Finally a not a what wheels but a what handlebars!

[DubaiJohn]

I am just getting into cycling a having issues if getting my setup just so. That is slowly but surely being dealt with by my LBS.

However one of the more experienced riders I ride with has suggested that my bars may be too wide.

So does anyone have any guidance on how to select the correct bar width? Also any recommendations on bars?

For info I am on a TCR Composite 1 and a powerfully built 5ft 9.

Cheers

[scottri]

No idea about the correct width, probably quite a personal thing, why not re-position the grips, shifters etc until you find a comfortable size and cut the bars down? Or then buy a size you found to be comfortable.

• ops that was no help at all, i assumed you were on a MTB with flat bars. Ignore me!

Edited by scottri on Wednesday 9th July 13:45

[Rolls]

Road or MTb?

[anonymous-user]

I go with the simple "hands when on drops should be in line with shoulders" method. Remember that manufacturers measure bars in different ways, centre to centre and outer edge to outer edge etc so a 3T 42cm wide bar may be the same as a Zipp 44cm bar. If your bars are too narrow you will end up pinching your shoulder blades in and feel very tense across yur shoulders at the end of a ride, too wide and there are only handling and aero issues.

FWIW I really like the 3T ergonova bars I have, wide on the top with a nice drop but the Ritchey ergo bars are super comfy on the drops.

[TheLemming]

I found that with bars too wide (Road) I ended up with a tennis elbow style pain in my right Elbow.

This went on for months and faded away very quickly when I switched to 40cm bars instead of the 42s I'd been using.

Depending on the issues you're having different sized bars can make a big difference. There are people who seem unfussed either way.

[upsidedownmark]

Yup, pretty simple - they should be about the same width as your shoulders..

[JEA1K]

upsidedownmark said:

Yup, pretty simple - they should be about the same width as your shoulders..

This.

[DubaiJohn]

Thank you all for the replies.

Just had a quick measure and depending on where you measure shoulder with I am between 40 and 43cm.

My bars which are the standard alu Giant bars that came with the bike say they are 42cm but when measured they are 43cm centre to centre at the hoods. Sounds like they are about right, so any new bars would be simply a bit of tarting up...so let the tartin up commence. Damnit was hoping I could justify new bars to SWMBO by using bike fit issues