Which Handlebar Width Should You Buy? | Narrow VS Wide

In recent years, professional and amateur cyclists alike have started riding with narrower handlebars on their road bikes. In theory, this should reduce your frontal area and make you more aerodynamic. But what affect does this have on other aspects of riding, like handling and control? In this video, Alex compares a few different handle bar widths to help you decide which is right for you!

#Cycling #GCN #GCNTech #RoadBike

What width handlebars do you ride on your bike? Let us know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this video, make sure to give it a thumbs up and share it with your friends. 👍

Watch more on GCN Tech...

Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound:
ES_Arms of Gold (Instrumental Version) - Tape Machines
ES_Closest to Home - Toby Tranter
ES_Heatwave - Lofive
ES_Lesson Learned (Instrumental Version) - Tommy Ljungberg
ES_New Dawn Is Rising (Instrumental Version) - Stonekeepers
ES_Strolling with You - John Runefelt

Brought to you by the world’s biggest cycling channel, the Global Cycling Network (GCN), GCN Tech is the only channel you need for all things bike tech – past, present and future.

Simply put, we’re obsessed with tech: we seek out and showcase the best in bikes, components, tech, accessories, upgrades and more from races and events, tech shows and product launches across the globe to bring you the best in road bike technology.

We’ve also got great maintenance videos to help you get the most from your bike; pro-bike tours from all the biggest races; special features and the weekly GCN Tech Show. We also take a deeper look into the future of cycling, apps, smart tech and virtual riding.

Join us on the channel and the GCN App to submit your content, vote on the latest tech and keep abreast of exciting new trends.

[gcntech]

What width handlebars do you ride on your bike? Let us know in the comments below!

[charlesblithfield]

Keep this presenter. He knows what he’s talking about and has a friendly manner that works with the content.

[CliffeDuffield]

Before test, "narrow are fast, medium are comfortable, wide give control."
After test, "narrow felt fast, medium felt comfortable, wide felt controlled."

[RudiDwiHartanto]

Alex is a great host for the tech channel. Love this guy, clear concise and speaking based on real world experience

[danthomas]

I like slightly wider bars. They look amazing as I'm flying over the top of them whenever a car pulls out in front of me...

[joeenglert]

44 on my road bike...and I'm pretty small but i love the expansion of my chest and the fact that when I stand up I get more torque

[jetBlue]

I use flared bars; 35 on the hoods, 40 in the drops. Comfortable, and fast!

[matyourin]

You should also consider, that for longer tours with your bike it is easier to fit handlebar bags to a wider bar...

[andyjonathan]

One of the most useful aspect of a narrower bar for me is navigating a tight crit race; when bumping shoulders and fitting through tight gaps, a wider bar can hook onto another riders’ wrist or bar and cause a crash.

[Tgiles]

36cm on my track bike. Used to have 42cm on the roadie, went to a 38cm and feel more comfortable.

[richardlouden]

Surely you should get the width that is the best fit for you... Otherwise you'll end up with a load of hand pain and reach problems

[Likelybiking]

I have the Curve Walmer bars on my gravel bike. 60cm at the hoods and 75cm at the drops. I love them!!! I did also shorten my stem.

[robertwiley]

I must say, I’m from Florida, but the weather for this episode looks divine! Especially compared to all the other recent GCN videos.

[ericpmoss]

Changing bar width also changes effective reach. Did you notice anything about how stretched out you felt?

[bobfoster]

Ollie recently did a wind tunnel test that showed narrower bars had minimal effect on drag.

[sventice]

Great video; love Alex as a presenter.

I think the best width for handlebars is the one that most closely matches your shoulder width, especially if you're going to be riding for several hours. I'm a medium-height, fairly scrawny person (i.e., built like a stereotypical road cyclist). My current bike was fitted stock with 44cm bars, which is way too wide for most people who don't play rugby, but I was reluctant to change them because I was worried about control on dirt. After suffering neck and shoulder pain on longer rides once too often, in desperation I switched to 40cm bars, and, surprise, they are WAY more comfortable. I have not experienced any appreciable loss of control in any situation with the new narrower bars. Unless you're just a big, wide-shouldered lad, or doing full-on mountain biking, I don't think anything over 42cm is a good idea if you're trying to ride for longer than two hours at a stretch.

[imnothere]

Me, an intellectual: 780mm wide downhill MTB handle bars on a road bike

[tomhiscox]

Important to compensate change of bar width by adjusting stem length to keep a similar fit and feel.
If increasing bar width by 2cm then decrease stem by 1cm
Also take into account reach on different bar designs and check how the manufacturer actually measures bar width, is it Centre to Centre of outside hood to hood measurement.

I use a 460mm bar with a 90mm stem on a gravel bike, 400mm and 130mm combo on one bike, 420/120 on my main bike and 780/30 on my MTB but do enjoy experimenting with different widths.

[artt]

Had a 42 from stock… then went to 40… now going to 38 on my new ride as I always found myself naturally going to the middle of the bar… feels most comfortable, for me… such a personal thing so critical to give them all a try at least on a 4 hour ride… just to be sure 😉

[danlev]

Mount your Brifters straight to your steering tube. More aero, saves weight and money.