Originally Posted by
rbloem
Just to make this clear. I use my Cannondale Trail SL3 for really light flat trails as well as paved roads. This wide bar set up you guys are all promoting, is it geared more for downhill aggresive trails? Remember I use my bike on flat surfaces! Maybe that is why I prefer the narrow bars. Less wind resistance I notice with the bars being narrower.
I wasn't aware of that, so width for your use is moot. I'm a XC guy and I do ride some rough descents and rough trails in general but I'm no downhiller by any means. For my riding, the wider bars are awesome. As mentioned, wider/lower is the trend, even in XC or trail bikes. Narrower/higher in the cockpit is twitchier on trails. BTW, I think the term cockpit for bikes is just trying to be cool sounding like a jet or race car, lol.