The comfort of narrow handlebars.

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TobinHatesYou
Posts: 13545
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:02 pm

by TobinHatesYou

cheapvega wrote:
Sun Oct 23, 2022 11:43 pm
I have a question about narrower bars and stem length. Basically, do I have to compensate for narrower bars with a longer stem? I'm guessing I'd have to compensate for half the bar width, so going from a 42 to a 40 would require a 10mm longer stem. I'm also a little worried about knee to elbow interference as I already have some with 42cm bars.

It's not going to be a noticeable difference going from 42cm to 40cm if you think about it. You're creating a triangle using your arm length as two sides and the third side is 10mm. The reach difference is going to be a fraction of a millimeter.

Now if you go from 44cm to 38cm, then you might consider changing stem length, but even then it depends on your shoulder width and whether you can roll them forward, drop or shrug them.

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spartacus
Posts: 1049
Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2011 6:53 pm

by spartacus

I went from 42 to 36 on my commuter road bike and kept the same stem. Don't feel like I need to go longer. Bar reach affects this too.

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toshi
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:32 am

by toshi

Something I've noticed is that while manufacturers will list bars as available in 36cm widths, distributors/retailers don't seem to offer them. Example: Pro PLT Compact Ergo Alloy.

Has anyone seen this particular bar in stock anywhere, in 36cm? :|

stalkersk
Posts: 101
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 10:44 pm

by stalkersk

toshi wrote:
Thu Oct 27, 2022 5:09 pm
Something I've noticed is that while manufacturers will list bars as available in 36cm widths, distributors/retailers don't seem to offer them. Example: Pro PLT Compact Ergo Alloy.

Has anyone seen this particular bar in stock anywhere, in 36cm? :|
IMO, it's market related, I need to soruce them from germany, locally no option to get anything under 40/42 from shimano.

Mortecouille
Posts: 27
Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2020 8:16 pm
Location: France

by Mortecouille

Prime Primavera 36cm are back in stock.

I'm interested, but bothered by the absence of flared drops. :(
Sorry for my english

vgcl
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon May 16, 2022 11:36 pm

by vgcl

NordicSal wrote:
Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:50 pm
I am coming from 44's, can't decide whether to just go for the 38's straight away or be "reasonable" and do the 40's.
Same here. I'm 1.88m (6'2") and measure around 40-41cm between shoulder bones. 44 fells huge, my wrists twists a lot outwards to compensate. Seems that my most natural position is bending my elbows a little, with my forears pointing inward, bringing my hands closer together.

What you did end up getting? How was the experience?

Tifosiphil
Posts: 417
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2018 11:09 pm

by Tifosiphil

Mortecouille wrote:
Fri Oct 28, 2022 7:16 am
Prime Primavera 36cm are back in stock.

I'm interested, but bothered by the absence of flared drops. :(
That's what made me go for the 38cm in the alloy and I just tip my hoods in 1cm each side to make it 36cm

Edopizzo
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2022 6:47 pm

by Edopizzo

I have changed from a (38 hoods, no flare, 75mm reach) Deda Zero 1 compact round bar to a (36 hoods, 40 drops, 102mm reach) Pro Vibe Aero Pursuit and 2cm shorter stem. I feel like the difference is huge as the aero bar is much more comfortable in the aero hoods position as it's flat so it doesn't hurt the forearms and the 2.5cm reach increase helps because the contact point on the forearms is much closer to the elbows compared to the previous bars when in aero tuck. Also I've turned in the levers so the tips are 30cm apart but it's 40cm at the drops so it's still manageable in sprints and descents.
I think the biggest aerodynamic improvement an aero bar can offer is not the airfoil shape but the ability to rest the forearms on top of them for longer. I also believe aero bars should have a reach above 100mm so there is less leverage on the forearms when in the aero tuck, only penalty will be the necessity to run a shorter stem. Also with longer reach flare and front-sweep are necessary for sprinting to not strike the tops with the forearms.
Only Speeco makes a one piece barstem with similar dimensions, even Pro doesn't offer these bars in carbon. I think that more manufacturers will make long reach aero bars in the future

NordicSal
Posts: 310
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2019 11:09 pm

by NordicSal

vgcl wrote:
Tue Nov 15, 2022 3:39 pm
NordicSal wrote:
Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:50 pm
I am coming from 44's, can't decide whether to just go for the 38's straight away or be "reasonable" and do the 40's.
Same here. I'm 1.88m (6'2") and measure around 40-41cm between shoulder bones. 44 fells huge, my wrists twists a lot outwards to compensate. Seems that my most natural position is bending my elbows a little, with my forears pointing inward, bringing my hands closer together.

What you did end up getting? How was the experience?
Sorry I never saw your question. I ended up getting Aerofly II in 40 cm. I am really happy with it, if anything I would wanna try narrower, but it's working very well for me. I am 1.98m and measure maybe 42 between my shoulder bones (really really skinny though)

loudtiger
Posts: 125
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 3:37 am

by loudtiger

just picked up some 38cm specialized bars off ebay to try. i've used 42cm bars the last 10 years so it'll be interesting to see the difference. that said my fixed gear does use 40cms. if these work out i'll look for a nice carbon bar to switch to. currently using FSA SL-Ks.

Weber
Posts: 127
Joined: Sat May 15, 2021 11:21 am

by Weber

Hi All,

Any budget-friendly 36 c-c with flare?

TobinHatesYou
Posts: 13545
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:02 pm

by TobinHatesYou

Weber wrote:
Sun Jul 02, 2023 9:08 pm
Hi All,

Any budget-friendly 36 c-c with flare?
Zipp Service Course SL 70 and SL 80 have 4deg flare/outsweep.

Weber
Posts: 127
Joined: Sat May 15, 2021 11:21 am

by Weber

TobinHatesYou wrote:
Sun Jul 02, 2023 11:13 pm
Weber wrote:
Sun Jul 02, 2023 9:08 pm
Hi All,

Any budget-friendly 36 c-c with flare?
Zipp Service Course SL 70 and SL 80 have 4deg flare/outsweep.

Thanks, I searched extensively and it seems to be the best value for money the SL-80.

Some that I found more or less in the range of 100-200 usd were the FSA OMEGA, fsa sl-k, ROSE Race Attack GF Aero drop bar.

jlok
Posts: 2621
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2015 3:30 am

by jlok

Weber wrote:
Sun Jul 16, 2023 8:50 pm
TobinHatesYou wrote:
Sun Jul 02, 2023 11:13 pm
Weber wrote:
Sun Jul 02, 2023 9:08 pm
Hi All,

Any budget-friendly 36 c-c with flare?
Zipp Service Course SL 70 and SL 80 have 4deg flare/outsweep.

Thanks, I searched extensively and it seems to be the best value for money the SL-80.

Some that I found more or less in the range of 100-200 usd were the FSA OMEGA, fsa sl-k, ROSE Race Attack GF Aero drop bar.
Same conclusion here. Pretty happy with the SL-80 36cm. 247g if my memory's is correct.
Rikulau V9 DB Custom < BMC TM02 < Litespeed T1sl Disc < Giant Propel Advanced SL Disc 1 < Propel Adv < TCR Adv SL Disc < KTM Revelator Sky < CAAD 12 Disc < Domane S Disc < Alize < CAAD 10

trackflack
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2023 11:16 pm

by trackflack

Weber wrote:
Sun Jul 02, 2023 9:08 pm
Hi All,

Any budget-friendly 36 c-c with flare?
Prime do a pretty cheap 36cm
Last edited by trackflack on Fri May 31, 2024 3:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.

by Weenie


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