What's up with the wide handlebars?
 

Anyone else notice how wide the bars on hybrids? I can understand them being wide on something that tends to lend itself to the mtb spectrum of things, like Dual Sports, but on the performance/fitness end??

They really ought to sell the fitness bikes with zero sweep or rise bars so that people can easily trim them down to fit.

Not really sure what your definition of WIDE is...my DS 8.4 came with 600mm bars and it was way too narrow. I currently have 750mm bars on them. Wider bars helped with more stability on the down hills on dirt, especially the bumpy ones. I guess on the road they are ok, although i felt they were too narrow for my chest/shoulders. Once i got wider bars, i wasn't feeling too suffocated on the climbs.

Funny thing about bicycles, you can change almost any part to one you like better.

Not funny, it is a well though out business plan. :)

I also have 600mm (at least, maybe wider) and I think they're pretty darn wide myself. But I generally only ride on the road. My bar ends are inboard of my grips, only about 350-400mm apart (about shoulder width) and I find myself using them all the time, especially on climbs. Having my hands so far apart isn't very comfortable for me on the road.

I always thought my bars were pretty wide too... the LBS said they should at the width of my shoulders - and they are... barely. I personally would like them closer.

600mm bars are definitely wider than shoulder-width... unless you're some sort of big burly man. :p

so... cut them off?

they put wide bars on them because it's pretty hard to safely & cheaply make a wide bar out of a narrow bar. so they put a wide bar on there because it's pretty easy to make a narrow bar out of a wide bar.

The bar on my hybrid is not all one diameter. The ends are smaller diameter. But it looks like I could hack off an inch from each end and not feel like a bat.

I'm with you, Easton EA50 Flat bar. Think tonight I'm going to snip off a few inches. I'm also considering getting some drop bar ends.

The bars on mtb are too narrow if anything. By the time I have brakes levers, shifters, a bell, a small LED torch, and a small computer mounted theres no room for any more toys. Also I find I would like a little wider reach. I'm not the smallest of people though. The bike is the right size, but the bars are not. Still haven't found a bar that really jumps out and says buy for now. The current one is good on the road, but lacks somewhat when you get on the dirt.