Road & Cyclocross Handlebar Width

Handlebar width can have a profound effect on your cycling; from how well your bike handles to how well you can breath.  Handlebars come with many features that add to the experience, but before you can worry about those, it's utterly important to have a bar that fits your body first.

While there are many brands of handlebars, each having many models and each of those having many options, the basics will always remain the same.  Your first choice should always be the one that provides the best fitment, and that begins with handlebar width.

The concepts to finding your correct handlebar width are easy enough, it just takes a few minutes at home or at your local bike shop.  As a side note; these are just "suggested" starting points for your handlebars, while these steps are likely to provide the comfort and efficiency to your ride, you may end up deviating to your personal taste.

Two methods for selecting correct handle bar width: (image right)

A) Simple Method
Select a few handlebars and have them placed against your back so that the ends of the handlebars are being are meeting up with the back of your shoulders.

The idea is that the outside edge of each side of the handlebar should span the complete width of your shoulder, with is approx. 3/4" inside of the leading edge of your arm.  Or better put, the handlebars should meet up with an imaginary line if drawn straight up from your armpit.

Once you are comfortable that you have located the correct width handlebars, you can now focus on style, tube material, shapes, etc.

B) Measure Method
Using the measure method, you are actually using the exact measurement (in cm) and add 2 cm for a final handlebar width.  measurement  ___________ + 2cm = handlebar width.  (Inches to cm = 1" for every 2.5cm)

Locate the peaks of the bony protrusions just above your chest where your arms and collarbone meet. With a measuring tape, locate edge of right protrusion and measure the span to the outer edge of the other peak.  If you have a partial size, always round up to the next nearest cm.

Now that you have your width, the rule of thumb for your handlebar size is shoulder width plus 2 cm.   So, if you measured out to a 41.5cm,  you would round up to 42cm and then add 2 cm for

a total width of 44cm handlebars.  

*Important side noted: Not all handlebars are measured equally, a handlebar should be measured the same as your shoulders, from center to center.  When measuring a handlebar, this means the center of each tube at the bottoms of the drops (aka horns) like the image to the left indicates.  Some brands measure bars from end to end, if you are not sure, ask your local bike shop for guidance.

We hope this helps you on your next handlebar purchase and makes your riding more comfortable!

Bike Fitment.

This article is also a thread on the forums, you can also visit the forums using the link below to ask questions or see questions asked. Proper Bike Fit (Forums Thread)

Looking for a first bike or new bike or even moving from Brand "X" to Brand "Y", IMO one key fitment procedure is to isolate the TT (top tube) length.

Fitment of the TT is important no matter what style of bike you ride, from road to mountain, from 26" to 29" bikes.

** A lot of conventional thinking was to worry about seat tube height, but that was because in the days of yester most companies used 100% horizontal TT (Top Tubes) which gave less stand over clearance, so by choosing a shorter seat tubed bike, the TT was also mounted lower giving more stand-over clearance.

About TT length:
There are two types of TT lengths, ETT (Effective TopTube) and Standard TT length.
Of the two, the ETT is the most important measurement.

Because of slopping TT's measuring the tube length itself can be decieving when compared to a taking a measurement from a straightline.

How it works:
Measuing up a TT is simply measuring the distance from the center of the ST, to the center of the HT.
That number is your TT size.

But, with many new bikes that have sloping TT's, you need a more accurate measurement to tell you the whole story.

ETT length takes the measure from the center of the ST (seat tube), to the center of the HT (head tube), but is does so using a perfectly level horizontal line. Accurately measuring the straightest distance between the two tubes.

When considering TT lenght, accounting for proper stem length is also important.
This is usually a 100mm stem for most mountian bikes.

Stem length can and will effect how you bike handles. Too long or too short of a stem will slow up or speed up steering as well as add or detract from your weight being centered over certain areas of the bike.

This effects turning, climbing, jumping, descending, and braking.

Example: Your current frame has a 23.5" / 596.9mm / 59.69 CM ETT, and is fitted with a 100mm stem.

If you are using a stem shorter than 100mm, IE a 90mm, consider purchasing a frame with an ETT 10mm less than what you are currently riding. 23.5" / 596.9mm / 59.69 CM ETT - 10mm =23.1" / 586.9mm / 58.69cm

If you are using a stem longer than 100mm, IE a 120mm, consider purchasing a frame with an ETT 10mm more than what you are currently riding. 23.5" / 596.9mm / 59.69 CM ETT + 10mm =23.9" / 606.9mm / 60.69cm

Under normal riding, a stem that is +/- 10mm from the 100mm standard is fine, but if you start moving towards +/- 20mm, you should consider finding a frame or brand closer to your proper size.

Something missed, misinformation, or if you want to add something, feel free to help correct the problem.