velocity

Is there a need to have different lengths of handle bars for the different kinds of road riding that you are doing with drop bars? Would you suggest different lengths for commuting , touring or regular road riding or would one size fit all types you are doing. One last question suffer with please. I understood that the length is from center of delt to center of delt. Most of the race guys I have seen in the tour doing sprints and climbs have handle bars that look almost wider than their shoulders.

grolby

Well, there's no "right" answer for handlebar width. At least, I've never heard of an anatomical dimension by which you measure the correct width. It's more about personal preference. Basically, wide bars give more predictable, easier handling, and may be more comfortable, depending upon how broad your shoulders are. Some also claim that a wider bar opens up your chest, making it easier to breathe when working hard. That may be. The advantage of a narrow bar is that it is marginally lighter and marginally more aero... and that's it. Some prefer the twitchier feel of a narrow bar, but I'm not one of them. My narrow-shouldered self prefers a 42 cm bar on my road bike and a 44 cm bar on my touring bike (for better stability with a load, dontcha know). A wider bar will also flex more, which may take some of the sting out of the bumps. But it's really about personal preferences, here, there are no rules that I'm aware of.

velocity

So comfort,performance and stability are rules of thumb. What are the widest bars that anyone makes? I have 44's on my road bike but I have 40's on a bike that I just bought off Craigs list and they seem too narrow. I am using it as my commuter/trainer bike/rain bike and I was thinking that a wider bar would be great.
V

predat0r

Pretty much everything was answered in the second post. Its really personal preference. Most people would say take the handlebars and put them on your shoulders, you should fit just in between them.

Personally I like 2 sizes smaller (40cm as opposed to 44cm) than I was fitted for. The first road bike I got had size 40cm and I just got kind of used to that. Now whenever I use anything bigger I feel uncomfortable and personally feel like I have less control. I would suggest going to the lbs and trying different sizes but I think 42 or 44 is pretty much standard.
6

Largest size is usually 46, some only make up to 44, but i am pretty sure I have seen 48 before.

BananaTugger

Your handle bars should be slightly wider than your shoulders, measured from socket to socket.

That's what I've been told by local mechanics