How much does handlebar width affect reach?

[carvinganish]

I have been feeling a little "stretched out" on my Surly CC recently, defaulting to riding on the tops rather than the hoods.

I have had the 90mm (riser) stem I had on there replaced with a 75mm - which brings the handlebars closer, but also drops them further down (because the angle of rise is the same as the previously longer stem). This does result in a slightly more comfortable position, but I am still looking to tweak it a little more.

The CC comes with 44cm Salsa Bell Lap (flared drops) bars. My shoulders measure 42cm and so if I get 42cm bars, I was wondering if not being as "spread out" with my arms would help with the reach issue. Probably at least marginally, right?

Also if any of you have suggestions for ergo (with the kink in the drop section) bars that have less of a distance to the hoods that would be helpful in my search. Not necessarily bars with a shallow drop, just a shorter distance to the hoods (though I'm not sure those are mutually exclusive).

Thanks in advance for all your advice!

[shankarbn]

You cannot really compare a salsa bell lap bar with another drop bar. Also, the bell lap bar has very less distance to the hoods(if I'm thinkin what you're thinkin) already,no?

[bonigv]

Since you are in the US I'd suggest you fix the fit issue at a qualified bike shop. It will be money well spent. Furthermore if you end up buying the correctional stem or bar they might waive the fitting fee. May be at your original bike store?

Bell laps are designed for a more open chested relaxed posture. If you feel overly stretched at the drops it could be a longer stem. You should try the 42cm bar on. While fitting you should feel most comfortable at the hoods.

Ergo, Shallow, Classic is a personal choice. Need to discover what best works for you. No better place for you than your LBS for that self discovery. All the best.

[deepakvrao]

Dont know about the bars in question, but some compact bars do reduce reach by upto 1cm. FSA Omega Wingpro I think is one.

[Minkey Chief]

I don't know about reach specifically, but for me, going from 44cm bars to the correctly sized 42cm made a big difference my perception of the size of the bike. It had felt too big and a little unwieldy with the 44, and then suddenly felt like *my* bike when I got the 42 on.

[carvinganish]

Thanks for the inputs guys. I think I will switch to the 42cm bars soon.

[vkalia]

Marginal improvement with a narrower bar. It is only 2cm closer - 1cm on either end, which doesnt really work out to any material difference whatsoever on reach or fit. Not to dismiss MC's findings, but I suspect those may have to do more with the comfort of having the right-sized bar, more than any fit differences.

Get a high-rise Viagra-style stem. That'll raise your bars and effectively reduce your reach. Check your saddle position as well - the slack seat tube of the LHT puts you quite a bit behind the bottom bracket.

[Minkey Chief]

I suspect those may have to do more with the comfort of having the right-sized bar, more than any fit differences.

Bike fit, to me, includes the width of the bar. Especially since having your hands too far apart (with the resultant awkward wrist angle) makes for a very different feel to the bike, and affects how much time you can spend on it. I'm not sure about all this breathing/open chest business though.

[maheshv]

or get a stem riser and keep the stock stem 90mm or whatever.

[vkalia]

Mink - your new bar: was it the same modem with the shifters in the exact same position?

You are right, though, it is a part of fit.

[vkalia]

Model, not modem.

[Minkey Chief]

Mink - your new bar: was it the same modem with the shifters in the exact same position?

Ah, shape of drops? Because no, it's a different model--got the FSA something or the other, with the flat tops. Shifters were the same, but were later raised during the bike fit.

[carvinganish]

Had thought this thread had died, but just noticed the activity.

First I don't have the LHT, but the CC (not sure if that is relevant) - and I have checked my saddle position. It is somewhere in the middle right now, but I did the plumb line thing and my knee is just ahead of the neutral position. So I don't want to push my saddle too much further forward (I could try it and see if it causes problems).

I do have a riser stem currently, but maybe I can find one that rises at an even sharper angle.

And finally, I agree with MC that the 42 bars may make the difference. I mean at this point I'm not sure where exactly the discomfort is coming from (too far or too wide?) - all I know is that after about 5-10 mins on the hoods I default to riding on the tops because it just feels better.

Anyway, I hate the look of the flared bars, and I can't really go wrong with 42's (since that is the recommended size based on my shoulder width), so I may just do it and hope that is improves the fit!

Thanks all for your inputs.

[carvinganish]

So in the quest to really get comfortable on my bike, I visited a bike shop yesterday for opinions on what I can do about this reach issue.

The mechanic recommended switching out my stock flared 44cm HB for a 42cm with short reach and shallow drops. I had the feeling that this adjustment wouldn't be enough and I would need to raise my handlebars too. So he threw on a stem raiser for me to try out and it did feel a lot better with the handlebars only slightly below the saddle (as opposed to around 1.5 inches right now).

Of course, a stem raiser is hardly the best permanent solution - and if I want to raise my bars I will have to buy a new fork with an uncut steerer. For around $100.

So as you can see - new fork + new HB (+ new stem!) + labor + tax is going to cost me upwards of $200.

This seems like a lot, given that the bike is hardly unrideable and I have been riding it for over a year now. That said, I would love to be able to ride on the hoods more comfortably and for longer periods of time.

(What is really pissing me off is that I should have probably bought a size larger in the first place - but hindsight is 20/20 and all that. Anyway, I'm not in the market for a new bike if that's what some of you are about to suggest!)

Bite the bullet and make the adjustments? Or suck it up and get used to the reach?

[shankarbn]

Firstly, I don't understand what's wrong with a stem riser. I used it to figure out my fit on the CC and finally sold it. Imho, you should first set your saddle and then work on the reach issue with a shorter stem. I'm finally down to using a 60mm stem on my CC.