EGreen

Didn't know quite how to measure - at least by Deda's way of measuring ... so I ordered up a 44. Later I realized from outside to outside I've been riding 46 cm (and for years). Too late to change my order as my new bar is already on the way.

I've got pretty wide shoulders. Should I anticipate sending them back or might there be some benefit to going with the narrower bars?

Any experiences to share?

Booger

Benefits of narrow bars? Only if you have narrow shoulders. Measure your shoulders and get the right size.

EGreen

I do have ultra narrow bars on my fixed ... probably 42. I've never gone the distance on it that I have on my RB. However true or not there is the perception of being more aero.

idcruiserman

You will notice the difference.

ridethecliche

I like narrower bars. It makes moving through a pack much much easier.

DrPete 

Unless your paycheck is determined by the outcome of your next ride, go for the bar that fits. Your shoulders and upper back will thank you later. Even my race bike has 44cm C-C bars.

Medpilot

My shoulders are 44cm but I prefer bars that are 42cm. 44's make me feel like I'm driving a bus. I'm guessing that if you are use to 46, the 44's are going to feel way too small. I think it's all in what you get use to.

EGreen

I am inclined to agree with you. For example I've always had 172.5 length cranks. Arbitrarily so. When I tried longer as was suggested for me - I could not get used to them as I was so accustomed and my comfort was defined and set at 172.5.

I just had my shoulders measured - 46 cm. It would appear that I quite by chance got exactly the width bars that I needed.

CastIron

A 2 CM difference is ~.5 inches per side. Maybe you notice. I run 46c-c on one bike and 44's on another. I have 40cm bars on yet another. I size at 46. The 40's hurt. The 44's? The geometry is different so I don't notice.

mascher

I don't know why I think this, but those bars might be even narrower than you think. TTT bars are measured outside to outside, so a 42 is actually a "real" 40 measured center to center. I only know this because the bars that came on my current bike said 42, I rode a 44 and though I'd just keep them, but my shoulders and back were very unhappy, as I was riding 40cm bars. That led me to measure my current bars before getting a new one.

EGreen

I do know that there are different methods of measurement. However I measured my current bars by the method the new ones are measured so the net difference btw the two remains 2 cm.

Now despite some good arguments and medical advice to the contrary (my own included) I am going to give them a try. My back and shoulders may come to hate me for it, but it could be a change for the better. I promise I'll not come back here whining about the pain if it happens I have been amply warned.

kudude

i can tell a diff between the 42s on my race bike and the 44s on my commuter. That being said, I have no idea how to measure my shoulders. Is it outside to outside, or tip of some bone, or what?

rocoach

Yeah. I'd send your shoulders back and get some narrower ones to go with your new bars.

idcruiserman

Tip of acromion process

vic32amg

I prefer wider bars. I tend to climb out of the saddle alot and it feels better to me with wider bars.

BarracksSi

I just got some 42 cm bars in place of the 44's that came on the bike, but not for the narrower width. They have a different curve to the drops that I want to try, and there weren't any 44 cm bars in the shop that had the same curve.

Since I put the 42s on the bike already, I put the 44s to my shoulders, and it's danged hard to find that point. Depending on how I stand, I can fit my shoulders inside the bars, or I can rest them on the top of my shoulders. Hmm... my shoulders might be 43 cm wide. I'll ride the 42s for a while and see if any new pains show up.

hrt4me

Bony projection off the back of the scapula (shoulder blade). You should be able to feel yours with your hand by placing the palm of one hand on the top of your opposite shoulder. There are bony projections off the top and back of your shoulder, the acromion process is the one on the back, near your fingers. It articulates with the clavicle.

EGreen

For some of us- due to uncorrected separated AC joints, myself having two, a rough estimate will have to do.

s4one

Im suppose to be on a 44 but I ride with a 42, it doesnt bother me so why change? My fitter/mechanic trains on a 44 but races on a 42. The wider bars are suppose to let you open your lungs more to allow more air in.