Two quick handlebar questions...
 

Can alloy drop handlebars that has an end bent slightly in be unbent?

Should a taller guy with broader shoulders have something wider than 42cm?

Thanks!

I've got VO Rando's in a 48 on my Boulder; I'm 6' 2" with moderately broad shoulders.

Can? It's hard to do because of the shape, isolating the bar. I did one by running my truck tire onto it, then yanking it into alignment. A breaker bar might help.

Should? Plus & minus. Plus, you open up the chest ... it's a comfortable position. Minus, you are less aero. I've gone wider on my touring bikes, stayed narrow on my "fast" bikes.

I've never figured out how wide bars have become so popular. Going to a wider bar only "opens up" your chest if you were born without elbows. Your elbow position, not your wrist position, determines how "open" your chest is. Now, relax with your arms sticking out to the sides. As you bring your arms together, are you forced to exhale? No? Your arms don't affect your chest cavity with their position. Go with whatever feels good to you. Don't let a salesman sell you something you don't need.

If the bend is minor, it can be corrected but it's a bear to effect any kind of change. Good luck.

I've done it. Just stood on the drop of the bent end, and pryed out the bend from the other end.

Handlebars are made from an alloy that responds well to forming without work hardening as rapidly as some alloys, so you can re-bend them slightly, but the bar SHOULD resist your effort to bend it. - If you notice any drop in resistance, the bar may have reached its elastic limit and you should be concerned.

I couldn't straighten out a slightly bent drop bar that I clamped into a B&D Workmate, but I was probably going about it wrong. I do recall being surprised about how easy it was to bend the bar initially (minor crash) versus how difficult it was to fix it...

ditto. it took about 1 second and wasn't hard at all. ez.

i'm 6'4", and i like 38-42mm bars.

So no worries about the handlebar suddenly delivering your face into the pavement?

If it doesn't snap while you're attempting to straighten it, you're pretty much good to go.
Over time, an alloy handlebar, if it's going to have a fatigue failure at all, will tend to fail at or near the stem clamp.

As far as width goes, I've never raced, so I've never been subject to the 'Narrow & Aero" philosophy. I've always just based my handlebars on my suit size: I wear a size 42 regular, so I have 42cm handlebars.