Shoulder width vs. bar width

[salsabike]

My shoulders are about 38-39". The Eros Donna had 36" bars which were way too small and made my hands go tingly. I switched out the 36" for 42" and they work fine, although I suppose 40" would be ideal.

[velogirl]

For comfort, the rule of thumb I use in bike fit is no more than 2cm wider than your shoulders (measured from A/C joint to A/C joint). That means most women would be on a 36cm or 38cm bar. You should be able to lift your hands straight in front of your shoulders and grab the hoods while keeping your wrists in a straight plane (ie no cocked wrists). A bar that's too wide will cause pain in the shoulders/neck and potentially in the hands/arms (if you ride with a tight grip on the bar).

For performance, we tend to fit a bit wider, since this allows the rider to "push" the bar for high-speed cornering and descents. Because most racers spend much more time on their bikes than rec. riders, they're able to build additional strength that prevents the shoulder/neck pain. The other alternative is a bar that flares slightly at the drops, but this isn't necessarily safe for close riding (such as in a crit).

[Thorn]

Towards the end of the season when our mileage was getting higher, I started to have problems in my upper back. I just assumed that my bike was too long. I'm 6' tall but only have an arm span of about 5'6".

When I started riding on a trainer a couple weeks ago with a 20+ year old racing bike, I noticed how much more comfortable that bike was than my newer road bike. So this weekend I got out the tape measure and discovered it was actually just a tad bit longer between saddle to handle bars. Hmmm...

But after searching old posts (note: there are some good back threads on this one) I found the shoulder width == handlebar width. Sure enough, the old bike has 40cm handle bars and the new bike has 44cm. When I do the measurement on my shoulders I am at 38cm. Looks like I'll be looking for new handle bars. I just haven't decided if I should go down to 38 or go with 40. Dropping 6cm seems a drastic change.

These forums are awesome!

[SouthernBelle]

This is something I have been wondering about myself as I tinker with bikefit a little this winter.

I've searched a little for a 38 cm bar on the 'net, but they seem to be hard to come by. 40s a bit more plentiful. Which ones have others used?

[Trekhawk]

I have 38 on my older road bike and 40 on my new one. I actually prefer the 40. Most of the long distance cycling books I read say in general the width should equal your shoulders but recommend a slightly wider bar for long distance stuff as it opens your chest for breathing.

[spokewench]

I have 38s on my road bike and cyclocross bike - I have pretty narrow shoulders so this works quite well for me.

I also run a very narrow mountain bike bar (don't know the exact measurement) but since mountain bike bars do not have a lot of places to put my hands and sometimes I like to be wider for climbing, I have bar ends on the end of my bars for another place and position to put my hands.

When I started riding mountain bikes, it was the norm to have bar ends. Now people make the choice. I really have a hard time riding without them so I love them.

I tried riding riser bars on my mountain bike and that was a disaster. First thing I did was crash - and then I was determined to ride them to see if it was because I was not used to them so I rode them for 2 weeks. It did not get better. That is, my bike handling was horrible so I went back to narrow straight bars with bar ends and love them.

[GLC1968]

My first road bike had bars that were too wide. It was a 49cm bike but it had 44cm bars. Even the bike shop guys were amazed at how wide the bars were for such a small bike. They measured my shoulder width at 39 cm and my new bike now has 38 cm bars. I no longer have back, shoulder, elbow or hand pain! I didn't notice any handling differences even with a 6 cm change...and the change in comfort was totally worth it!!

[7rider]

Wow. Thanks. This is all very useful, and it's making me wonder if my 42 cm bars are too wide. I'm currently off the bike with neck spasms, shoulder irritation and median nerve irritation. I wonder, tho', if it really IS the handlebars, as all of my ailments are on one side only.

GLC1968 - did you have pain in both arms or just one?

My shop has offered to re-fit me to the bike. I may take them up on that, and focus on the handlebars, as that is one of the major components I recently changed on the bike.

[SouthernBelle]

I cruised around the net for appropriately sized bars and ran across THIS ONE.

Is anyone familiar with it?

[kaybee]

I have those bars on my bike and like them.

KB

[SouthernBelle]

I have those bars on my bike and like them.

KB

Thanks. May be my next purchase.

[emily_in_nc]

I love Salsa Pocos. Even in the narrower widths (I have 38 cm), they feel wide because they have such a nice wide flat section on top before the bend begins. I also love that they are shallow, so I can ride comfortably in the drops, and I like the little anatomic bend in the drops as well. I've recommended these bars many times before.

Emily