Originally Posted by
DowneasTTer
Personally 720 mm would not be comfortable for me. I like around 660 to 640 mm on a hybrid/flat handlebar road bike. The other thing is I like a true flat bar not a riser and a sweep of no more than 6 degrees. Most of the MTN bars seem to be too long and too much sweep for use on anything but a MTN bike IMHO. Also if you purchased a quality bar cutting that much off WILL change quite a bit of the characteristics of bar itself. If a no-name Chinese bar who know. Good luck
DowneasTTer,
Thanks for the favor of a reply. I believe the bar I have was made in Taiwan. The company is here in the US, so many parts are made in other countries now. I bought a “reasonably” priced bar to test whether or not I liked carbon. I bought a size I thought I might be able to cut down to something useable. Certainly the trend in MTN bike handlebars is much wider at the moment. I may have gone too long to start. I may cut the one I have down to 680-690, which will give me a better idea of what will work for me. As you mention cutting too much off may change the bar too much, although longer bars are often made with the understanding that they may be reduced.
I am trying to make this bike for gravel and paved MTN roads, which are everywere in the area I am moving to. Again thanks for the reply, you have given me the courage to go a little shorter. I am thinking of the current bar as an experiment to dial in what works for me and my physical challenges.