Originally Posted by
CrowSeph
Im ordering a new handlebars, i have some doubts Wich width to choose since now seems everyone Is prefering a smaller one.
Actually I have one that measure 42cm, I don't have any problem but sometimes I feel very insecure when I'm closed in the middle of a group during races.
- A smaller handlebar would have a negative impact for the respiration? (More closed arms=more difficult for chest to expand).
- 2cm less would help in those compact group?
Regarding the aero gains I think is not even worth talk
hard to say because it's a preferential thing. If you are mostly group riding and not racing just get whatever you feel most comfortable on and something that matches your shoulder width. I am a pretty small dude so I could do even a 36cm but very few if any manufactures makes one and most stock bikes in my size come with a 40cm, thus I either ride a stock 40cm or get a 38cm. To me the wider bars feel more stable and are better climbing bars since you can use them to leverage yourself. I just changed my carbon cockpit on my Scott Foil RC from a 40m to a 38cm and frankly I feel marginally more efficient but lighter in the wallet. This IMO is where a bike fit is super useful unless you know your component size from the get go. If you don't feel like dropping more money on marginally narrower bars I would work on bike positioning but also tilt your shifters inwards unless you are UCI racing. Also look into how your manufacture measures your bars. My ultralight Prime Primavera X-Light pro Bars feels narrower than my Syncros Creston iC SL 38cm bar and some of this is where/how a manufacture measures the width of the bar. I have heard of some ENVE bars marked as 38cm measuring smaller