Originally Posted by SingleSpeeDemon

Despite the fact that many fixed gear riders have jumped on the chopped riser handlebar wagon, there is a practical application to having narrow bars. In the case of city riding; dodging buses and cabs, splitting lanes of gridlock, the narrow bars allow a rider to squeeze into spaces where wider bars would cause clearance issues. There is a common notion on this board that since the rider's hips and shoulders are usually wider than the chopped handlebar, then it renders the whole purpose of riding with such a narrow bar a moot point.

In reality, imagine trying to squeeze through a narrow gap on a bicycle. If you are able to steer through it and keep the front wheel straight, you should be able to make it unless there is simply no room to fit. In practice, the rider can dip a shoulder, pivot on the seat and contort the body to help facilitate clearance. If your hip or shoulder bumps into an object while tracking straight, it should have little bearing on your velocity. However, if the handlebar contacts an object, it will undoubtedly pivot the wheel causing an undesirable change in direction.

For climbing purposes, the lack of leverage is apparent, but then it is just like all things when riding a fixed gear bike on the road; everything becomes a bit of a compromise.