Originally Posted by
mstateglfr
Are you measurably more aero with bars that are 2.5" narrower? If not, whats the benefit? I dont know how I could even accurately measure how much faster I am due to 6cm narrower bars- so much of my speed(or lack of) varies on a given day due to how I am feeling that day, wind, surface quality, route I ride, etc
So there's no benefit to something unless you can personally measure it? While you may not see the value in specific, small optimizations, in and of themselves, it doesn't mean that they're not there and it doesn't mean that they don't add up. Hell, much of the recent history of road cycling, both professional and enthusiast, has been
shaped trampled by this concept.
That said, cyclists have been able to measure the drag differences between balls, 2", 3" and 4" in diameter, using methods like RChung's virtual elevation; bars that are 6cm narrower should be much more significant and much more easily observed.