Handlebar width?
12-30-05, 12:41 AM
#1
Faith-Vigilance-Service
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Port Orchard, WA
Posts: 8,330
Bikes: Trinity, Paradisus, Centurion, Mongoose, Trek
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Handlebar width?
When fitting up a new set of bars, how do you figure out how much to take off the ends for proper width? If it was for a female about 5'3", about how wide should they be?
__________________
President, OCP
--"Will you have some tea... at the theatre with me?"--
President, OCP --"Will you have some tea... at the theatre with me?"--
12-30-05, 01:19 AM
#2
Lost in the Black Hills
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,725
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Patriot
When fitting up a new set of bars, how do you figure out how much to take off the ends for proper width? If it was for a female about 5'3", about how wide should they be?
don't feel like you necessarily NEED to cut a bar just because you can...i like mine the way they are
__________________
Tomac Mountain Bikes | Light-Bikes l Magura USA | Industry Nine | Schwalbe Tires | Caffélatex
Tomac Mountain Bikes | Light-Bikes l Magura USA | Industry Nine | Schwalbe Tires | Caffélatex
12-30-05, 02:29 AM
#4
Te mortuo heres tibi sim?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: East coast
Posts: 3,486
Bikes: hardtail, squishy, fixed roadie, fixed crosser
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
ride it the way is is stock, then if too wide, cut off 1/2" off each side. then ride again. repeat process until you get it where you like it. be careful trimming, obviously. ride it for a while before you cut. you can't put it back on.....
me? i like them nice and wide. 27" on both my hardtail and fully.
me? i like them nice and wide. 27" on both my hardtail and fully.
12-30-05, 08:25 AM
#5
Too Much Crazy
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NY
Posts: 3,660
Bikes: Eriksen 29er, Gunnar Roadie, Niner RLT, Niner RIP 9
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 116 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
I would leave them as wide as possible and only cut them if
1. She feels the steering is too slow
2. She keeps hitting trees when she is riding on trails
1. She feels the steering is too slow
2. She keeps hitting trees when she is riding on trails
12-30-05, 09:07 AM
#6
Custom User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: T0L0K0
Posts: 3,739
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Like the others said, there isn't a proper width. It all depends on the rider and their riding style. So if/when you are cutting, do less than you think. Even small cuts off of each end will make more of a difference than you'd think. So make small cuts and creep up on it like scrublover suggested. But like unsuspended said, let her ride it first and see if she likes it as is. With a good tube cutter, it's quick and simple to cut the bars while on the bike if she finds she does want it narrower.
12-30-05, 10:27 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: southern oregon
Posts: 2,631
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
stick your arms straight out to grab the bars...leave about 1" on each end. It has to do with the width of your shoulders
12-30-05, 10:39 PM
#9
Lost in the Black Hills
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,725
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
sometimes its best to adapt to the bike...you don't want to be making too funky of a set-up at some extreme
__________________
Tomac Mountain Bikes | Light-Bikes l Magura USA | Industry Nine | Schwalbe Tires | Caffélatex
Tomac Mountain Bikes | Light-Bikes l Magura USA | Industry Nine | Schwalbe Tires | Caffélatex
09-21-07, 02:22 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Da' Beach SoCal!
Posts: 160
Bikes: Electra Rockabilly Boogie, Electra Deluxe 3, Sector 9 Goddess (my skateboard!) and soon... A full-suspension mountain rig!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
09-22-07, 01:21 PM
#11
A guy who rides bikes
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mid-Missouri
Posts: 440
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Don't be so fast to cut. Just move the levers/****ers/grips in a half-inch or so at a time and let her see what feels like the proper width. Once she's sure about it, put tape around the bar where the grips (or bar ends) end, and start choppin'.
