Cyclocross Racing - Wider handlebars?

I picked up a NOS cross bike today, and I am wondering about race setup. For some reason this bike has very narrow, 40cm handlebars. Another racer suggested that as long as I need to get wider bars anyway, that I should consider going 2cm wider than my normal road race handlebars. Does anyone else do this---go wider than their road race bars for cross application? Also, I have a set of Ritchey V3 mtb pedals in a box that I have never used, and I am wondering whether they would work in the mud at all. Has anyone ever tried them for cross? I suspect that I just need to go ahead and get Crank Bros pedals. Thanks for any comments.

I like wider bars for 'cross (for the leverage on steep climbs).

I like wider bars for 'cross (for the leverage on steep climbs).

Thanks!! Yes, I think the other guy said something to this effect as well. I am looking at purchasing Ritchey Aluminum WCS bars, and I see they come in either 144mm drop, like my road race bars, or shallower 135mm drop. Any comments on this choice? Thanks! :thumb:

If the Shallow drop WCS bars are at all like the biomaxes, I really like them for cross. I beleive you can get the biomax at at least the "pro" level.

Yes, I have seen a couple of websites list the 130mm drop Ritchey Biomass bars as cyclocross bars. Why do you like them for cyclocross? Get in and out of the drops quicker? A little more upright in the drops?

Make sure you consider the stem diameter. Older stems/bars are usually 26mm, whereas modern ones are sometimes oversized (31.8mm). Make sure you match bars to stem.

Yes, I have seen a couple of websites list the 130mm drop Ritchey Biomass bars as cyclocross bars. Why do you like them for cyclocross? Get in and out of the drops quicker? A little more upright in the drops?

Yep, both.

I run the widest set of Salsa Bell Laps they make. I really like the flare on the bottoms.

My road bars are 44 and cross 46. I like the wider bars so I can mount inline brakes. I also ride mostly on the tops and prefer shallow drops. Aero is not important for cross.

I ride 40s for both cross and road. I like narrow bars a lot. I'm obviously strange.

You use shallower and wider drop in CX because you are less concerned about an aero position and more concerned about handling.

Thanks for the tips guys. I am thinking of trying the size 44cm Ritchey Pro Biomax bars with 130mm drop. For road, I use 42cm with 145mm drop. But I am sure anything will work, and my motor will be my limiting factor. :lol: