of our drop bars are measured the same way: Center of the curve to center of the curve. The normal way is center of the end to center of the end. We measure center of the curve to center of the curve because our drops have a slight flare below the curve, and measuring the ends would give a false impression of the width you'd actually feel.

 

[Dave5N]

Bicycling is a US mag and in the US they do most things different to us in Europe. The way we do it in the UK is from Ball joint to Ball joint to find out your shoulder width.

The bars should be the same as that no matter how they are measured.

Depends on the bike.