Wider handlebars?
10-05-08, 09:34 PM
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Wider handlebars?
I picked up a NOS cross bike today, and I am wondering about race setup. For some reason this bike has very narrow, 40cm handlebars. Another racer suggested that as long as I need to get wider bars anyway, that I should consider going 2cm wider than my normal road race handlebars. Does anyone else do this---go wider than their road race bars for cross application? Also, I have a set of Ritchey V3 mtb pedals in a box that I have never used, and I am wondering whether they would work in the mud at all. Has anyone ever tried them for cross? I suspect that I just need to go ahead and get Crank Bros pedals. Thanks for any comments.
10-06-08, 11:35 AM
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Thanks!! Yes, I think the other guy said something to this effect as well. I am looking at purchasing Ritchey Aluminum WCS bars, and I see they come in either 144mm drop, like my road race bars, or shallower 135mm drop. Any comments on this choice? Thanks! 
Last edited by Skewer; 10-06-08 at 12:28 PM.
10-06-08, 07:32 PM
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If the Shallow drop WCS bars are at all like the biomaxes, I really like them for cross. I beleive you can get the biomax at at least the "pro" level.
10-06-08, 07:49 PM
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Yes, I have seen a couple of websites list the 130mm drop Ritchey Biomass bars as cyclocross bars. Why do you like them for cyclocross? Get in and out of the drops quicker? A little more upright in the drops?
10-06-08, 08:32 PM
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Make sure you consider the stem diameter. Older stems/bars are usually 26mm, whereas modern ones are sometimes oversized (31.8mm). Make sure you match bars to stem.
10-07-08, 05:06 PM
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10-08-08, 08:04 AM
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Tiocfáidh ár Lá
My road bars are 44 and cross 46. I like the wider bars so I can mount inline brakes. I also ride mostly on the tops and prefer shallow drops. Aero is not important for cross.
10-08-08, 04:00 PM
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I ride 40s for both cross and road. I like narrow bars a lot. I'm obviously strange.
10-08-08, 04:30 PM
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You use shallower and wider drop in CX because you are less concerned about an aero position and more concerned about handling.
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I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
10-09-08, 11:23 AM
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Thanks for the tips guys. I am thinking of trying the size 44cm Ritchey Pro Biomax bars with 130mm drop. For road, I use 42cm with 145mm drop. But I am sure anything will work, and my motor will be my limiting factor. 
Last edited by Skewer; 10-09-08 at 12:58 PM.
