Al K

Hi MTBers,

Ned Overend recommends hands be on bars at shoulder width. I just replaced my 24'' bar with a 19'' bar. What really got me to do this was a trail ride Sunday where I had to go between close trees at an angle. I also removed the bar extenders, which were just ready to get caught on a limb. Plus my mtb just seems more streamline with short bars. Steering with short bars seems okay so far, perhaps even better and more responsive.

Your thoughts on bar width, bar extenders, etc. would be appreciated.

Maelstrom 

Its a preference. I like wider handlebars. I would feel very compressed if I ran at shoulder width. PErsonally I run 26". Maybe it partially my weight lifting days but I feel most comfortable with my hands slightly outside the width of my shoulders.

Also at speed (dh riding) you gain a lot more control to muscle corners

willtsmith_nwi

Bar ends.

For me, good bar ends should slope inwards considerably. The point is to deflect any blows that would otherwise strike your hands.

Oh yeah, and they're good for pulling againt too. My point is to say that there are other types of bar ends that are less likely to snag saplings. And it you do snag them, you would have wacked your hands against them without bar ends.

serious

I cannot imagine a 19" bar for any normal adult. That is way too narrow for my liking. I have a 24" setup on my new bike and like it like that.

By the way, shoulder-width means hands outside of your shoulders, not inside. Having too narrow a bar will tire you out faster because the triceps get no help from the pecs. And with a very narrow grip, your breathing could be impaired a little. Bar ends will help all this, no doubt.