Looking at buying a Noodle bar and need to know what size is the equivalent to a 'normal' bar.

Rivendell recommend (vaguely - "x for an average guy, xx for a big guy..." - that sort of thing) what size to go for, but they give no dimensions that would enable you to make your own mind up.

I gather they are 'designated' c-c at the bar ends. I normally use a 42 c-c - I don't like the sound of Rivendell's recommendation of a 48cm bar. Do they advise bigger because the tops are narrower than the drops/ends?

Another argument maybe... but I don't subscribe to a wider bar opening the chest... my arms are at a right angle to my chest when riding, so how does a narrow bar restrict the chest?

Thanks.

Update: bought one - thanks for the replies.

When you hold your arms close together in front of you, it pushes your ribcage in from the sides. Try breathing deeply with your shoulders hunched forward, then try it with them held back to where you shoulder blades line up. You should be able to feel a significant difference in air flow, if you have anything resembling normal physiology.

That said, as long as your bars are as wide as your shoulders, that should do fine.

"Normal" bars come in all sizes, from too small to very wide.

Why do you not like the sound of Rivendell's recommendation of a 48cm bar?

Why do you normally use a 42cm bar?

Ever wonder why mountain bikes bars are so much wider than road bars?

You can purchase the Nitto B-177 aka "Noodle" bars in sizes 42 - 48 cm.

Get what you want, it's still a free country for a little while longer.

Hi Monkey Face,
I use several 42-44 Noodle bars, depending on the bike they are on. I use about the same in various model Cinelli's. A 48-c-c is about the largest size they make, and usually available at extra cost. I am Mr. "average" build that rides about a 57-58cm frame size. Works great. Exit said it right for me as well, wide as shoulders just works.

These guys sell a lot of these. You could ask them:
https://hiawathacyclery.com

Thanks everyone, but I'm not sure I explained myself properly.

The point I was trying to make is that the Noodle is apparently flared outwards... from what I can gather, it is wider in the hooks and drops, than at the ramps.

(A classic 3t Merckx, for example, has ramps, hooks and drops in the same vertical plane, at 90 degress to the ground.)

A Noodle marked 42c-c (measured by Nitto at the drops) will be narrower at the ramps than a 42c-c classic Merckx, and because I ride mostly on the ramps, would therefore be smaller than I am used to.

I just wondered if anyone knew how much narrower the Noodle is at the ramps than at the drops.

Thank you.

Hello: I love those Noodle bars and have several. I'm a big guy and I use the 44 for most of my bikes. I have a 46 on a SS and the extra width is nice there. The 46 and 48 will cost you more becouse they are heat treated. Wonderful bend and nice flat ramps...I recommend that bar alot, customers and friends always seem to be happy with it.
Hope that helps:

I've clarified my question (above) bbattle - by the nature of your 'answers' I obviously didn't explain properly.

Wider bars on mountain bikes: for leverage over ground that is constantly fighting to move a big fat tyre every which way... I don't see the relevance of this to a skinny tyre and tarmac.

Update: Bought a 420 - if it's the wrong size I'll buy a bigger one. Thanks all.

Riv bike measures the bars they sell center of the curve to center of the curve right where the levers mount not at the ends. On my road bikes I will use a 42cm bar, on bikes that will see trail duty such as my cross bikes I will go up one size to 44 regardless of who makes the bar. In other words I ride Nitto bars the same width as I would any road bar.

Riv's sizing suggestion works well with the kind of bikes they sell that put you in a relatively upright position for a drop bar equipped bike, not so well for a bike that has aggressive racing geometry.

OK I have to ask. what is so special about a "noodle" bar? is it just the slight rearward bend to the top portion? if so why would sizing be different?

now I can understand these bars causing some sizing issues

I'll be very surprised if it doesn't suit your needs. Like a darn fool, I road a friend's Cross Check today w/ Noodles on our melting roads. He has his set up as a single speed cyclocross and it rocked. Great choice.

Hi Bianchigirl,
Really no sizing issues. Monkey Face had great questions, but not insurmountable sizing problems.I haven't ridden with anyone yet that didn't like theirs. Reasons: hand positions, just right drops, the ramps are the right size with Dura Ace or Campy Centaur hoods, the flares open my chest for breathing(maybe in my head), and I like the look. Oh, they are only about $70 at my LBS.

They really don't flare out that much. I've got 46's and they flare out to about 47 on the bar ends.

Got my bars this morning, so here's what I found.

Size of bars - as stamped - 420. Ramps are 410, hooks 420 and drops 430 - all are c-c. I don't know why Rivendell can't just give this information for each size.

Nice looking bar isn't it? Can't wait to see your build completed. Agreed on information, as I am sure it must be somewhere. I spent twenty minutes online to find it. I should have waited till I got to the space and just measured my bars for you. Glad it worked out.