Wide Handlebar for Road Bike

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a suggestion for a wide road bike handlebar? I have tried the one listed in the
Rivendale catalog and is about the same on the top and the wider part is where the drops flair out.

I have used a mountain bar, and bar ends, for so many years that when I switch to my road bike it
seems way too narrow and that I have less control. It is particularly noticeable when I get out of
the saddle to climb.

 

[Gary Jacobson]

I like wide bars and have found that Salsa Bell lap has the longest top of any I have, or have ever
seen. They also flair. Longer by far than Nitto Dirt Drop, or what ever Riv. now sells. Not sure of
Noodle though. I have been told that Ritchie also makes a bar with a long top. If you are
interested in Salsa and concerned with weight, be aware that there are two similar models with
different weights..

Gary Jacobson Rosendale, NY

news:[email protected]...
> Does anyone have a suggestion for a wide road bike handlebar? I have
tried
> the one listed in the Rivendale catalog and is about the same on the top
and
> the wider part is where the drops flair out.
>
> I have used a mountain bar, and bar ends, for so many years that when I switch to my road bike it
> seems way too narrow and that I have less
control.
> It is particularly noticeable when I get out of the saddle to climb.

 

[Joseph Kubera]

RWM --

How wide do you WANT the tops of your handlebars to be?

Joe

 

[Anonymous]

My best guess is about 50 -52 cm. The widest that I have seen is about 46
cm.

"Joseph Kubera" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> RWM --
>
> How wide do you WANT the tops of your handlebars to be?
>
> Joe

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I will look up both Salsa and Ritchie.

"Gary Jacobson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I like wide bars and have found that Salsa Bell lap has the longest top of any I have, or have
> ever seen. They also flair. Longer by far than Nitto Dirt Drop, or what ever Riv. now sells.
> Not sure
of
> Noodle though. I have been told that Ritchie also makes a bar with a long top. If you are
> interested in Salsa and concerned with weight, be aware that there are two similar models with
> different weights..
>
> Gary Jacobson Rosendale, NY
>
>

> news:[email protected]...
> > Does anyone have a suggestion for a wide road bike handlebar? I have
> tried
> > the one listed in the Rivendale catalog and is about the same on the top
> and
> > the wider part is where the drops flair out.
> >
> > I have used a mountain bar, and bar ends, for so many years that when I switch to my road bike
> > it seems way too narrow and that I have less
> control.
> > It is particularly noticeable when I get out of the saddle to climb.
> >
>

 

[Anonymous]

The widest that I could find from both companies is 46 cm. Is there something else that I should be
looking at?

news:[email protected]...
> Thanks, I will look up both Salsa and Ritchie.
>
>
> "Gary Jacobson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I like wide bars and have found that Salsa Bell lap has the longest top
of
> > any I have, or have ever seen. They also flair. Longer by far than Nitto Dirt Drop, or what ever
> > Riv. now sells. Not
sure
> of
> > Noodle though. I have been told that Ritchie also makes a bar with a long top. If you are
> > interested in Salsa and concerned with weight, be aware that there are two similar models with
> > different weights..
> >
> > Gary Jacobson Rosendale, NY
> >
> >

> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Does anyone have a suggestion for a wide road bike handlebar? I have
> > tried
> > > the one listed in the Rivendale catalog and is about the same on the
top
> > and
> > > the wider part is where the drops flair out.
> > >
> > > I have used a mountain bar, and bar ends, for so many years that when
I
> > > switch to my road bike it seems way too narrow and that I have less
> > control.
> > > It is particularly noticeable when I get out of the saddle to climb.
> > >
> > >
> >
>

 

[Gary Jacobson]

The length of the top is what I thought you had the most interest in, and that can be different with
the same width bars. I suppose that the less the angle of flare, the longer the tops will be. There
probably are other factors too. Anyway, I have very wide shoulders and find the Salsa plenty wide.
At first the widest Nitto Dirt Drop seemed wide to me. But it's nothing like the Salsa 46 bell lap.
Now the Dirt Drop seems almost puny. I'd like to see the widest Nitto Noodle, and the widest Ritchie
side by side with the Salsa Bell lap.

GJ

news:[email protected]...
>
> "Joseph Kubera" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > >The widest that I could find from both companies is 46 cm. Is there something else that I
> > >should be looking at?
> >
> > RWM --
> >
> > I think you mentioned in your first post that you are coming to road
> biking
> > from mtn biking.
> >
> > I admit that I am not a mtb rider, and not so familiar with that
> equipment, but
> > may I suggest that a shorter bar might be one of the main
characteristics
> > differentiating road from mtn bikes? 46 cm is pretty darn wide for a
road
> bar
> > (I have 45 on mine).
> >
> > It would make sense to think that trail riding, downhilling, etc. would
> require
> > the kind of control that a wide mtb bar (with bar-ends?) would
> give...issues
> > that are not so important in road bikes.
> >
> > The (quite approximate) rule of thumb on road bar width is that they
> should be
> > as wide as the distance between your shoulder bones. Of course, you
might
> be
> > built exceptionally wide there.
> >
> > If you are partial to bar-ends, I might also suggest looking for
something
> > called a "Newk" bar -- a road bar with mtb-style bar ends in addition to
> the
> > drops.
> >
> > Joe
>
> I am not new to riding on the road as I have averaged 3,500 miles per year for the last seven
> years and so far this year I have done 5,700 miles.
Most
> of that mileage has been on flat bar road bikes, but I have a road bike
with
> regular drop bars. I do have really wide shoulders and when I ride the
drop
> bar bike it feels way too narrow.
>
> From the lack of ideas about wide bars it sounds like I should just put
more
> miles on the drop bar bike and see if I can get more comfortable. I will also look for a Newk bar.

 

[Anonymous]

"Gary Jacobson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The length of the top is what I thought you had the most interest in, and that can be different
> with the same width bars. I suppose that the less the angle of flare, the longer the tops will be.
> There probably are other factors too. Anyway, I have very wide shoulders and find the Salsa plenty
> wide. At
first
> the widest Nitto Dirt Drop seemed wide to me. But it's nothing like the Salsa 46 bell lap. Now the
> Dirt Drop seems almost puny. I'd like to see
the
> widest Nitto Noodle, and the widest Ritchie side by side with the Salsa
Bell
> lap.
>
> GJ

I am going to try the Salsa Bell Lap 46.

 

[Warren Ginn]

I, like you, like the wider grip for road riding. I also don't like the bar ends pople put in their
straight bars (I don't like gripping the joint).

You may be interested in a Brahma Bar from Zoom. I have one on my mountain bike and have been riding
raod for several years. It has a smooth bend like a bull's horns - very comfortable. They're hard to
find, but here's a link showing the bar:

http://www.bikepro.com/products/handlebars/zoom_brahm_comb.html

As you can see, it's like a trial bar, but much wider. You can get them as wide as 59 cm. Pretty
cool, huh?

One question I have is if you have any adverse effects from riding with such a wide grip? I have
been having some soreness lately in my shoulders, but I think it's just me getting older and not the
handlebars.

Hope this helps. If you find anything else that looks good, lt me know. I'm going to buy a new bike
and am considering a new handlebar as well.

Regards,

Warren

> "Gary Jacobson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > The length of the top is what I thought you had the most interest in, and that can be different
> > with the same width bars. I suppose that the less the angle of flare, the longer the tops will
> > be. There probably are other factors too. Anyway, I have very wide shoulders and find the Salsa
> > plenty wide. At
> first
> > the widest Nitto Dirt Drop seemed wide to me. But it's nothing like the Salsa 46 bell lap. Now
> > the Dirt Drop seems almost puny. I'd like to see
> the
> > widest Nitto Noodle, and the widest Ritchie side by side with the Salsa
> Bell
> > lap.
> >
> > GJ
>
> I am going to try the Salsa Bell Lap 46.

 

[Sorni]

"Warren Ginn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> I don't like gripping the joint.

Yeah, like we're supposed to let a line like THAT go unnoticed!

 

[Matt O'Toole]

"Warren Ginn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> You may be interested in a Brahma Bar from Zoom. I have one on my mountain bike and have been
> riding raod for several years. It has a smooth bend like a bull's horns - very comfortable.
> They're hard to find, but here's a link showing the bar:
>
> http://www.bikepro.com/products/handlebars/zoom_brahm_comb.html
>
> As you can see, it's like a trial bar, but much wider. You can get them as wide as 59 cm. Pretty
> cool, huh?

If you like these, one of our local shops has a whole bunch of 'em lying around. I noticed because I
used to ride one, liked it a lot, and haven't seen one in years. They have a nice, tight radius
bend, unlike other bars of this type. Another nice one was the Klein Stratum 185, but those are
practically impossible to find these days. I'm sure Dave would be happy to sell you one. Try
www.hokiespokes.com

To get back on topic, I don't think there's anything wrong with using wider than normal road bars. A
lot of it is just tradition -- 38-44cm bars are just the way it's always been done. Even 44cm bars
have become popular only recently. Now with so many mountain bikers coming back to road bikes, wider
road bars are becoming more and more popular. I certainly don't have wide shoulders for being 6'
tall, and for me, the wider the better for road bars. A 46 feels great to
me. Also keep in mind that the difference between a 44 and a 46 is less than half an inch
(1cm) a side.

Matt O.

 

[Warren Ginn]

Very funny....

Actually, gripping the joint where the handles are attached really isn't all that comfortable.

W

"Sorni" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> "Warren Ginn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > I don't like gripping the joint.
>
> Yeah, like we're supposed to let a line like THAT go unnoticed!

 

[Warren Ginn]

Thanks Matt,

I did manage to find a few (I bought two).

I agree with you, I think this (having intrgral bend handlebar ends) is a trend. I'm seeing more
"hybrid" bikes available where it's set up like a mountain bike with a beefier frame and 700 x 35
tires for more stability than a traditional road bike. I'm always noticing how when I'm on a tour,
almost every guy I see on the side of the road fixing flats have road bikes with little narrow
tires. Some may say that my wider tires are slower, but how fast can you be if you're on the side of
the road changing a flat?...

But I digress...

I think that you'll start seeing more handlebars with integrated barends as opposed to the add-ons
we're used to seeing. When you're on a long ride, the more variation you can have on grips, the
better. Plus I thing the wider grip is more comforatble and allows me to breath better.

The only question I have is whether a wider grip can have any negative effect on your shoulders?
I've had some soreness in both shoulders (in my rotator cuffs), but maybe I'm just getting older
(37)... Just curious if there is any evidence that this type of setup can be a bad thing?

Thanks again,

Warren

"Matt O'Toole" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> "Warren Ginn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > You may be interested in a Brahma Bar from Zoom. I have one on my mountain bike and have been
> > riding raod for several years. It has a smooth bend like a bull's horns - very comfortable.
> > They're hard to find, but here's a link showing the bar:
> >
> > http://www.bikepro.com/products/handlebars/zoom_brahm_comb.html
> >
> > As you can see, it's like a trial bar, but much wider. You can get them as wide as 59 cm. Pretty
> > cool, huh?
>
> If you like these, one of our local shops has a whole bunch of 'em lying around. I noticed because
> I used to ride one, liked it a lot, and haven't seen one in years. They have a nice, tight radius
> bend, unlike other bars of this type. Another nice one was the Klein Stratum 185, but those are
> practically impossible to find these days. I'm sure Dave would be happy to sell you one. Try
> www.hokiespokes.com
>
> To get back on topic, I don't think there's anything wrong with using wider than normal road bars.
> A lot of it is just tradition -- 38-44cm bars are just the way it's always been done. Even 44cm
> bars have become popular only recently. Now with so many mountain bikers coming back to road
> bikes, wider road bars are becoming more and more popular. I certainly don't have wide shoulders
> for being 6' tall, and for me, the wider the better for road bars. A 46 feels great to
> me. Also keep in mind that the difference between a 44 and a 46 is less than half an inch (1cm) a
> side.
>
> Matt O.

 

[Matt O'Toole]

"Warren Ginn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> The only question I have is whether a wider grip can have any negative effect on your shoulders?
> I've had some soreness in both shoulders (in my rotator cuffs), but maybe I'm just getting older
> (37)... Just curious if there is any evidence that this type of setup can be a bad thing?

It seems to me people are going wider because it's more comfortable and hurts less. Previously, bars
were narrower for better aerodynamics. It probably is sleeker to have a narrower grip. But newer
thinking is that wider lets you breathe better, besides being more comfortable.

As I get older (39), I like bigger bikes, where I'm able to stretch out, relax, and move around a
little more, rather than be locked into one position, tucked up into a tight little ball.

Matt O.

 

[Warren Ginn]

Totally agree. Glad to hear that I'm not the only one.

Thanks,

Warren

"Matt O'Toole" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> "Warren Ginn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > The only question I have is whether a wider grip can have any negative effect on your shoulders?
> > I've had some soreness in both shoulders (in my rotator cuffs), but maybe I'm just getting older
> > (37)... Just curious if there is any evidence that this type of setup can be a bad thing?
>
> It seems to me people are going wider because it's more comfortable and hurts less. Previously,
> bars were narrower for better aerodynamics. It probably is sleeker to have a narrower grip. But
> newer thinking is that wider lets you breathe better, besides being more comfortable.
>
> As I get older (39), I like bigger bikes, where I'm able to stretch out, relax, and move around a
> little more, rather than be locked into one position, tucked up into a tight little ball.
>
> Matt O.