Well, my secondary bike is a lovely steel Schwinn World Sport. I put moustache bars on it as a change of pace, but I really don't care for them. The drops that came on it are freakishly wide, probably 48-50cm. What determines the width of drop bars on your bikes. I am tempted to go 40cm, but what are the circumstances that would keep me from going to 42 or 44. I don't race, I pretty much ride my road bike in urban settings and often need quick steering.
Anyhow, if the previous paragraph didn't have a point, what width of bar should I use based on my own physiology and actual use? What are the disadvantages/advantages of a wide vs. narrow bar. BTW I will be buying cheap Nashbar drops when I upgrade. Afterall, it is just a Schwinn.
Thanks,
J

measure (the width of) the bony bumps on top of your shoulders and match your bars. i think the majority of riders use 42-44cm wide bars, with big brawny guys (and gals) going up to 46's. skinnier petite frames will go down to 38-40.
of course in 5 seconds someones gonna say they ride 48's...

I went to a 46 and man is it comfortable. I'm of medium build 5' 11". Rivendell sells a bar called the Noodle. It's great - and they have a lot of info on bar width. I took the 46 plunge and am very happy. I just got a new old bike with 40's and they feel very narrow and constricted - I just ordered another 46 Noodle for my new bike.

bruce has it right with the most typical measurement to get you in the ballpark for what width bar to use. I am currently in the process of swapping all of my bars from 40cm to 42cm, which I feel gives me a little better breathing and control of the bike.

great question and great response...i was wondering the same myself
thanks

Hi All-

I'm of normal size and prefer 40's because it encourages more tucked-in and aerodynamic yet comfortable positioning on the bike. I've never noticed my breathing to feel constricted in a quarter-century of serious riding.

~ Blue Jays ~

Don't forget about bar diameter. If you have narrow shoulders you may also have small hands. A smaller bar diameter coucl be easier for you to grasp.

Except they're all the same so that the brake levers will fit onto them. The "oversized" bars are only oversized at the stem clamp.

Measuring the shoulder bones doesn't really work because the measurement is very difficult to be accurate with and it doesn't take personal preference into account (the most important factor). Your better off experimenting with some conventional sizes and get something that feel good to YOU.

Might I suggest investing in a new stem at the same time. Nashbar has a quill stem with a removable faceplate, which makes it much easier to experiment with different bar sizes

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...20Road%20Stems

Plus your old stem might be 25.4 diameter, most new bars are 26.0

If you ride in urban settings, i recommend less than 36cm for zooming inbetween buses and cars...
When you have wider bars, you tend to be more scared of clipping wing mirror.