Worth getting narrower road bars?

[Sardine]

Hello. I hoping that some of you ladies can help me with this question. I'm getting a new road bike and have the option of switching to 36cm handlebars from 38cm if I want. This will be my first road bike in the sense of not a touring bike. I have a bike with 38cm bars as well as one with 40 cm bars (my first proper bike which I know is a tad large but I'm attached to it). The 38cm is comfortable, the 40cm is fine as I'm used to it. My shoulder width is 36cm. The reach on the 38cm bars is not an issue. I'm talking about drop bars.

There seem to be 2 main views as far as I can see. People who think that the bars should be the same width as your shoulders and those who think they need to be a bit wider for leverage, if that's the right word. I don't race and won't be putting luggage on this bike but I will ride hilly terrain (not mountains but maybe one day). It's my mid-life crisis faster and lighter bike. I aim to use it to build back to 50-60 mile day rides at a comfortable pace, ideally with pub stops, nothing serious.

I'd be interested to know what difference getting bars that are the same width as my shoulders would make, if any. Anybody with experience of switching to wider or narrower bars who can share?

Thanks for your help.

[indysteel]

Get the bike and try out the stock bars. If they don't bother you, keep them. If they do, then opt for the 36s. There's really no "right" answer other than personal preference. Before you buy anything, make sure you understand how bars are measured. Some brands measure their bars outside to outside. Some measure them center to center. Just make sure you know which is which--and what you need--before you order.

[indysteel]

I'd add that I my shoulders measure 35 cm, and I run Deda 4 Girls bars on my bikes. These measure 38 cm outside to outside; 36 center to center. At one time, I was on the search for narrow bars and ran into a couple of problems. Few manufacturer make bars that narrow and those that do often run out of stock such that they're hard to find. I have used 40 cm bars before without difficulty; I just like the overall shape of the Dedas more.

ETA: I keep thinking of additional things to say. Based on my own experience and having read any number of threads on bars over the years, I'd add that there's more to bars than just width. Finding a bar with the right reach, drop, and ergonomics can be challenging. Sometimes you have to compromise on one thing to get what you want on another. So, for that reason, I'd give the current bars a chance and see what, if anything else, you like/don't like about them before ordering anything new.

[Sardine]

Ah, didn't think about the different ways of measuring. Thanks. The bike I test rode had 38cm bars and it felt comfortable. If I switch to 36cm I'd have to get those myself though the shop will do the switch for free. Need to remember the measurement point if I buy online. I've never ridden a bike with 36cm bars as they're not that common. None available to test ride even in the big shops. I tested 6 bikes and decided on a Trek. 5 out of the 6 had 38cm bars. One in 40cm

[Sardine]

I have Deda 4 Girls on my tourer and they're comfortable. But the reach for the brakes on drops seemed easier on the Trek to be honest. I think that may be down to Shimano v. my campags though. You have a point about giving the current bars a chance. I was just thinking it may save me a bit of money and hassle if I have it done at the outset but then I would be going from the known and comfortable to the unknown, and may have to undo it all further down the line. Hmm, going to mull that one over. Thanks again.

[Norse]

I personally find that I need to stay with bars no wider than my shoulders - 40 - otherwise I get upper back/shoulder soreness. I swapped out the stock Bontrager that came with my Madone for a FSA model, suggested by a bike fitter, that measures 40 but the drops flare in ever so slightly making the tops a 40 but the drops more like 39.5, and this has been very comfy for me.

[Sardine]

Just wondering whether you worked out how the wider bars were causing the pain?

I'm learning new things about handlebars here and finding that my approach has been very one dimensional.

Thanks.

[Velocivixen]

I think that I've read about the leverage thing with wider bars is that if you're in the drops and you're like sprinting up a hill then the slightly wider bars will give you more leverage. Some say that wider bars "open up your chest" for better breathing and that smaller bars close your chest off. It's hard to say. If you're used to 38's then it might be fine OR you might be missing out on some great benefit (for you) of 36's.
I'll be interested in what you decide and how it works out. My shoulders are 40 and my Surly CC has 42 bars with the drops that slightly flare out. I've had the bike 3 weeks and have only tried the drops a couple of times.

[withm]

Remember that different manufacturers quote measurement differently - some are center to center, others outside edge to outside edge, and many are not consistent from one model to the next. Thusly be sure you are comparing with this in mind, and confirm the actual measurement outside edge to outside edge.

[Sardine]

@Velocivixen: Yes, I was wondering whether the leverage thing is that much of an issue for the sort of riding I'll be doing. The only thing I thought was it might help with hills (cranking up slowly). But it doesn't look like I'll find out what 36cm bars feel like unless I commit. Haven't seen a bike on show yet that has 36cm bars on.

withm, thanks for pointing out inconsistencies too. Wasn't aware of that either. Good grief. OK, even if I decide to go for 36cm bars I'm definitely not getting one off the internet. I'll get the bike shop, which is small and friendly, to confirm the measurements for me first.

[Sardine]

My shoulders are 40 and my Surly CC has 42 bars with the drops that slightly flare out. I've had the bike 3 weeks and have only tried the drops a couple of times.

Oh, nice. Saw one of those in the shop on Monday. Enjoy!

[Kathi]

My shoulders measure 34. I had the Deda 4girls on my old bike but when I built my custom frame, and found out how narrow my shoulders are, my bike shop got the Modolo Venus in a 34. I love them, my arms are more in line with my shoulders when riding on the hoods. The best part, which is part of their design, is I can reach the brakes from the drops even though I use Campy Record.

There isn't much room on my handlebars for accessories but I don't miss the shoulder pain I used to have.

[Sardine]

Thanks Kathi. I guess you were going from 38 to 34 cm? I just looked up Modolo Venus and I'm not sure how easy it would be to get them here but I'll keep that brand in mind. And I'll look at the shapes of a few bars too before I decide.

[pll]

My shoulders measure 38cm and my bars are 40cm. In my old bike, I had 38cm bars. I love the top of the new bars (some FSA "wings" model) and I find them more comfortable than the 38cm ones, since I have more surface on the top to place my hands.

[roo4]

When I was bike shopping, one of the guys put me on a 60 cm bike (eventually bought a 56) and after I rode it I commented that the handlebars felt too wide. He gave me this story about opening up my chest for better climbing. Um...thanks, but I think I'll try another store.

This has nothing to do with the original question, sorry.