Let's talk handlebars....(long)

[macski]

I have recently bought a Cannondale Synapse Ultegra model and it came with the bars you describe - my LBS swapped them out for me at the fitting stage for two reasons:
1 - I prefer rounder bars and especially bars that have more space behind the hoods so that you can vary your hand position - the bars they put on are a Specialized short reach bar but not a women's specific model
2 - he thought the bars were a touch narrow for me (they are supposed to be a 38 but they measured narrower than other 38s at the same point to point)


I have a Specialized Amira that I'll be selling soon but I had immense hand pain on that bike - quite debilitating. Once I rode the Synapse I realised that I should have swapped out the bars on the Amira and I would have had less pain.

I have no hand pain on the Synapse