38cm bars... going too far?

[Robius]

Details of those 32 bars please Speedy

Fouriers 320mm compact bars: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3301567 ... lsrc=aw.ds

Cheap enough that I own 4 pairs which worked out at £122 in total! They're made of heavy 6061 so sit fairly porky at 270g for a 32cm handlebar and I've been looking for some made in 7075 for a year now!!

Recently moved my crit bike to 27cm (c-c) on the hoods flared to 33cm (c-c) on the drops and can't wait for the weather to improve to try them out.

And details on shoulder width, too.

Shoulder width is 38cm but I cycle with a 'shrug' (as you can see in the photo) all the time where my collarbones almost face forward and I've got use to riding like that the past 1-2 years now.

Have you seen anywhere on Aliexpress i can find narrow and flared bars?

I don't know how narrow you're looking for but FSA Adventure Compact bars are 12 degree flared so 38cm bar is 44cm on the drops and it's really cheap.

[SpeedyBoi123]

Thanks Speedy.
From the images, doesn't like there's any flare, is that correct?

Very slight flare on the Fouriers 320mm bars in the picture.. measure 32cm c-c where the hoods fit and 33cm c-c on the drops.

27 to 32 cm
Can you share some details/ picture?
I would like to give that a try!

The new 27/33 'flared' handlebars I have are by a UK company Worx and they're for Track Sprinting but fit shifters perfectly. Once I've ridden with them outdoors I'll do a post on WW about them and my experiences in going super narrow.

[LittleLegz]

Thanks Speedy.
From the images, doesn't like there's any flare, is that correct?

Very slight flare on the Fouriers 320mm bars in the picture.. measure 32cm c-c where the hoods fit and 33cm c-c on the drops.

27 to 32 cm
Can you share some details/ picture?
I would like to give that a try!

The new 27/33 'flared' handlebars I have are by a UK company Worx and they're for Track Sprinting but fit shifters perfectly. Once I've ridden with them outdoors I'll do a post on WW about them and my experiences in going super narrow.

Speedy - any updates on the Worx bars?

[rides4beer]

Been riding the 38cm Zipps for a couple of months now, totally comfortable, doesn't feel twitchy. Only thing I notice now is when I get back on the gravel bike the 42cm bars feel really wide. lol

[ms6073]

Speedy - any updates on the Worx bars?

Wonder if these are the bars: Wonder WX-R Carbon Track Bar BTC1.0

[garbageman]

Speedy - any updates on the Worx bars?

Wonder if these are the bars: Wonder WX-R Carbon Track Bar BTC1.0

Shifters wont fit on those bars. He was referring to the bars on this page, I believe: http://worxbikes.com/worx-parts/

[Roadbiker10]

I just mean leverage for out of the saddle.

That is actually a bit of an issue for me since I switched to 38cm. It feels realy weird and unstable but I don't think it's a huge problem. Otherwise, I am 181cm and also ride a 56. From my measurements, I have got 38cm shoulders but I don't know how accurate that is. Other than climbing out of the saddle, tha handlebars are perfect. I'm using Zipp SL70 Aero by the way.

[synchronicity]

I have tried narrow handlebars. Under 42cm c-c feels cramped to me.

[robbosmans]

Went from 42 to 40 and now to 38, 38 definitely is the right size for me just so comfy. My shoulders do measure 38cm

[nateners]

I always felt like my hands were rotating in to compensate for too wide a width and that put a lot of pressure on the top of my wrists. I went from 42cm to 40cm to 38cm and finally feel like my hands are at the right width to my shoulders. Shoulders measure 38.5cm center to center. For refrence I'm 5'11" 145 pounds.

[stalepigeon]

I've been using specialized short reach bars, dirt cheap with a 65mm reach 125mm drop. They are porky but loved the shape so much I ditched my carbon bars. 36cm on supersix and 38cm on the caad. I've measured both from hood clamp area and they're bang on what they say, and then 2cm wider on drops.

[Yoln]

We shouldn't speak in absolute bar width here, this is pointless, we should speak in relative width to the shoulders.

For example:
- I ride 0 offset bars (42cm, 42cm shoulder) and it is very comfortable and great for handling, but I could possibly push it to -2cm (40cm bars) and still be OK
- My girlfriend rides 0 offset, but for her that means 36cm, she use to be on a +4cm offset (40cm bars) and she had massive neck/shoulder fit issues, 36cm was the width recommended by her bike fitter and she's never been as comfortable

My point is:
-1: measure your shoulder width
-2: go for 0cm bars, or -2cm offset if you want more aero gains, but avoid anything below that, as it will probably lead to more discomfort than aero gains (-4cm is probably ok if you plan on racing <1h crits, or time-trial for non-TT bikes, but I wouldn't use it on longer rides personnaly)

38cm means nothing, it only means something relative to your shoulder width

[StanK]

... My girlfriend rides 0 offset, but for her that means 36cm, she use to be on a +4cm offset (40cm bars) and she had massive neck/shoulder fit issues, 36cm was the width recommended by her bike fitter and she's never been as comfortable ...

As far as I can measure myself, I would need a 38cm bar.
But in last +30 years I was running 42, 44 and 41cm bars, and eventually settle down with 42 as best option for me.
I have never had a neck or shoulder problem with any of them.

[siwong1210]

Honestly, get whatever is comfortable. I'm about 40 shoulder width. On the bars, I went from 42 to 40 and then I gave 38s a shot. There was no noticeable difference in comfort going smaller besides having to torque the bar more when sprinting or out of saddle climbing. Never looked back after. Personal preference are 38s on the hood with a flare on the drops.

[nulldreiundreissig]

Has anyone ridden both an Aerofly II in 38cm and the flared Enve Bars in 35/40cm? Which one has the better shape and the better stiffness/comfort?
I'm absolutely torn between the two of them for my SL6 disc, but I had the issue of numb hands when riding in the drops on my BMC TMR with a 3T-esque bend of the Drops and want to avoid this.