i cut a pair of randonneur bars, just wide enough to fit some cheap mtb grips next to the stem, and loved them, until i had to climb a fairly long, pretty steep hill. getting leverage to climb on really narrow bars was a b i t c h, and on longer rides a few more hand placement options is nice, but i keep them mounted to a stem that i drop in every now and again. they are crazy fun, but far from practical for daily use in even moderately hilly areas. oh yeah, the slight flare on the bars made them much more comfy imo. a flat bar - cut that short - has put my wrists is a position that make my hands semi-numb after a longer ride, and caused me to tuck my elbows into my torso causing my breathing and spinning to suffer.