Bar size range?

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08-01-2009, 08:45 AM
VeloVT

Bar size range?

Anyone here who ride a bar that is slightly larger than her shoulder measurements?

I measure a 38, and I"m very comfortable riding a 38. I have a set of FSA Wing Pro bars on my bike right now that are nominally a 38, but I didn't realize when I bought them that they are measured at the ends and the ends have an outflare, so the hood measurement is about a 36. They're really too narrow for me at the hoods, and I'd like to get a wider set of bars. I'm finding the selection of bars in 38 extremely frustrating. None of the bars I'm most interested in come in 38. (Looking at the 3T Rotondo, the Deda Newton in Belgian and Italian drops, the FSA Energy bar -- basically looking for a round drop that isn't super shallow). So I'm considering ordering a 40 so I can get the shape I want.

Anybody here who measures 38 and rides a 40 comfortably? Any other words of wisdom?
08-01-2009, 09:58 AM
redrhodie

I measure 38 and have both 38s and 40s. I really don't feel a big comfort difference. The 40s are on my steel bike, which in general I find really cushy. Maybe the 40s are a little more stable. My other bike is alu and more twitchy. The bar width could be a factor.
08-01-2009, 10:35 AM
Ana

FSA WingPro Compact

I have the 40cm and it is perfect :D My shoulder are broad for my size (measure about a 38").
08-01-2009, 10:42 AM
kenyonchris

Quote:

Originally Posted by liza

Anyone here who ride a bar that is slightly larger than her shoulder measurements?

I measure a 38, and I"m very comfortable riding a 38. I have a set of FSA Wing Pro bars on my bike right now that are nominally a 38, but I didn't realize when I bought them that they are measured at the ends and the ends have an outflare, so the hood measurement is about a 36. They're really too narrow for me at the hoods, and I'd like to get a wider set of bars. I'm finding the selection of bars in 38 extremely frustrating. None of the bars I'm most interested in come in 38. (Looking at the 3T Rotondo, the Deda Newton in Belgian and Italian drops, the FSA Energy bar -- basically looking for a round drop that isn't super shallow). So I'm considering ordering a 40 so I can get the shape I want.

Anybody here who measures 38 and rides a 40 comfortably? Any other words of wisdom?

I measure a 38 or slightly narrower....I ride 40 because the selection is certainly much better.... The 40s are fine.
08-01-2009, 10:44 AM
OakLeaf

I measure a 38 cm (according to DH anyway ;)), but the 38 cm ITM Elle bars that came on my bike were definitely too narrow for me. Whenever I got tired, my wrists would break to the outside when I rode on the hoods.

I switched to a 40 cm set of Ritchey BioMax Pro bars (not only wider, but a shallower drop and an ergo bend) and I really like them.

Actually, I've ridden 42s comfortably in the past. I can't ride on the tops of my 40s at all, but I could be comfortable there as well as on the hoods and the drops with the 42s. So it's possible that I don't actually measure 38.
08-01-2009, 12:05 PM
lunacycles

If you must choose to go a bit narrower or a bit wider than your shoulder width, I say go wider. It opens your upper body open just that little bit, and I find most of my customers prefer that than going narrower.

The Salsa Poco's come in a 38 but that's about all I know of presently:(.
08-01-2009, 01:10 PM
mudmucker

Quote:

Originally Posted by liza

I'm finding the selection of bars in 38 extremely frustrating. None of the bars I'm most interested in come in 38... So I'm considering ordering a 40 so I can get the shape I want.

Anybody here who measures 38 and rides a 40 comfortably? Any other words of wisdom?

I just went through the same thing recently. I measure 38. For me I notice a difference with the 40's and have discomfort. Last year I had a fit and they swapped out my 40's for 38's but I never liked the 38's they gave me as they had an ergo bump which I do not like and they weren't the c shape that I like either. Like you, I wanted a rounded shape with a mid-sized drop and could not find them anywhere in an alloy 38 bar. All they seem to have in 38's are shallow drop. I finally settled for the only 38 mid-sized drop bar I could find but they were only in carbon, not alloy. They are the Specialized 142mm drop x 75mm short reach Ruby SL carbon bars. Yes they are a pretty penny but I splurged and I love them; I have the width, shape, and drop that I want plus they really do reduce some of the road chatter. They are comfortable riding on the top as well - there is a bit of an ergonomic top section perch.
08-01-2009, 01:42 PM
OakLeaf

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudmucker

All they seem to have in 38's are shallow drop.

rats... apparently they don't make the ITM Elle bars in 38 any more. The ones I found online have a 178 mm drop! I'd let you have my old ones (don't know the exact drop, but they're pretty deep) but they're 1,000 miles away right now. I'll put them in the for sale bin in the winter...

I see ITM's two current aluminum offerings come in 38 mm, but only have a 153 mm drop. How deep are you looking for?
08-01-2009, 01:53 PM
lo123

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudmucker

I just went through the same thing recently. I measure 38. For me I notice a difference with the 40's and have discomfort.

Ditto. My 'cross bike came with 40s, and I had a lot of pain in between my shoulder blades until I got my 38s. Love the 38. I have the salsa short & shallow now and it works for me, but I've got ridiculously small hands..