Thinking about cutting a pair or salvaging a pair from a scrap heap. What lengths and why? Draw backs and pluses, thanks.
PS, not pulling myslef up a lot of hills.

get a long pair, put em on your bike, and ride around for a bit and see where you put your hands. then chop them there.

drawbacks - limited hand positions (yes plural, 1 - on the bars and if you dont have a light on the bars, 2 - in where the drop meets stem *i like this position*)
pluses - a great all around bar but not too fav for the long runs. control (for some reason i feel i have the best control with risers). aestetically pleasing(on some bikes) if that matters to you

these are mine and they are pretty short but just right
DSC00839.JPG

a bit wider than your road bars...

risers look better on frames with fat tubes IMO

take this as a starting point: there is absolutely no advantage to cutting your risers shorter than your shoulders - you can cause some serious damage to your shoulders and back from riding like that for prolonged periods. plus, your shoulders will catch on anything before your bars do, if you're the type that likes to weave in and out of traffic.

onetwentyeight has some excellent advice to offer, per usual. why not ride around with them not cut down for a week and see where your hands end up?

Ride around i will, thanks.

Mine are cut shoulder width which is like 45cm.