Shortening flat bars (any real advantage?)
12-31-11, 02:48 PM
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Bus-like public transportation that ran on rail tracks that were recessed into city streets. Sort of like San Francisco cable cars, but with overhead electrical power...
12-31-11, 09:45 PM
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Falling over is good, too.
I like to do that sometimes as well.
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12-31-11, 09:46 PM
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01-01-12, 05:49 AM
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I never had ultra narrow bars. The bars on my beater bike are 22" and that feels just right. That's a common stock width for truely flat bars but lots of riser bars are 24" wide. That's too wide for me. I tried to mimic my road bike handlebar width once (18" maybe?) and that was too narrow.
01-01-12, 06:15 AM
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The 'clearance' thing is the classical explanation to explain couriers cutting their bars... but I have a theory that if you are riding between a streetcar and a bus closer together than the width of your shoulders, you are in trouble regardless of your handlebars.
The same explanation used to be used when most mountain bikes had very narrow bars, but when people started riding the same trails with wide riser bars the myth was, IMHO, debunked.
The same explanation used to be used when most mountain bikes had very narrow bars, but when people started riding the same trails with wide riser bars the myth was, IMHO, debunked.
Last edited by Bike Gremlin; 01-01-12 at 06:17 AM. Reason: Manoeuvre, manoeuvre, manoeuvre, damn English spelling...
07-11-14, 06:05 AM
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So, I hear about many people shortening their flat bars. I'm a flat bar commuter and have wondered about doing this, but am having trouble seeing the advantage.
I know that many do it simply for aesthetics (hipster wannabe bike messengers), but is there any real gain from it?
My Globe Vienna 3 came with flat bars of a certain width. I've heard that the general rule of thumb is to have bars as wide as your shoulders. By this standard, I could probably shave about 1-1.5" off each side. But if I did, what would be the gain? The only thing I can guess is a more responsive "feel". Then again, I'm afraid it might "feel" less stable.
It seems like there would still be plenty of room for my shifters/brakes if I did so.
Has anyone done this? Any thoughts?
I know that many do it simply for aesthetics (hipster wannabe bike messengers), but is there any real gain from it?
My Globe Vienna 3 came with flat bars of a certain width. I've heard that the general rule of thumb is to have bars as wide as your shoulders. By this standard, I could probably shave about 1-1.5" off each side. But if I did, what would be the gain? The only thing I can guess is a more responsive "feel". Then again, I'm afraid it might "feel" less stable.
It seems like there would still be plenty of room for my shifters/brakes if I did so.
Has anyone done this? Any thoughts?
03-31-15, 02:50 PM
#33
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So, I hear about many people shortening their flat bars. I'm a flat bar commuter and have wondered about doing this, but am having trouble seeing the advantage.
I know that many do it simply for aesthetics (hipster wannabe bike messengers), but is there any real gain from it?
My Globe Vienna 3 came with flat bars of a certain width. I've heard that the general rule of thumb is to have bars as wide as your shoulders. By this standard, I could probably shave about 1-1.5" off each side. But if I did, what would be the gain? The only thing I can guess is a more responsive "feel". Then again, I'm afraid it might "feel" less stable.
It seems like there would still be plenty of room for my shifters/brakes if I did so.
Has anyone done this? Any thoughts?
I know that many do it simply for aesthetics (hipster wannabe bike messengers), but is there any real gain from it?
My Globe Vienna 3 came with flat bars of a certain width. I've heard that the general rule of thumb is to have bars as wide as your shoulders. By this standard, I could probably shave about 1-1.5" off each side. But if I did, what would be the gain? The only thing I can guess is a more responsive "feel". Then again, I'm afraid it might "feel" less stable.
It seems like there would still be plenty of room for my shifters/brakes if I did so.
Has anyone done this? Any thoughts?
03-31-15, 03:38 PM
#34
Steel is real
i have very wide bullmoose handlebar, i think it looks great & will look cool on a project bike i'm thinking of
also i fitted an alloy mongoose straight bar which is narrower than most straight bars i've come across. it has only a slight curve that i fitted to my diamondback mountain bike.. curved up...& with thick resilient grips..she looks very cool to me
whatever works i suppose
also i fitted an alloy mongoose straight bar which is narrower than most straight bars i've come across. it has only a slight curve that i fitted to my diamondback mountain bike.. curved up...& with thick resilient grips..she looks very cool to me
whatever works i suppose
03-31-15, 11:18 PM
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Reasons to narrow flat bars:
- Better biomechanical position (try holding a pushup with your hands far apart versus at shoulder width)
- Easier to squeeze by things (signposts, parked cars, etc)
- Lighter (uh huh)
The first is why I do it. Or add bar ends to take up the extra width and provide more hand positions.
- Better biomechanical position (try holding a pushup with your hands far apart versus at shoulder width)
- Easier to squeeze by things (signposts, parked cars, etc)
- Lighter (uh huh)
The first is why I do it. Or add bar ends to take up the extra width and provide more hand positions.
03-31-15, 11:26 PM
#36
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Mountain bikes are moving to wide bars 760+mm and short stems. The wide bar improves leverage and control, at the expense of clearance.
03-31-15, 11:49 PM
#37
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I forget, did anyone mention that narrow bars are better in crowded bike lockup racks and those on buses and trains?
21" is my absolute minimum, personally.
I have a 30.7" riser bar but I often find myself "choking up" on it, even when riding gnar -would cut it down some but will probably just sell it at some point.
21" is my absolute minimum, personally.
I have a 30.7" riser bar but I often find myself "choking up" on it, even when riding gnar -would cut it down some but will probably just sell it at some point.
04-01-15, 02:16 AM
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And if your typical ride holds plenty of short, high-intensity sections, then it does make more sense to muscle through on a higher gear than downshifting the front. And for that, a wider bar does serve a purpose.
Not a critical difference, but quite noticeable.
Although on the ride to/from the technical sections it does feel like you're riding ready to instantly hug someone...
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