Really wide drop bars?

CliftonGK1

After much flip-flopping about what my next bike would be, I've finally decided to build a commuter/rando bike around the Surly LHT frame. Currently I'm riding a street converted MTB for my commuter and the flat bars are pretty wide (23" end-to-end). I'm really comfortable on this setup because my arms are straight from my shoulders when I'm on my bar-ends. The problem comes when looking for really wide drop bars for a road bike: Nobody makes a bar that wide. I've seen the Nitto Noodle up to a 48cm, but that's been the top width I can find. The usual "big" 44 and 45cm bars just don't cut it for me.

Does anyone make a 50cm drop bar for us Sasquatch sized riders?

The BikeForums Team

-adv-

This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.

Ready to buy? Check out these two online bike stores:
- http://www.nashbar.com (you can find the latest bike nashbar coupons in this thread)
- http://www.performancebike.com (you can find the latest performance bike coupons in this thread)

Cya on the forums,
- The BikeForums Team
- http://www.bikeforums.net

fat_bike_nut

Would a flared-out "mountain bike-style" drop like the On-One Midge bars work? :o

CliftonGK1

They look good for the width on the drop portion, but the 37.5cm "top" sounds a little limiting.
What I did see on the On-One page is a better description of the geometry on the Nitto Noodle bars, and I think that a 48cm might work with those. They have a similar top to the Nitto Rando, and that's really the comfort position I'm looking for; riding on the hoods or tops. The drops are nice for pulling up long seated hills, but I don't spend tons of time there.

CastIron

46cm c-c is getting to be hard to find. I hear 48's exist. Then again, I have 40's on one bike that I've adapted to fairly well.

barndoor

Holy crap! ... you want a FIFTY?...good luck, dude! Nitto Noodles come in 48's and I have several pair....they are heat treated because of the leverage a big dude could put on 'em....they are nice and wide, though and fit a larger framed bike/rider very well....

barndoor

.....I can't believe I used the word "dude" twice in above post...:)

markhr

google threw up

48cm nitto noodle

48cm soma fabrications major taylor track bar
48cm soma fabrications 456 track bar

Caincando1

Dang how wide are your shoulder? I have average width shoulders for a big guy and I'm fine on my stock Trek drops.

Tom Stormcrowe

I think if you want 50CM, you are going to have to go custom. That'll be HUGE $$! Try a 48, you might well find it works well.

Tom Stormcrowe

This is the widest off the shelf bar I could find....at Harris
HB105 46 cm & HB106 48 cm $44.95 buy button (Wider sizes heat treated for extra strength)

Very nicely finished, made in Japan drop bars with Italian size 26 mm centers.

No flats, bumps nor grooves. The special characteristic of the Noodle Bar is that the tops have a backward sweep that puts the corners about 1 cm farther back than a standard traditional "Mæs" bend

Silver, 4° flare out, flat hand perch, and the top curves back a bit The width of this bar does not include the flare outs of the ends of the bar.

Reach is 96 mm, Drop is 140 mm. Available in 42 cm, 44 cm for $44.95.

Also available in extra wide 46 or 48 cm widths for $64.95
The wider sizes are more expensive because they're heat treated for extra strength.
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/handlebars/index.html#handlebarsdrop

CliftonGK1

Dang how wide are your shoulder? I have average width shoulders for a big guy and I'm fine on my stock Trek drops.

I'll measure up at some point and find out. I'm 6'6", and when I ride my MTB with the 23" flat bar, my arms are straight forward from my shoulders when I use my bar ends; not having to move my hands narrower or further apart than what I consider to be a natural resting position. My bar ends angle in a bit, so let's call that width about 21 to 21.5". I know that I had 41cm bars and they were horrible, so I got 44cm's and they're a little better but I still feel like I'm all crunched together on them. I couldn't find anyplace local that had 46cm bars to try out, and I guess I'll have to give the 48cm Noodles a chance and see if they work out for me.
Sometimes it's tough being Sasquatch.

Mudu93

I would say try the on-one midge bar. It has the most comfortable position on the hoods I have ever had. Love them.

stevel610

You might consider midge typee bars with a tall riser which would put the flare in a more comfortable position.

(51)

I was recently had a custom fit and the tech said he would have to special order the 48's for me. "That's as high as they go."

Mr. Beanz

Hmmmm, my mtb bars are 23 across, my shoulders are 23 across, but my roadie bars are 18.5 center to center and 19.5 outside to outside. Both are very comfortable.

What is the conversion for myh bars to cm, anybody?

Tom Stormcrowe

schnee

Salsa Bell Lap come in 48, and have additional flare outwards on the drops. So, they're even wider. The drop portion is also shallow, and the 'hoods' portion is nice and flat, so they're really, really comfy.

I have shoulders that are so broad that people accuse me of having implants. At club rides, quite often people say 'man, you're fun to draft'. Those Bell Laps are wide enough for me, so they should be for you too.

mezza

I have 48's and find them very comfortable. I'm sure the OP would be okay on 50's if he could find them... Its just the finding them... Get them custom bent at an engineering shop, while you're there get 100 of the b*ggers done and sell them on ebay. I'm sure you'd make a fortune :)

Mr. Beanz

2.54cm---->inch

48 cm=18.89" center-center

Oh Thanx! I was using .254 but not getting the correct number:D

Wow. 48 Hunh? They came stock on my Lemond Tourmalet 57 cm. They are much wider than the bars that came on my 58 Cannondale.

Felt awkward at first but VERY Comfy, especially while standing!:)

kb9kre

Halthane

I think that Nito Dirt Drops have a width of about 52 at the ends. I believe that they were discontinued by Nito. You may have to get used or new old stock. I think that the Dirt Drop ends flair out a bit. I have several Nito 48 cm Noodles and I love them.

Dirt drops were made in a 52...

but the only way your likely to find them is on a complete bridgestone MB-1... one sold on ebay the other day for about a grand...

In response to some of the more reasonable postings above, I really like the 44cm noodles that i have. That little swing back from the stem is really comfortable. My only gripe is that i would have like to use my clip on aerobars on the bike I had them on originally but because of the stem sleeve the set I have wouldn't fit. But that's a pretty minor gripe.

Tom Stormcrowe

Midge Bar

52 CM in the drops :D

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/14502-195_ONOMD5-43-Brands-362-On-One/On-One-Midge-Bar.htm

fat_bike_nut

Dang, I make mention of the On-One Midge bars in the very first response to CliftonGK1, and there's like 3-4 more responses later on down the thread :lol:

Oh, and I like the Salsa Moto Ace Bell Lap bar, too. Real nice feel on the Surly Cross-Check COMPLETE that I test rode, and if I had the money to get a custom built Cross-Check, I'd keep that bar.

Mr. Beanz

Try the On-One Midge bars. They just may be what you're looking for!:D

fat_bike_nut

Try the On-One Midge bars. They just may be what you're looking for!:D

There's another one :roflmao:

Mr. Beanz

There's another one :roflmao:

Yeah, I was funnin' with you! Happens to me all the time!:p

CliftonGK1

I'm not sure if anyone's seen them, but I think I might try the On-One Midge bars. :D

Mr. Beanz

I'm not sure if anyone's seen them, but I think I might try the On-One Midge bars. :D

I was just about to mention the On-One Midge Bars!:p

metal_cowboy

Nashbar used to make a 50cm bar. You might give them a call and see if they have a pair stashed away in some deep dark corner.

tpelle

I'm 24" across the shoulders, and ride a Surly LHT with Nitto bars. I'm not sure what model, but I just measured them outside-to-outside down by the bar-ends, and got 19". They seem pretty comfortable to me.