

Traditional bars are what you expect to see on old school road bikes with a long gentle curve which creates a deep drop and a low position. The shape of the drops varies from brand to brand, but they are roughly divided into three categories. All in moderation though, as saving 10 aero watts won't benefit you if you lose 20 due to discomfort.

Most people are better suited to a shorter drop because it doesn't require quite as much flexibility, but a lower front end should theoretically result in a smaller frontal area, which in turn requires fewer watts for faster speeds. Bigger riders will need a more extended reach while shorter riders will be more comfortable with a smaller figure.ĭrop refers to the distance from your tops to your drops. Reach is the distance from the horizontal part of the handlebar to the furthest edge of the drops and determines how far away the levers will be placed. When it doubt, consult a bike fitter for advice. Of course, everything in moderation, if your shoulders measure 40mm, a 48mm bar or a 32mm bar will probably leave you uncomfortable, but a couple of centimetres either way likely won’t leave you in pain. On the other hand, wider bars will offer more stability and may even open up your chest a bit to help you breathe. Narrow bars will help you tuck your elbows in for a more aero position, but they will also quicken the handling characteristics of your bike.

However, this is just a starting point, and from there, you’ll need to take into account what you’re looking to achieve with this new set of bars. Traditionally, handlebar width has been determined based on the width of your shoulders, and the general rule of thumb in finding the correct size bars is to measure the distance between your AC joints (the bone that sticks out of the top of your shoulder.)
Classic 4d shapes how to#
How to choose the best road handlebars for you What width handlebar do I need? If this is you and you simply want the best value for money, then you can't go far wrong at this price.
Classic 4d shapes upgrade#
If you later decide you are happy with the position and want to upgrade to something with a little more performance in mind, you can proceed with confidence that the position is right for you.Īdditionally, for many people, a handlebar upgrade comes out of necessity after an accident. With sizes 40, 42 and 44cm available at such a low price, if you choose to switch back to your former position, you haven't wasted a tonne of cash on some carbon bars that you now need to try and sell on eBay. That's where these handlebars come into their own. If you're considering trialling narrower or wider handlebars for the first time, you probably aren't completely confident you'll like your new position, let alone the different handling characteristics. One of the most common reasons people choose to change their handlebars is for a different width.

These alloy handlebars might not be aero in design, made from carbon fibre or come with newfangled cable integration, and at 340 grams they're far from light, but hear us out.
