Hi everybody,

I just got the Salsa Cowchipper handlebar in size 42 for my LHT. Anyone else have these bars?
The reason I ask is because the width at the hoods is 42 and the drops flare to a whopping 54(!!!!!).

I think I want a 44 width at the hoods, but I really dont want the drops to be any wider. Im hoping the drop width stays constant as the hood with gets wider.

-->My question would be if anyone has these bars in a 44, how wide are they at the drops?

Those have 24degrees of flare for the drops. No matter what size bar you get, itll be flared at the drops.

Get the Cowbell or cowbell2 if you want salsa bars. 12degrees of flare so they are more traditional.

I don't know the answer to your question but thanks for bringing the Cowchipper to my attention. I thought you made a mistake and meant Woodchipper. It is a narrower version.

These bars are about riding the drops, not the hoods. I ride the Woodchipper that way and love it.

What's really nice about the flared drops is how comfortable it is to stand in them. The hoods or drops of an ordinary drop bar are painful by comparison. The width is your friend, more leverage at the crank.

Call Salsa, they may be able to provide accurate answer: 877-668-6223

Thanks, thats a good idea, I cant seem to find any other info online.

I really like the bars because you can ride the hoods like a normal drop bar (the levers aren't at such as radical an angle as the woodchipper) and the drops are nice and wide for added leverage and control. the would be absolutely perfect if the hoods were 44 and the drops stayed the same as they are now, but that is probably wishful thinking as the degree of the flare is a constant.

But maybe in the end, the 44cm cowbell will be a better bet for the lht and the cowchippers will go on my Gunnar Crosshairs.

I had to read the first post again, but I understand what you are now asking- yes the larger the measurement, the larger the overall width on the hoods and drops as the degree of flare stays the same.

I have Chippers on my AWOL and I love them.

I tried a set of woodchippers a couple of years ago, and after a few hundred miles, I donated them to my LBS's grab bag. Like the OP, I found them too wide in the drops. I should have paid more attention to the way they were described, as "Mountain Drops". I have never been comfortable on mtn bikes with wide flats, having come from a traditional road bike touring background. But if you like mtn bars, but want some drop, I can see how they might be the cat's meow.

Salsa Cycles

Page shows super-imposed images of the 3 bar styles.

I really appreciate the wide drops on my Woodchippers when descending fast on loose gravel. Like yesterday, and most days I ride.

The Soma Gator is very clever. Uses MTB or road controls. It's 22.2mm in the grip area where MTB controls would go, 23.8mm where road brake levers would go.