Bike Gremlin

I've done research and found that FSA Omega handlebars are about 1cm narrower at the tops, than they are at the drops. This means a 44 FSA Omega would measure 43 at the hoods.

My shoulders aere exactly 42 cm and I ride a 42 cm c-c wide bars now. The widths feels good on both hoods and the drops (but the shape sucks bad). Which FSA Omegas should probably be better for me? 42, or 44? What is the advantage of going wider vs narrower? :/

seajaye

hmm....if i were you i might try out a 44cm and then if it doesn't work, swap it with a similar compact-drop in 42cm. never hurts to experiment a little. with craigslist and such you won't lose much by trying a 44 first.

i had 38cm class-bend bars on one bike, and 42cm ergo drops on another, and my shoulders are about 38cm across. i liked the 38cm width way better, as i could tell that 42cm was way too wide. so, i ordered 38cm FSA Omegas for another bike. they felt great and everything, even though i suppose they are 37cm at the hoods.

fast forward to me getting a new road bike, which came stock with 40cm compact drops. they feel noticeably better than the 38cm Omegas, although it's hard to objectively say why. all i know is, now when i ride the Omegas, they feel slightly narrow.

a bit wider bar will allow you to open up your lungs more, be a bit more stable for out-of-saddle riding, etc. but of course, there's a balance point past which a bar just becomes uncomfortably wide. find it!

Banzai

I normally ride 42. Went 44 in the Omega. Measures 42 at the hoods/bends.

Bike Gremlin

Thanks. Will give 44 a try then.

novacoke

Size up. I changed out my 40s to 42s.