Originally Posted by
Dfrost
BTW, 380mm wide bars are quite narrow. I'm very narrow across the shoulders and find I like my 42cm (Soma Highway One) bars better than the 40 or 44 (different brands and bends).
38 cm bars are not common, but his measurement is 38, and general guidance is to match the measurement. But there are some caveats -
Were the shoulders measured correctly?
Are the bars measured correctly?
Is bar flare considered?
What does the rider prefer?
I think the last is critical. Wide bars are a style. As a young rider I bought was was out there, and now I'm pretty sure most of my high school bikes were around 38 cm. I'm reasonably comfortable on 40 Nittos and a little less so with 42's. In a randonneur bar I take a 45, which is about 37 c-c at the forward point of the hook.
The bar width is a lot less critical, and easier to tune, than the stack/reach/seat tube angle.