Are Your Handlebars Too Wide? | GMBN Tech Show 231

On this week's GMBN Tech Show, Doddy is back from holiday and presenting the show from his Bike Cave, after catching up on the @uci_mtbworldseries Tweed Valley racing, we have been questioning a lot of riders' handlebar width as they appear to be getting narrower.

In the news we have a Knog bike alarm, a beautiful new enduro bike from Unno, a LTD Shimano GRX groupset, a new Nukeproof Digger gravel bike and some finger protection from Loam Labs.

⏱️ Timestamps 👇
0:00 - Intro
00:29 - Topic
04:36 - News
17:11 - Quiz Questions
18:21 - Comments
26:35 - Top Mods
31:56 - Quiz Answers

Useful Links:

What width handlebars are you running? Do you even know, or care? Or are you very particular, if so how did you arrive at your desired width? Let us know 👇

Watch more on GMBN Tech...

GMBNTechShow #gmbntech #gmbn #mtb #mountainbiking

The Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) is the world’s largest and fastest-growing online mountain bike channel and community – and your destination for the best mountain bike content in the world.

GMBN is dedicated to inspiring and unlocking your riding potential. Our videos cater to fans of every mountain bike discipline: from mile-munching cross-country (XC) riders, through adrenaline-fuelled dirt jumpers, gravity-hungry downhillers or aspiring enduro racers, and beyond.

Every day of every month, our ex-pro presenting team are on hand to entertain and inspire you while also providing a uniquely qualified insight into the world of mountain biking. Every week we deliver original daily videos that include:

Adventurous and entertaining features
Mountain bike skills coaching
Technical advice and guidance
Mechanical know-how to keep you rolling
A place for the riding community with our weekly Dirt Shed Show

Thanks to our sponsors:

Watch our sister channels:

[gmbntech]

What width handlebars are you running? Do you even know, or care? Or are you very particular, if so how did you arrive at your desired width? Let us know 👇

[williammoore]

One year ago my bike was stolen when I left it locked outside the shops. I had an airtag hidden in my bottle cage and was able to get my bike back within minutes. I would definitely buy some sort of tracker for your bike because it could save you a lot of money as it did for me.

[mattkavanaugh]

Glad you're back Doddy! I hope you and your family are fully recovered. Your passion and energy are irreplaceable.

[johndef]

Ive been riding mtb for 32 years. For the trails I ride I've settled on 680mm. Otherwise I start clipping trees. Im 6'1" and it feels fine.
Local trails have some go arounds where the original trail is too narrow for the average bar now😅

[elrictdb]

Squee! Thank you Doddy, not only for showing off my daughter's new bike with her epic art (did you notice she included an ACDC logo, coincidentally just like the forks you have on set? Soooo proud of her!) but also for the super enthusiastic smile and energy you had whilst talking about it. Can't wait to show her when she gets home. Needless to say - I love the show, all the content and the presenters (sorry about the recent nose/hooter caption contest entry over on the dirtshed - but I just cannot resist a good pun).

[mikael]

Diddy you really makes it feel like the viewer is having a conversation with a good mate. Great stuff! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[johnashcroft-jones]

I'm 74, 1.750m and 50kg, I have just built a 29er mullet with a 1000w 27.5 behind. With double batteries and used off road, around central and hilly North London I trimmed my bars down to 650mm to get through traffic and offset the slacker geometry the smaller rear wheel gives. At my age I'm not dodging trees downhill, Doddy! Thanks for your great show and happy to see you are also into photography.

[marknorton]

5’8” 750mm bars
As I cut them down in steps from 800mm, there was a point where I could keep my hands on the grips properly through a reasonably full turn of the bars. That point is the sweet spot.

[skarabyll]

I run 760mm on my Ragley mmmbop, i always used 780 as a 6'1 rider with longer arms but cutting them down definitly improved my riding position a bit, it's crazy what 20mm on your bars can do

[jokermtb]

Bike for every budget! Bought a demo/rental GT Sensor a few years back for $1500. Barely used too. Since then, the only stock parts that remain are the shock, cranks, dropper post Lever! I still love how the frame rides, so even a ‘cheap’ bike will eventually turn into a full custom bike as you replace almost all the parts over the years….if the frame is good, starting cost is irrelevant

[zombizilla]

The bike brand for me is Cannondale, always been a unique/special brand for me.i can't ride any other brand weirdly 😀.760mm for bar width for me👍🏻

[billywd-phd]

I recently upgraded my 20 year old mtb with new handlebars. Going from 600 to 720. Feels enormous! Can't imagine going to 800.

[cbenson]

Glad you are back and hopefully healthy! So many people with opinions on what's too expensive, etc. There are bikes for all price ranges so who cares what opinions are out there? I suppose manufacturers care, but It's none of my business how someone else spends their money and no one is forcing me to buy something outside of my budget or that I don't think is worth the price.

[antonb-zket]

Thanks for doing what u do. An inspiration! Nice to see u back. Learned a lot from u. Thanks

[gepetto____]

I like this setting best for the Tech Shows :-)

[gregryan]

Doddy absolutely love the tech show. I just put my old Ergon GS2 grips on my Nukeproof Scout hardtail. I clipped a tree on yesterdays ride and bounced right off. I love the short bar ends for the added protection and switching hand position for short bursts on climbs.

[chrisaustin]

Hi Doddy, I liked the feel of 800mm bars but after a while I was getting some shoulder pain. After a bit of research I decided to cut the bars down to 780mm and the discomfort disappeared within a couple of rides, also helps with those tight tree gaps!

[JasonFoxLCB]

I've got two Air Tags on my bike. One on the downtube under the water bottle cage that's almost meant as a decoy. The second is in the head tube using a 3D-printed holder I got off Etsy. Works great. And now I need to go cut my bars.

[irvsstella]

How I was taught many years ago by MBR, was to do a press up on a tape measure, placing your hands at the most comfortable place, that will be your bar width.

[sethhendershot]

I am glad Doddy is standing up for the high priced bikes. No one on GMBN ever said you are not good enough if you dont own a $10, 000+ bike. In fact the Yeti that Doddy built has some components on it that were not the most high end price wise. But he felt that is what would work best. If people can afford and want an expensive bike, it is good the bike market has an option for that. but on the flip side there are a ton of $2000 crazy good hard tails out there. and GMBN sows a great variety of bikes in all sorts of price ranges. Take Blake for example, he rides his Scout all the time!