Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fitting Your Bike
Reload this Page >

Handlebar question

Search
Notices
Fitting Your Bike Are you confused about how you should fit a bike to your particular body dimensions? Have you been reading, found the terms Merxx or French Fit, and don’t know what you need? Every style of riding is different- in how you fit the bike to you, and the sizing of the bike itself. It’s more than just measuring your height, reach and inseam. With the help of Bike Fitting, you’ll be able to find the right fit for your frame size, style of riding, and your particular dimensions. Here ya’ go…..the location for everything fit related.

Handlebar question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-17-16 | 10:40 AM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Handlebar question

I have a new awesome flat bar bike by Fuji.

As I have been riding it, I find myself wishing I had a larger range of control with the steering tube and handle. Today at some point I rode standing position and the steering is sensitive; it didnt stay as steady sideways as I would like to. This is in part the design of the bike, how I was riding etc but my gut feeling wonders.....would a wider handler bar stabilize the steering to not be as sensitive if that makes sense? Would the weight of a different handle bar help?

Thank you

Heres my bike:
Fuji Absolute 1.0 LE Flat Bar Disc Road Bike -- 2016 Performance Exclusive
loboseb is offline  
Reply
Old 12-17-16 | 05:24 PM
  #2  
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
just another gosling
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,554
Likes: 2,667
From: Everett, WA

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

I don't think so. Practice standing more. On a slightly uphill bit of road, put the bike in a big gear so that you're pedaling slowly, then stand for a while. Work on getting your upper body motion correct so that the front wheel doesn't wobble back and forth. Rock the bike only slightly and notice how the timing of your rocking has to coincide properly with your pedal downstroke to get the motion correct and easy. Try to ride on the fog line. I find it helps to keep my knee close to the top tube when the pedal on that side is near the top of the stroke.

Another thing you can play with while the bike is in that big gear: pedal seated while trying to put force on the pedals all the way around the circle, so that your upper body is completely still and again the front wheel doesn't wobble. Then try to transfer that feeling to the standing position.
__________________
Results matter

Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Reply
Old 12-17-16 | 11:43 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Titanium
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,915
Likes: 1,259
Wider handlebars? Aren't they already close to 27" wide? You aren't going to find it easy to obtain wider bars than that. Anyway the earlier poster is correct. It wouldn't change anything. You bought a higher performance bicycle than the typical cruiser with lots of trail. Trail is the amount of stability built into the bicycle front end. Even if you don't take Carbonfiberboy's advice and work on drills involving out of the saddle efforts, just by riding the bike you will eventually become accustomed to the way the Fuji handles and it won't seem so twitchy to you.
Leisesturm is offline  
Reply
Old 12-18-16 | 01:23 PM
  #4  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Thank you. I agree with what you are suggesting.

But I think i do want my arms to a tad stretch wider (horizontally).....
loboseb is offline  
Reply
Old 12-18-16 | 07:35 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Titanium
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,915
Likes: 1,259
Originally Posted by loboseb
But I think i do want my arms to a tad stretch wider (horizontally).....
Did a little pro bono research on your behalf. The bars on your Absolute come in 3 widths: 68cm, 71cm and 76cm. I'm just saying... I got mine with the 68cm bars and had the shop cut 3/4" off each end. This may, or may not mean anything at all, just saying. Just saying. But if you get from what I have said that if the shop lets you swap for a wider bar (assuming you don't already have the widest one) for free, well, alright, but if it means buying a new bar, and going through the hassle of levers and shifter swap... well I for one would not. Very much FWIW. Also FWIW, I'm 5'10", have 42cm shoulders and take a 35" shirt sleeve.
Leisesturm is offline  
Reply
Old 12-19-16 | 03:44 PM
  #6  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
thanks yall!
loboseb is offline  
Reply
Old 12-22-16 | 08:25 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX

Bikes: 2012 Surly Karate Monkey SS, 2012 Surly Cross Check, 2016 Litespeed T3, 2015 Niner RLT 9SS

loboseb;19256445]I have a new awesome flat bar bike by Fuji.
....would a wider handler bar stabilize the steering to not be as sensitive if that makes sense? Would the weight of a different handle bar help?
So the best way to see is measure, preferably get someone else to measure your shoulder width. The bars that you get will be a little wider than shoulder with about 20-25cm. So if you have a 42cm width the widest you want the bars to be is 67cm. If you go much wider than that you will lose a lot of the control and power. Think of it as if you were doing push-ups. You are more powerful with your hands shoulder width maybe a little wider, instead of quite a bit further out.

HTML Code:
https://propercloth.com/reference/how-to-measure-your-body-shoulder-width/
Mistake #2 may put it in perspective.
HTML Code:
https://www.outsideonline.com/2001321/youre-doing-your-push-ups-wrong
DJH8098 is offline  
Reply
Old 12-22-16 | 08:55 AM
  #8  
CliffordK's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 27,576
Likes: 5,453
From: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Originally Posted by Leisesturm
Did a little pro bono research on your behalf. The bars on your Absolute come in 3 widths: 68cm, 71cm and 76cm. I'm just saying... I got mine with the 68cm bars and had the shop cut 3/4" off each end. This may, or may not mean anything at all, just saying. Just saying. But if you get from what I have said that if the shop lets you swap for a wider bar (assuming you don't already have the widest one) for free, well, alright, but if it means buying a new bar, and going through the hassle of levers and shifter swap... well I for one would not. Very much FWIW. Also FWIW, I'm 5'10", have 42cm shoulders and take a 35" shirt sleeve.
Wow, those are WIDE.

Compare that to the average road bike bars that are 38 to 44cm wide.

Some wobbling back and forth is normal for standing & riding. Probably a few adaptations that make that helpful. Typically one pulls the side of the bike up that one is pushing the pedal down on, thus shortening the stroke, and perhaps giving some extra power using the upper body.

My last overnight tour the loaded rear end of my bike was a little heavy and felt a little loose... so it gave me excellent practice at keeping the bike in a perfect plane as I was doing standing hill climbs (which there were a lot of). But without the bags... back to the wobble.
CliffordK is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Catweazle
Fifty Plus (50+)
221
10-06-24 01:33 AM
Nikon Fan
Fitting Your Bike
1
01-24-15 12:08 AM
SharpHeel
General Cycling Discussion
39
12-04-13 06:39 PM
hyhuu
Road Cycling
66
11-24-11 11:17 AM
speks22
"The 33"-Road Bike Racing
13
07-29-11 12:31 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.