Re: Narrow handlebars

On 4/23/2024 11:30 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

Tom Kunich <cyclintom@yahoo.com> wrote:

I just watched a podcast from Xyxling about the new trend in nattow bars
and they backed ut up with extensice wind tunnel testibng. For those
unaware of it, the UCI forbids the use of handlebars wth an outside to
outside measurement of less than 36 cm, The nattow bar xcontinegent
solves this by strongly tapering the handlebars out to the legal measurement.
>
The wind tunneol findings were shicking and peoplke like Flunkiy who
races should pay attention to them. At the lowest xpeed and sitting up in
the normal highest racing position there is a savings of 17 watts.
>
In other positions and higher speeds the savings can be as much as 50
watts implying that you can gain another 5 kph in some cases.
>
Now, this has no general use since these are very uncomfortable to use.
But the racing gains are so high that they equal ALL other aero savings
on a bike. They do not seem to have any handling effects once you're used
to them but for normal sport bike riders this does suggest that 38 mm
norrmal drop bars aer worthwhile.
>

 I have seen/read reviews of such narrow bars, don’t recall being
uncomfortable though will by nature be a more extreme position and
certainly not bike fit right.

I've ridden 38 cm bars almost exclusively since I got serious about cycling in the 80's. Anything wider and I feel like I'm riding with a drag chute. I can ride with 40's, but I'm more comfortable on 38's

 And yes narrow bars will effect handling, and is reported as such, though
also noted that it’s not dangerously bad as some might claim.
 It’s for Pro’s possibly worth it, for amateur the benefit over fit/handling
etc is unlikely to be worth it.

The 'wide bar for better handling' is just a fashion trend imo, especially on MTB. I've never seen the need to ride bars wider than my shoulders. My Cdale came with 78 cm bars. I had never ridden anything over 600 before. I tried it for a few weeks - couldn't get used to it. I kept catching trees on tight single track and the longer movements from the wider radius to negotiate rocky technical trails took me off the bike several times. I cut them down to 60 and it was like riding a different (and much better handling) bike. I've had quite a few other MTB riders incredulously ask how I can stand riding with such narrow bars. I reply 'the same way you can stand riding wider bars'.

 Roger Merriman
 

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