hanging from a 42Cm drop bar to either 40 or 38. Q's

[crazycanuck]

A while back a super duper zippy fast cycling friend/physio suggested changing from a 42cm drop bar to a 40.

Someone's offered me a 38Cm to try out and am wondering if it would make a huge difference? Would it make using the drops & reaching my brakes a bit easier?

I've no clue & hope that someone can enlighten me...

Ta
C

[oz rider]

Reach to brakes and drops depends on the throw (distance forwards from the straight part of the bar) and drop of the bars, so the reach of the 38s will depend on whether they have a shorter throw and shallower drop than your current bars.

If your physio is suggesting 40s, he/she must think the 42s are too wide, which usually means they splay your arms out wide (rather than straight ahead). In that case, a narrower bar would help a little because your arms would be forward rather than forward and out to the side but 38s may well be too narrow and leave you feeling cramped. (Some measure differently though, so I'd measure.) Drop and throw varies quite a lot with different models; you can sometimes find it on the manufacturer's website. Note that a short throw/drop bar like the FSA wing pro compact is also wider at the bar ends than on top, which may or may not suit if you are looking at options.

Changing bars is more hassle and cost (changing hoods and bar tape) than switching to a shorter stem but still worthwhile doing for fit and handling. But I'd look at stem length as well.

[crazycanuck]

Thanks, i'm unsure of the brand I have now but these ones have been suggested http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=50187

I have a few other things I need to change on my road bike so my loverly bike shop will be doing all this for me.

[oz rider]

Subtle differences, and your LBS might have some you can eyeball to get a feel for what might work. I see they have one designed to take clip-ons for instance. It looks like FSA (http://www.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=product&pid=193&taxid=112) has 125/80 on all its compacts, but if you go to that page, you'll see a handlebar FAQ pdf as well which might be of use. And the individual product pages might have drawings that will show differences like curve shape. At least you'll see the full range there, rather than the run-outs and NOS that are picked up by the online retailers (which may well suit, especially at the price vs what we pay retail).

[OakLeaf]

To me, handlebar width isn't hard to feel. When your forearms are fatigued, do your wrists break to the inside (too wide), the outside (too narrow) or straight down (just right)?