Re: Narrow handlebars

On Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:36:05 GMT, Tom Kunich 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 always saw a bit off both ends of new handlebars,
so they are roughly the same as my shoulder width.
I just measured one, 46 cm. That way I don't have to
move my arms so much when steering. Other people
seem to like having their hands wide apart.
--
db