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

Handbars too narrow?

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.

Handbars too narrow?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-25-18 | 03:05 PM
  #1  
Bahnzo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 313
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO

Bikes: 1986 Schwinn Passage, 2006 Giant OCR3

Handbars too narrow?

I'm getting close to dialing in my fit, but I think my bars are too narrow. These bars are 40cm, and I still have problem with numbness in my fingers which I'm sure has to be due to my wrists not being straight. I feel like my wrists are slightly bent inwards when I'm on the hoods. Plus, if you look at the pic, it seems my arms are on the outer parts of the bar.

Thoughts?
Bahnzo is offline  
Reply
Old 08-25-18 | 03:14 PM
  #2  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast

Bikes: 8

Open bottom end , (typical non flared out) drop bars is suggested to be as wide as your shoulders.

Tape measure is better than the camera, there..
fietsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 09-06-18 | 10:55 PM
  #3  
Bahnzo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 313
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO

Bikes: 1986 Schwinn Passage, 2006 Giant OCR3

Update here: Yes, the bars were too narrow. I switched to a 42cm bar and it's much better. More than measuring (which I got different results from different people measuring), was that simply holding my arms at my side, and then bringing them up to the drops showed me they were too narrow. When I did that, my hands were slightly outside the drops (my thumbs hit the bar ends actually). With the new 42cm they come up and grip perfectly. Today I had my first ride, and it's night/day now. Not one touch of numbness and I'm comfortable in all positions which has never been the case.

It's like a new bike!
Bahnzo is offline  
Reply
Old 09-13-18 | 10:51 AM
  #4  
woodcraft's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,016
Likes: 924
From: Nor Cal
I suggest that you raise the brake levers so that when on the hoods

your wrists are neutral e.g. thumbs not pointing down.

This allows a chain of positives- arms bend, shoulders drop, back flattens,

& wrists rotate in for comfort & less pressure on the hands
woodcraft is offline  
Reply
Old 09-13-18 | 12:06 PM
  #5  
Bahnzo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 313
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO

Bikes: 1986 Schwinn Passage, 2006 Giant OCR3

Originally Posted by woodcraft
I suggest that you raise the brake levers so that when on the hoods

your wrists are neutral e.g. thumbs not pointing down.

This allows a chain of positives- arms bend, shoulders drop, back flattens,

& wrists rotate in for comfort & less pressure on the hands
I'll give that a try, but I actually spend more time on top of the hoods (if that makes sense) instead of "in" them. So in that position, my wrists are straight and thumbs are neutral and everything feels good so far. I rode 30 miles the other day, and for the first time in forever had no issues with numbness in my hands. But, I can see what you are getting at, so if I do have any troubles ongoing, I'll give that a shot. Thanks.
Bahnzo is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-18 | 08:56 PM
  #6  
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
just another gosling
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 20,555
Likes: 2,667
From: Everett, WA

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

Originally Posted by woodcraft
I suggest that you raise the brake levers so that when on the hoods

your wrists are neutral e.g. thumbs not pointing down.

This allows a chain of positives- arms bend, shoulders drop, back flattens,

& wrists rotate in for comfort & less pressure on the hands
I always go for the brake-levers-must-be-vertical guide to hood positioning. Secondarily with hands in fast hoods position (thumb over top of brifter, forearms horizontal) wrists should rest nicely on ramps. I use that second position a lot on long rides.
__________________
Results matter

Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-18 | 09:09 PM
  #7  
Newbie
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
If your handlebars are too narrow, your shoulders feel strained when riding in this position
bichngoc94 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-16-18 | 09:47 PM
  #8  
Bahnzo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 313
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO

Bikes: 1986 Schwinn Passage, 2006 Giant OCR3

Originally Posted by woodcraft
I suggest that you raise the brake levers so that when on the hoods

your wrists are neutral e.g. thumbs not pointing down.

This allows a chain of positives- arms bend, shoulders drop, back flattens,

& wrists rotate in for comfort & less pressure on the hands
I brought my brake levers up just a tad for my ride today, maybe no more than 1-2cm, but it made a nice compromise between in the hoods and on them. Thanks, I'll be keeping them there I think.
Bahnzo is offline  
Reply
Old 09-17-18 | 06:19 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Likes: 235
No such thing as too narrow nowadays. Plenty of pros running 38cm or narrower bars even with super broad shoulders. I personally run 38cm bars on the road bike even though I was fitted for 42cm. Still run 42cm on the gravel bike and a 46cm on the cross bike.
redlude97 is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ModeratedUser
Touring
36
03-07-16 09:31 AM
lungimsam
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
26
09-03-12 03:59 PM
voltare
Commuting
6
04-29-11 12:42 PM
texasdiver
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
21
09-28-10 02:25 PM

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.