What's the Best Handlebar for Road Cycling? - BikeFitTuesdays

What's the best handlebar shape for road cycling and how do you choose the right one for you? We discuss in the latest episode of Bike Fit Tuesdays



The following companies (that you'll see in my content) support me either financially or with free stuff, so huge thanks to these guys for helping the channel thrive:
Jam Cycling,
Attacus Cycling,
Wilier Triestina,
MET Helmets,
Shimano,
SpinOnThese Wheels,




#cycling #bikes #bicycle #bikefit

[SteveBrill]

Love Jame's logical and clear explanations of all things bike fit.

[Ossiningbjj]

I love the way Jamie explains things. I’ve learned a hell of a lot, by watching these videos.

[simonjenkinson]

So glad I found this one. Got a 56cm Domane and the reach is insane compared to my old 56cm Tarmac. Replaced the standard Bontrager bars with 93mm reach for Deda with a 75mm reach. Went from 44cm width to 40 also. Such a difference!

[Jack-curl]

Just got a new bike off eBay, did a 2hr ride today and was so comfortable. Turns out I have been riding a 54cm when I needed a 52 with narrower bars!

[tonyenglish]

Loved this one. Thanks James and Francis. My road bike trek Domane sl7 in size 58 came with 44cm wide bars. I love the bike, but the width has been a problem (hands, neck and shoulders suffering all as James mentioned). I would have thought if you spend $4500aud on a bike they'd at least let you choose a bar width.

[SM_]

Really wonderful, in depth information. I've been riding a 42 for over 15 years. This video prompted me to be measured. That's right, I'm a 40....

[jbratt]

I found the traditional drop bars a way better when sprinting out of the saddle in the drops. It keeps my wrists at a straight angle. Great video !👍

[krisjaynav]

Whils't living in Chicago somebody stole my handlebars while I was at work; however, they did replace face plate, bolts, and washers, so there's that. I ended up venturing home on my bike, a fixed gear, single-handed on the quill stem singing "I can ride my bike with no handlebars, no handlebars, no handlebars".

[cyclenutter]

really interesting, I'm on a 42 but I should probably be on a 40. I rolled in the wrists exactly like was said and had numb hands! Great vid once again Francis, I'm sure the quality of videos will still be really good even in these mexicanbeervirus times!

[realitybites]

MTB handlebars also associates to balancing. Remember the movie "The Walk"? When people does "Slacklining" (or balancing on rope) they tend to either hold a long stick to balance themselves or just simply put your arms as wide as possible for balancing and stability. Same principle applies to a wider handlebar.

[jiyon]

I’m 6 feet 1”, I weigh 86kg for the past 27 years I used 42cm. Then last year after researching the benefits I switched to using shallow drop 36cm on all my road bikes. I absolutely love em, anything wider than that for me feels like you’re a parachute.

[teunluijbregts]

Thanks for the vid on cleat position guys!
Turned my heels in by 10mm, based on James' rant and the sitbone pain was gone! 🥳👍👍

[ace_cwk]

James shoe game is on point. Dress shoes everyday.

[Nosaracasalaplaya]

Pleasantly surprised how much I learned from you guys . I've been racing for 35 plus years road and then switched to mtb had no choice since I moved to Costa Rica with dirt roads and now I just bought a gravel (why😅) . so yea good info. Cheers

[Alastair]

drop vs flat
For a lot of people who don't cycle much, drop bars feel 'twitchy'. flat bars need a bigger movement of the hands for the same turn. So to an occasional rider, flat bars feel more stable.

[itsdewic]

Good thing to note is that this kind of logic is used in Office Ergonomics, being fit to a zero gravity recliner, and buying a mattress. It's all about maintaining neutral posture throughout the activities in your life. Whenever your myofascial system is misaligned, especially when introducing repetitive movement (cycling), you accelerate the process of deteriorating your body. Love the way this guy explains this stuff.

[claudiagibson]

Oh James love it when you talk like that. Thanks Mr Cade stay safe and healthy

[trevorhayes]

Bike shop tour? That Independent Fabrication ti bike looked Nnnniiiicccceeee!

[simonnaylor]

Thankyou for continuing to put out this content Francis. Difficult times ahead for us all, but these short trips out of what
is becoming a scary everyday reality, are very appreciated. Best of luck through this to you, Daisy, Lawrence, all at Jame's shop and all the other usual suspects that pop up in your films week on week. Keep clean, keep healthy, and if you can, keep pedaling.

[kevinmcgrath]

One of my favorite bars (and the one I used across all my road/gravel bikes) is the Ritchey Logic Curve - comes in 38-44cm (center-to-center) and is fairly short reach/short drop. It's also ~35USD for an alloy version. I'm a "big rugby guy" and run a 44cm.