Originally Posted by
bmthom.gis
What's up with the ever increasing handlebar width? Just a trend...or do you think it is here to stay? Personally, I do not like them, at least not for the trails we have around here.
Maybe they are great in big open areas, but whenever I switch back to my 29er I feel like there are times I could snag a tree (maybe one day I'll cut them if I don't pop on a rigid fork and make it a drop bar conversion first). As a result, I think the narrow bars on my old stumpy are better for my trails.
Recently, I took a Cannondale Cujo out for a test ride and absolutely hated the cockpit! It had a 760mm wide bar on it and I just couldn't imagine taking it on a tight trail.
I know, it sounds like I'm doing a lot of complaining. For those of you riding on wide bars, what makes you like them? Do you ever feel like you are compromising maneuverability in tight spaces? I'm not judging anyone, bc all of us should ride whatever the heck we want and what works for us. I just want to know if I am in the minority with my ( admittedly luddite) feelings.
Over the course of 15 years, my bars grew in steady increments from 580mm to 750mm.
Not sure I can explain WHY I like the wider ones, I just feel more in control and stable.
Yeah, there are the occassional tight squeezes I need to be careful about, but those few instances are more than made up for by the increased control the rest of the time.