Each rider is so intelligent and thoughtful about their answers, and each rider imbues their personality into the conversation. Some are natural educators, giving great insights into how they approach that topic, and are very giving of their time to ensure giving a complete answer. But no two answers were the same and that was fascinating. Cycling can be impersonal because we watch the peloton from a helicopter or a motorcycle cam, but these interviews show how smart and unique these guys are in addition to being super fit athletes.
I'm 5'5" but with dead on 42cm wide shoulders on the points where you're supposed to measure. I switched from 40cm aluminum to 42cm prime primevera carbon bars and noticed a bit less rolling of my shoulder. You wouldn't think much difference, but it's noticeable. It feels aligned now, and it makes sense. The bike steering feels more stable, and there is less fatigue or stress in my shoulders and neck, I would say. Someone might say I'm a bit less aerodynamic, but comfort is a good thing.
74” wingspan and I went from 44 to 38’s. I feel it puts more effort weight your triceps to and less on your shoulders. Also kept my wrists inline with my arms, instead of having a kink at the wrist. I also opted for a 10mm linger stem to keep my back position the same, as your reach increases by default the closer your arms get to each other.
Also, be aware that reducing you handlebar with has the same effect as shortening your stem. I run 38s now and going back to my old 42s feels like I'm driving a bus.
I thought it showed awareness to demonstrate the move within the camera frame. Cav's no fool he knew if he showed the move realistically we wouldn't see it.
surprised nobody made much mention of leverage when on a climb. Best comment was 'ride whatever the mechanics put on your bike and don't complain..' My kind of athlete!!!
I was running 42’s and couldn’t ever get comfortable so I went up to 44’s since I have wide shoulders and I actually was able to get into a more aerodynamic position.
Presta chuck yeah that’s why I moved up. The guy who fits me noticed without even seeing me ride (or the bike outside the back of my car) and recommended wider bars.
Ok, but what is your shoulder width? Most who comment only say what width they ride, but there's no reference if the shoulder width is not mentioned in the same breath.
My shoulders are 40, so that’s what I run. My first bike came with a 42 and I swapped it out. 40 ever since. It’s the most comfortable for me to be straight out and down, and I believe it is better for fatigue on long rides because I’m using more bone strength than if it were wider or narrower (would involve more of the muscle). Of course, most of your weight shouldn’t be on you arms and hands. That’s the theory anyway.
My shoulders are between 40-42 cm wide and I like a 42 cm handlebar width because it's narrow enough to be streamline yet wide enough so I can still use the tops with aerobars. If the handlebar were any narrower, then there wouldn't be enough top to comfortably rest my large hands on. I also use special aerobars to facilitate riding on the tops -- their arm rests are hinged and spring-loaded so, when I'm not resting on them, the arm pads rise up away from the handlebar. That way, the arm rests are not in the way. My current handlebar is a Profile Design Canta Ergo composite carbon (42 cm width, 125 mm drop, 70 mm reach). My aerobars are built with Profile Design flip-up F19 arm rests with Carbon Stryke bars. I ride about 5000 miles (8047 km) each year in a TT position on this setup.
I switched to the narrowest ENVE Aero bars 36-37 hoods and I love them, even for long centuries. It takes a month of two to get used to the feel, but now its very natural. THe key feature is the hood to drops flare, I get a more stable wider platform by going to the drops.
I am 6ft 1”. Quite broad. Was reading some interviews with Adam Hansen and Chris Hoy on the subject. For year I’ve been riding 42cm, at the beginning of this year I went 38cm. Now I am using 36cm! They do feel great.
No way! I just got back into it after the whole tech leap (I used to race in the late 90s as junior). I bought a race geo bike w/ 42 handlebar (also have 42-43 shoulder width) and 42 seemed too tight, so I just purchased a 44 bar but reading all this and listening to stuff I am thinking I'm making a mistake. It's just weird how much stuff got discovered. Back then I rode a 56 bike with super high seat post, 15cm long stem and 46 wide bars.
I have a Felt VR endurace bike that came with huge 46cm bars with a 35mm diameter. I’ve been struggling with hand numbness. After experimenting with hand positions, I chose the Enve SES Aero with 39cm on the hoods and 44 on the drops. ($$$!) So far, these feel better stretched an slammed (which is moderate on an endurance bike) than the wide bars felt when close and high. I need more saddle time on them before I really know if I made the right decision, or if I just burned my money.
They're queuing up to chat JC.. good job.. nice to hear the honesty coming out about the relationship of bar and shoulder width too.. there's not a lot to gain from really narrow bars and you compromise on handling if you go narrower..
Like most of us not being a professional, I have been riding road bikes for over 40 years and in this time you learn a lot. I had been riding with a handlebar width of 420. On ordering a new Aero carbon set at 420 and on receiving them I fitted them and I was happy with the way they looked and felt. Now on long rides of 240 km I found that I had shoulder problems, but I put that down to having ridden a marathon of a ride. However, after fitting these new bars and riding over distances of 100 km, I found that they were more comfortable than the old ones. So thinking that it had to do with the Aero type bars, I thought that I had found a reason why I had shoulder pain. That was until I found out that the bars had been sent to me in the wrong size, they were in fact 440 wide. So this was a surprise to me and it was obvious that because I had listened to a Professional bike dealer, I had been riding "Bike Marathons" with the wrong width bars. So 440 is now my new width. So although I haven't ridden in a bike marathon since, it is obvious that I had been riding with bars that were too narrow for me. So my opinion is that bars and width has to do with a personal touch, the same as with bike fit and saddle type. Sure Professional bike dealers speak a lot of sense, they have a good experience but, at the end of the day, one should not take their word as law, take their word as a bench mark to start you off on fine tuning your bike to your own personal comfort.
33's on the track and 38's on my road bike. Never had a problem with 38s they are pretty comfortable for me. I am also a track sprinter and I have no issues sprinting out of the saddle on my road bike on 38's but everybody is different. Also going from a one piece 40cm bar to a two piece 38cm bar might balance out the 'aero' loss but horses for courses.
“Whatever your shoulders are, man. My shoulders are relatively narrow so I use [the widest bar anyone has mentioned so far]” - Kiel Reijnen. Basically, everyone uses whatever they like most, and then has some post-hoc justification for why they like it.
I am an average size rider and i run 38cm bullhorn bars on my fixed gear bike. Once you have gotten used to the feeling of sprinting out of the saddle on these, it's as comfortable and powerful as anything. The only problem i see is when your bikes gets thrown off line as your tires slip over a wet manhole cover in the road or even riding offroad it's a tiny bit harder to control. I might just be imagining it, but they feel very fast as well. When i go back to my roadbike now, it feels unnecessarily wide.
I have wide shoulders and 44s always felt the best. I could probably go down to 42 at the narrowest. Also diff manufactures have sometimes noticeably different geo and measuring points for bar width so obviously there are some tolerances there.
som said some years ago about breathing and bar width, none of them mentioned the topic. converging arms decrease movement of rib cage, thus inhibits respiration.. I ride 40s, I feel the bike is quicker, tighter and better lookin -)
Crazy that these big brands are putting tens of thousands of dollars into aero testing new bars - but nobody picks up the phone and asks the pros what size they want them in. The guy was saying that the big brands are designing the bars for the general public - but if you're spending >200 quid on a bar and stem you probably want it to be able to put you in a fast position too!
Same reason XS bikes are coming with 170mm cranks. Most of the big brands are all about marketing and bottom line now what's actually best for the rider. Having more size options means more moulds which means less profit, so just slap a 400mm on everything and call it a day.
Brilliant video. Interesting to hear the pro’s views on this topic. Also very interesting to see the male pro’s make use of the female toilets at the end 😂😂
Are there certain vintage bike parts worth more than the the new parts being offered on the market today & if so what are they? Are there certain vintage bikes worth rebuilding instead of buying a new bike?? Ever think of holding a 2nd hand bike drive to get more people enjoying cycling? I forgot just how magical cycling was until I got back on a bike last summer...
Pratalax Unfortunately,for us with narrow shoulders handlebar market is pretty narrow...lol I ride 40 because i cant find long drop/reach configuration that is 36/38 or even 34. So,i’m stuck with my zipp sl88
40-42 is small for modern era bars. Definitely seems like 44 and 46 have become very popular in last 5-8 years...big push by manufacturers if you look at what bikes are coming supplied with these days. I think it's part of more comfort friendly approach to attract new riders...better seats, bike fits, etc. I'm 6'1" and rode 38 for decades...40 and 42 we're wide back then. Despite my size, jumping on a 44 feels like a MTB bar to me.
I'm pretty skinny. Three years ago I got a new road bike and it had 44 and I really didn't like how it felt. I built a new commuter bike partly using some old parts I had and I used the 40 handlebars I used in the 80's & 90's. The bike felt very unstable to me, but I reminded myself those were the handlebars I used for a decade and a half. I got used to them again, and then noticed my commuter bike, with exposed cables, 36 spoke wheels, fenders & rack was faster on the flat than my road bike with internal cable routing and 24 spoke wheels. I realized my wide stance on the wide handlebars was causing enough drag to cancel out the other aero stuff. I got 40's for that bike, and now my road bike is slightly faster on the flat than my commuter bike.
You didn’t mention hand position. When you on tops your hands are a lot closer together comfort wise. Not squeezing through a hole. Although 1cm either side doesn’t seem like much to me.
I ride my wife's 2015 Avanti Questa with a 38 cm bars and like it but my dads 2007 Specialized Tarmac has 42 cm bars. My shoulders are 39 cm so I might go to 38 or 40 compacts also replacing the 100 mm stem with a 80 mm stem.
I chopped 4cm off my Boardman flat handlebar to match my shoulder width. There are some more stuff I would like to chop off it but I don’t have the tools.
Shoulders are 44 so have 44cm bars which I find comfortable. Not a sprinter so finding gaps at 60kph isn't my thing. Neither are solo breakaways where being aero matters!
Your shoulders won’t change width with your handlebar. No valid reason to use a bar that’s any narrower than the width of your shoulders. 44cm shoulder measurement with 44cm handlebar = same drag and manouverability as 44cm shoulders with 36cm handlebar. Bars should be the same width as your shoulder measurement is c-c. BTW, LeMond rode one size wider on his road bikes. He said it made deep breathing on long climbs easier, and provided better handling while descending and sprinting.
Think mine are 44, tho being from the MTB world, originally, i like wider for stability, if you wanna get aero drop your upper body! forget the shoulders/arms...
i ride to work thru traffic, ive tried different lengths, and i ever think that a narrow bar should be better for slice fast between other vehicle, but then i change to wider one but not too wide, just enough , and that's better because it gives me confidence in handling thus makes me faster ride thru traffic than put a narrow bar but kinda scared to take a chance because it can be unstable.
I really like these videos where you talk to the pros about how they set up their bikes. Just a small request...When you ask about such things, please ask them specifically what size they are using. Thankfully, some of the riders gave the actual width of their handlebars, but some didn't. They just mentioned wide vs. narrow. This goes for other topics, as well. For example, if the rider says, regarding chainrings, " I prefer a large chainring." Then you should ask him "How many teeth does your chainring have?" I have been setting my bike up like the pros, using information from GCN videos, and I am very happy. I find that the pros' setup is very comfortable, contrary to what most novices think. My stem is slammed; I have a long stem; my seat is jacked up; and my drop bars are narrow (only 33cm)...Needless to say, I'm hauling ass in comfort. By the way, I use clip on drop bars so I can set them at any width I want. I tried all different settings, until I found the most comfortable setting, and that for me was 33cm wide.
I have 46 cm (center-center) bars. Really wish there was more offered in that width. All i do is climb mountain slopes, so aero isn't a important as comfort. I'd rather be comfortable for the 45 minute climb than be aero for the 15 minute descent.
My bar width is from memory 44cm. I can't check either. My bike if off the road at the moment waiting for a new groupset. So my bike is at my mom's out of the way. These bars have been on my since I built it up.
I wish manufacturers would measure their bars the same. Even ignoring drop, reach, flare, etc for a moment, you can order two bars from different manufacturers in supposedly the "same" C-T-C dimension and somehow still get a 2cm difference in width at the hoods... 😕
I'm too lazy to try a narrower bar. Mine are 42 at the top and a bit more in the drops. FSA Omega. I am pretty broad and about 184 cm tall. If I had my own mechanic working for me I would try one size down..
I feel comfortable with my stock 42s but my 2 bike fitters told me to move up to 44s. How much of a difference would it make if it doesn’t bother me now and seemingly 42s keep me more aero?
I ran 42s for a while until a bike shop recommended I go up to 44. I no longer have the kink in my upper back muscles that feels like I just finished a push up session every time I ride. As for being aero, like some of the pros in the video mentioned it's all relative. I would suggest trying out a loaner 44cm bar and if you still prefer 42s, stick with them.
36cm. I'm not talented, so I need all the help I can get. Also, I'm 6 ft tall and have really broad shoulders. My elbows have to be out just a little bit or my knees touch them.
My Road bike came with 42's (I believe) and I've always been more comfortable on a wider bar, especially coming from a MTB background. I upgraded to a 46 and they're perfect, lots of space for me to manoeuvre but also I tend to run Clip on extensions, so i have more space to mount those also
I've been commuting for years on an 80s steel tourer, then last year bought a caad12.... the caad12 must be 44(?) and it feels like a barge. Can't get used to it at all
Well I ride a 40 handlebar. That said I did ride the kind of "standard" 42 and found that I rolled my wirsts inward all the time which wasn´t all that comfortable. In fact it got to the point where my hands got numb. So I bought a 40 half a year ago and it is a lot better now. But im am looking to get even narrower but important to say not because of aerodynamics but comfort.
Cavendish received a Richard Mille from Mr. Mille himself on stage 5 of the TDF 2016, then wore it on stage 6 and won the stage to show his gratitude! i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a081d08a55ce4d2530293dfae680c77ac68b7e44/0_248_4386_2632/4386.jpg?width=1280&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7e674affdf106dabc9dbadb274eb31fb i.pinimg.com/564x/32/a1/f7/32a1f7e86699f96583ca645fd4befa79.jpg www.watchfinder.co.uk/articles/richard-mille-for-mark-cavendish www.theweek.co.uk/watch-news/89840/unstoppable-force-mark-cavendish-s-collaboration-with-richard-mille
Handel bars are 44cm wide and my shoulders are 50cm wide. I won't go any narrower because people like to ride behind me and I don't want to spoil their fun.
I don't bother with a handlebar, I just hold onto the stem #aero
I stick my finger down the steerer tube and turn it that way, no need for a stem #weightsaving
I just hold the fork in place with no stem or any support, my arms are shock absorbers so comfortable and #weightsaving
I just hold on to the front axle. No need for a fork and my position is super slammed.
@@discbrakefan Ok I cant think of any better answer than that... Oh wait, I just stick my fingers in the hub, no need for an axle!
#weightsaving
I put my hands in my jersey pockets and my forehead on the stem and send it!!
The lesson is that if you want to find out what pro cyclists are going to be doing in 10 years time just find out what Adam Hansen is doing now.
I liked his comment that your elbows always stick out anyway.
180mm cranks then?
@@MrBusunglueck except that. Shorter cranks are better.
@@mapk4655 Yes i agree. But Adam Hansen was running 180mm cranks because he thought it gives you more power.
@@MrBusunglueck supposedly more leverage. If you want more leverage, change gear.
Each rider is so intelligent and thoughtful about their answers, and each rider imbues their personality into the conversation. Some are natural educators, giving great insights into how they approach that topic, and are very giving of their time to ensure giving a complete answer. But no two answers were the same and that was fascinating. Cycling can be impersonal because we watch the peloton from a helicopter or a motorcycle cam, but these interviews show how smart and unique these guys are in addition to being super fit athletes.
I agree, I found a lot of their answers quite genuine and insightful
I'm 5'5" but with dead on 42cm wide shoulders on the points where you're supposed to measure. I switched from 40cm aluminum to 42cm prime primevera carbon bars and noticed a bit less rolling of my shoulder. You wouldn't think much difference, but it's noticeable. It feels aligned now, and it makes sense. The bike steering feels more stable, and there is less fatigue or stress in my shoulders and neck, I would say. Someone might say I'm a bit less aerodynamic, but comfort is a good thing.
Wow Cav making some sense and in a cheery mood. You hit the lottery mate.
6'2" and 44 cm bars. Professional fit. Feels right.
74” wingspan and I went from 44 to 38’s. I feel it puts more effort weight your triceps to and less on your shoulders. Also kept my wrists inline with my arms, instead of having a kink at the wrist. I also opted for a 10mm linger stem to keep my back position the same, as your reach increases by default the closer your arms get to each other.
changing bar width changes effective reach. Most times if you go to a narrower bar you'll need a longer stem. I've done this and love it.
Right. Agree with You. Position and geometrie are important. All factor is important.
Also, be aware that reducing you handlebar with has the same effect as shortening your stem. I run 38s now and going back to my old 42s feels like I'm driving a bus.
I ride 44, I'm a big man, I choose comfort over aero and when it comes to getting through other riders, we big guys make our own holes! ;)
Depending on individual preference, width varies considerably. Great question Jon.
Wide bars are better for counter steering. The extra material helps absorb more shock which is better for the shoulders.
From 42cm round swiched to 38cm aero. Totally love it! I'm 191cm tall, but shoulders are not that wide that I'd like to have MTB chinupbar!
A seemingly simple question made for a really good video, Jon. Those were some interesting answers.
Cavs leverage demonstration was the most camp thing I have ever seen
Haha i lost it when i went back and watched this, good spot
I thought it showed awareness to demonstrate the move within the camera frame. Cav's no fool he knew if he showed the move realistically we wouldn't see it.
1:42 haha
It looked soooo wrong :D
Who cares
Absolutely love this content GCN. Keep it up please!!!!
surprised nobody made much mention of leverage when on a climb.
Best comment was 'ride whatever the mechanics put on your bike and don't complain..' My kind of athlete!!!
I was running 42’s and couldn’t ever get comfortable so I went up to 44’s since I have wide shoulders and I actually was able to get into a more aerodynamic position.
Same!
Any good bike fitter will agree with you. Run the same bars as your shoulder measurement c-c, and for some riders 1 size wider.
Presta chuck yeah that’s why I moved up. The guy who fits me noticed without even seeing me ride (or the bike outside the back of my car) and recommended wider bars.
Ok, but what is your shoulder width? Most who comment only say what width they ride, but there's no reference if the shoulder width is not mentioned in the same breath.
My shoulders are 40, so that’s what I run. My first bike came with a 42 and I swapped it out. 40 ever since. It’s the most comfortable for me to be straight out and down, and I believe it is better for fatigue on long rides because I’m using more bone strength than if it were wider or narrower (would involve more of the muscle). Of course, most of your weight shouldn’t be on you arms and hands. That’s the theory anyway.
My shoulders are between 40-42 cm wide and I like a 42 cm handlebar width because it's narrow enough to be streamline yet wide enough so I can still use the tops with aerobars. If the handlebar were any narrower, then there wouldn't be enough top to comfortably rest my large hands on. I also use special aerobars to facilitate riding on the tops -- their arm rests are hinged and spring-loaded so, when I'm not resting on them, the arm pads rise up away from the handlebar. That way, the arm rests are not in the way. My current handlebar is a Profile Design Canta Ergo composite carbon (42 cm width, 125 mm drop, 70 mm reach). My aerobars are built with Profile Design flip-up F19 arm rests with Carbon Stryke bars. I ride about 5000 miles (8047 km) each year in a TT position on this setup.
I switched to the narrowest ENVE Aero bars 36-37 hoods and I love them, even for long centuries. It takes a month of two to get used to the feel, but now its very natural. THe key feature is the hood to drops flare, I get a more stable wider platform by going to the drops.
Running 38s. Previous 44 as they came Stock on my bike. Narrower feels good for me descending and is noticeable faster compared to 44.
I am 6ft 1”. Quite broad. Was reading some interviews with Adam Hansen and Chris Hoy on the subject. For year I’ve been riding 42cm, at the beginning of this year I went 38cm. Now I am using 36cm! They do feel great.
No way! I just got back into it after the whole tech leap (I used to race in the late 90s as junior). I bought a race geo bike w/ 42 handlebar (also have 42-43 shoulder width) and 42 seemed too tight, so I just purchased a 44 bar but reading all this and listening to stuff I am thinking I'm making a mistake. It's just weird how much stuff got discovered. Back then I rode a 56 bike with super high seat post, 15cm long stem and 46 wide bars.
46cm I'm not that wide but my shoulders cannot stay cramped for very long due to old injury. Coming from MTB I knew wider bars give more leverage.
As a regular cyclist with wide shoulders...I run 44 or 46 ( on my road and gravel bike ) if I can get them in my current ALLOY bar of choice. 👍
Jason Trayal 46 c for me because the only road I ride is the one to a gravel.
You should make a 1h special with Adam Hansen talking about choosing component, gear, saddle, shoes... And bike fit!
Only if we had riders shouler c to c measurements on screen, it would have been more excellent. Superb run and gun interviews nonetheless!
2:33 dough wearing a richard mille while cycling thats a goal bro!
I have a Felt VR endurace bike that came with huge 46cm bars with a 35mm diameter. I’ve been struggling with hand numbness. After experimenting with hand positions, I chose the Enve SES Aero with 39cm on the hoods and 44 on the drops. ($$$!) So far, these feel better stretched an slammed (which is moderate on an endurance bike) than the wide bars felt when close and high. I need more saddle time on them before I really know if I made the right decision, or if I just burned my money.
They're queuing up to chat JC.. good job.. nice to hear the honesty coming out about the relationship of bar and shoulder width too.. there's not a lot to gain from really narrow bars and you compromise on handling if you go narrower..
Mark Cavendish is wearing a crazy expensive watch. Like worth a car expensive. Wow crazy.
I like how you're catching interviews right outside the loo
Like most of us not being a professional, I have been riding road bikes for over 40 years and in this time you learn a lot. I had been riding with a handlebar width of 420. On ordering a new Aero carbon set at 420 and on receiving them I fitted them and I was happy with the way they looked and felt. Now on long rides of 240 km I found that I had shoulder problems, but I put that down to having ridden a marathon of a ride.
However, after fitting these new bars and riding over distances of 100 km, I found that they were more comfortable than the old ones. So thinking that it had to do with the Aero type bars, I thought that I had found a reason why I had shoulder pain. That was until I found out that the bars had been sent to me in the wrong size, they were in fact 440 wide. So this was a surprise to me and it was obvious that because I had listened to a Professional bike dealer, I had been riding "Bike Marathons" with the wrong width bars. So 440 is now my new width. So although I haven't ridden in a bike marathon since, it is obvious that I had been riding with bars that were too narrow for me.
So my opinion is that bars and width has to do with a personal touch, the same as with bike fit and saddle type. Sure Professional bike dealers speak a lot of sense, they have a good experience but, at the end of the day, one should not take their word as law, take their word as a bench mark to start you off on fine tuning your bike to your own personal comfort.
33's on the track and 38's on my road bike. Never had a problem with 38s they are pretty comfortable for me. I am also a track sprinter and I have no issues sprinting out of the saddle on my road bike on 38's but everybody is different. Also going from a one piece 40cm bar to a two piece 38cm bar might balance out the 'aero' loss but horses for courses.
46 and happy :) handling is awesome and precise
Same. 6'1 wide shoulders I like the size.
“Whatever your shoulders are, man. My shoulders are relatively narrow so I use [the widest bar anyone has mentioned so far]” - Kiel Reijnen. Basically, everyone uses whatever they like most, and then has some post-hoc justification for why they like it.
soo funny !!!
That’s some fun banter with the boys now isn’t it.
I've got 40's on my bikes, which is roughly my shoulder width. Works nicely for me.
The bit with Cavendish looks like a 3:00 am conversation between two mates outside the bar (badum-tss)
I'd love to see them try out the Crust Towel Rack bars. 675mm center to center!
I am an average size rider and i run 38cm bullhorn bars on my fixed gear bike. Once you have gotten used to the feeling of sprinting out of the saddle on these, it's as comfortable and powerful as anything. The only problem i see is when your bikes gets thrown off line as your tires slip over a wet manhole cover in the road or even riding offroad it's a tiny bit harder to control.
I might just be imagining it, but they feel very fast as well. When i go back to my roadbike now, it feels unnecessarily wide.
What’s ur height mate, im 5’ 3 does 360 or 380mm is good?
I have wide shoulders and 44s always felt the best. I could probably go down to 42 at the narrowest. Also diff manufactures have sometimes noticeably different geo and measuring points for bar width so obviously there are some tolerances there.
som said some years ago about breathing and bar width, none of them mentioned the topic.
converging arms decrease movement of rib cage, thus inhibits respiration..
I ride 40s, I feel the bike is quicker, tighter and better lookin -)
Crazy that these big brands are putting tens of thousands of dollars into aero testing new bars - but nobody picks up the phone and asks the pros what size they want them in. The guy was saying that the big brands are designing the bars for the general public - but if you're spending >200 quid on a bar and stem you probably want it to be able to put you in a fast position too!
Same reason XS bikes are coming with 170mm cranks. Most of the big brands are all about marketing and bottom line now what's actually best for the rider. Having more size options means more moulds which means less profit, so just slap a 400mm on everything and call it a day.
I really thought this was going to be as dull as ditch water. Pleasantly surprised.
I went from 42 to 38cm and I don't regret it at all... 38cm wide handlebars are way more comfy for me.
Brilliant video. Interesting to hear the pro’s views on this topic. Also very interesting to see the male pro’s make use of the female toilets at the end 😂😂
#AskGCN how many watts do you save by using the female bathroom 6:34 ;)
Cav looking sassy showing his Sprint technique 😂👌
Love the Adam bloke from Lotto Soudal. In Flandres we call that 'gezond boeren verstand'!
Great video, Jon/GCN. Had to laugh around 5:50 when I realize you're just hanging out near the restroom.
Jon's New Segment should be called "Interview by the loo."
Another good question Jon. Thanks
I just noticed how squirmy Cav is when he talks. Like Jack Sparrow :)
Are there certain vintage bike parts worth more than the the new parts being offered on the market today & if so what are they? Are there certain vintage bikes worth rebuilding instead of buying a new bike?? Ever think of holding a 2nd hand bike drive to get more people enjoying cycling? I forgot just how magical cycling was until I got back on a bike last summer...
surprised to hear that people think 40-42 is small! i'm skinny as a rake and rock with 36-38 but i'd say 40-42 would be pretty average...
Pratalax
Unfortunately,for us with narrow shoulders handlebar market is pretty narrow...lol
I ride 40 because i cant find long drop/reach configuration that is 36/38 or even 34.
So,i’m stuck with my zipp sl88
40-42 is small for modern era bars. Definitely seems like 44 and 46 have become very popular in last 5-8 years...big push by manufacturers if you look at what bikes are coming supplied with these days. I think it's part of more comfort friendly approach to attract new riders...better seats, bike fits, etc. I'm 6'1" and rode 38 for decades...40 and 42 we're wide back then. Despite my size, jumping on a 44 feels like a MTB bar to me.
I'm pretty skinny. Three years ago I got a new road bike and it had 44 and I really didn't like how it felt. I built a new commuter bike partly using some old parts I had and I used the 40 handlebars I used in the 80's & 90's. The bike felt very unstable to me, but I reminded myself those were the handlebars I used for a decade and a half.
I got used to them again, and then noticed my commuter bike, with exposed cables, 36 spoke wheels, fenders & rack was faster on the flat than my road bike with internal cable routing and 24 spoke wheels. I realized my wide stance on the wide handlebars was causing enough drag to cancel out the other aero stuff. I got 40's for that bike, and now my road bike is slightly faster on the flat than my commuter bike.
You didn’t mention hand position. When you on tops your hands are a lot closer together comfort wise. Not squeezing through a hole. Although 1cm either side doesn’t seem like much to me.
I ride my wife's 2015 Avanti Questa with a 38 cm bars and like it but my dads 2007 Specialized Tarmac has 42 cm bars. My shoulders are 39 cm so I might go to 38 or 40 compacts also replacing the 100 mm stem with a 80 mm stem.
I chopped 4cm off my Boardman flat handlebar to match my shoulder width. There are some more stuff I would like to chop off it but I don’t have the tools.
Shoulders are 44 so have 44cm bars which I find comfortable. Not a sprinter so finding gaps at 60kph isn't my thing. Neither are solo breakaways where being aero matters!
Would be great if they did this kind of video every year to know how much widths change every year.🤐❤️
Your shoulders won’t change width with your handlebar. No valid reason to use a bar that’s any narrower than the width of your shoulders. 44cm shoulder measurement with 44cm handlebar = same drag and manouverability as 44cm shoulders with 36cm handlebar. Bars should be the same width as your shoulder measurement is c-c. BTW, LeMond rode one size wider on his road bikes. He said it made deep breathing on long climbs easier, and provided better handling while descending and sprinting.
I went as close as the width of my shoulder, it helps me breath better with wide than narrow
1:35 Jon's shocked delight face into the swipe transition 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Think mine are 44, tho being from the MTB world, originally, i like wider for stability, if you wanna get aero drop your upper body! forget the shoulders/arms...
i ride to work thru traffic, ive tried different lengths, and i ever think that a narrow bar should be better for slice fast between other vehicle, but then i change to wider one but not too wide, just enough , and that's better because it gives me confidence in handling thus makes me faster ride thru traffic than put a narrow bar but kinda scared to take a chance because it can be unstable.
@1:42 exactly! 👍
pro’s use the female toilets ?
redauwg911 I was waiting for this comment.
A hole is a hole, for a toilet!
haha I also saw that. classic
Gender neutral!!!
44's for me... I have very broad shoulders, and at 95kg I need a good strong bar on my big strong bike :-)
I really like these videos where you talk to the pros about how they set up their bikes. Just a small request...When you ask about such things, please ask them specifically what size they are using. Thankfully, some of the riders gave the actual width of their handlebars, but some didn't. They just mentioned wide vs. narrow. This goes for other topics, as well. For example, if the rider says, regarding chainrings, " I prefer a large chainring." Then you should ask him "How many teeth does your chainring have?"
I have been setting my bike up like the pros, using information from GCN videos, and I am very happy. I find that the pros' setup is very comfortable, contrary to what most novices think. My stem is slammed; I have a long stem; my seat is jacked up; and my drop bars are narrow (only 33cm)...Needless to say, I'm hauling ass in comfort.
By the way, I use clip on drop bars so I can set them at any width I want. I tried all different settings, until I found the most comfortable setting, and that for me was 33cm wide.
I use 36cm bars as I can get into a more aero position with a bigger total aero gain than if I was to use a one piece in a 40cm
01:42 needs to be made into a GIF 😂 DO THE THE SHIMMIE SHIMMIE DANCE
j.gifs.com/nxrp9W.gif
@@thekeypusher nice one 😄👌
I literally LOL'd at that, Was brilliant!
I have 46 cm (center-center) bars. Really wish there was more offered in that width. All i do is climb mountain slopes, so aero isn't a important as comfort. I'd rather be comfortable for the 45 minute climb than be aero for the 15 minute descent.
My bar width is from memory 44cm. I can't check either. My bike if off the road at the moment waiting for a new groupset. So my bike is at my mom's out of the way. These bars have been on my since I built it up.
I wish manufacturers would measure their bars the same. Even ignoring drop, reach, flare, etc for a moment, you can order two bars from different manufacturers in supposedly the "same" C-T-C dimension and somehow still get a 2cm difference in width at the hoods... 😕
38 cm on my track bike, and 40 cm for my road bike. You want more control on a road bike, and track is purely aero, comfort is always after.
[ I REMOVED THIS COMMENT BECAUSE IT WAS SO TERRIBLE IT WAS EMBARRASSING ]
@@powdersnow88 idk, I got about a quarter of the way in and I couldn't read it anymore ... I must have been in a mood... I'm deleting it. Sorry.
how much of a difference is there between a 40cm, 42,44,38cm bars.......give me some quantifiable numbers please
Riding a 36 cm handlebar that flairs out at 40 in the drops, measures 34 on the hoods actually, feels good!
Hey man, would you please share with me what brand and model are those handlebars you're running?
@@ariffau hi Arif, for sure. It's a homebrand of Rosebikes. A German direct seller like Canyon. Rosebikes.de
I have 45 cm bars but once I have money I'll be switching it out for either 40 cm bars pr maybe even 38 cm bars.
I'm too lazy to try a narrower bar. Mine are 42 at the top and a bit more in the drops. FSA Omega. I am pretty broad and about 184 cm tall. If I had my own mechanic working for me I would try one size down..
I feel comfortable with my stock 42s but my 2 bike fitters told me to move up to 44s. How much of a difference would it make if it doesn’t bother me now and seemingly 42s keep me more aero?
I ran 42s for a while until a bike shop recommended I go up to 44. I no longer have the kink in my upper back muscles that feels like I just finished a push up session every time I ride. As for being aero, like some of the pros in the video mentioned it's all relative. I would suggest trying out a loaner 44cm bar and if you still prefer 42s, stick with them.
Daniel wow. From time to time I’ve noticed tightness in my rhomboid muscles... I’ll look into that. Thanks
do you mind if i ask you question.which do you prefer aero handle bar with the size of 40 or alloy handlebar with size of 38.help me to choose.
I love the 'ask the pros' series but could we have more videos asking the woman's peleton please.
No.
36cm. I'm not talented, so I need all the help I can get. Also, I'm 6 ft tall and have really broad shoulders. My elbows have to be out just a little bit or my knees touch them.
My Road bike came with 42's (I believe) and I've always been more comfortable on a wider bar, especially coming from a MTB background. I upgraded to a 46 and they're perfect, lots of space for me to manoeuvre but also I tend to run Clip on extensions, so i have more space to mount those also
I've been commuting for years on an 80s steel tourer, then last year bought a caad12.... the caad12 must be 44(?) and it feels like a barge. Can't get used to it at all
I'm in bars that are 38cm at the drops and 35.5 at the hoods
Waiting for JW van Schip to comment, 33 on the hoods and 38 in the drops
Well I ride a 40 handlebar. That said I did ride the kind of "standard" 42 and found that I rolled my wirsts inward all the time which wasn´t all that comfortable. In fact it got to the point where my hands got numb. So I bought a 40 half a year ago and it is a lot better now. But im am looking to get even narrower but important to say not because of aerodynamics but comfort.
I'm on 40. narrow shoulders though. 44 feels very strange to me. thew the 44 away though it was lighter and better than my 40
If there is anything worth carrying a few extra grams of weight on a bicycle it is handlebars that fit you if you have wide shoulders.
Cavendish has a very complex Manx/Manc/Irish/Liverpudlian/Northern/English accent
Isle of Man. Sounds kind of Manc to me (Bristolian)
Secret Sam999 ^^^ Manx is an accent from the Isle of man
02:19 Cavendish casually wearing a $150K Richard Mille RM11 in the pits. I wonder if he takes it off for riding.
Cavendish received a Richard Mille from Mr. Mille himself on stage 5 of the TDF 2016, then wore it on stage 6 and won the stage to show his gratitude!
i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a081d08a55ce4d2530293dfae680c77ac68b7e44/0_248_4386_2632/4386.jpg?width=1280&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7e674affdf106dabc9dbadb274eb31fb
i.pinimg.com/564x/32/a1/f7/32a1f7e86699f96583ca645fd4befa79.jpg
www.watchfinder.co.uk/articles/richard-mille-for-mark-cavendish
www.theweek.co.uk/watch-news/89840/unstoppable-force-mark-cavendish-s-collaboration-with-richard-mille
Alien Sweetheart That’s amazing. I didn’t even know that.
Nice vid 🤘🤘
How for 5 3 height does 360 0r 380 will do???
your shoulder width?
Handel bars are 44cm wide and my shoulders are 50cm wide. I won't go any narrower because people like to ride behind me and I don't want to spoil their fun.
Yep, the only time there are no queues for Ladies toilets is anything to do with cycling. Perfect background for the entertainment factor😂.
I just wish we heard what width Cav actually rides on his road bike.
Ask what their FTP is and how they reached it