If, at this point, you’re intrigued by the prospect of some easy aero gains, the obvious follow up questions are: “How narrow should I go?” and “How narrow is too narrow?”. Narrow elbow pads are an increasingly common sight on dedicated time trial bikes. Simon Bromley / Immediate Media If you’re currently riding 44cm bars and would like a little free speed, consider moving to 42cm or 40cm bars, for example. Likewise, if you’re currently using a 42cm or a 40cm bar, you could try a 38cm or even a 36cm bar ( the 32cm bars Jan-Willem van Schip uses might be a little extreme for most amateurs though). Get a handle on things with the awesome bike handlebars at Chain Reaction. Premium bicycle handlebars make steering sharper and we have epic brands on offer include Zipp, Vision, Ritchey and Most, with aero handlebars for roadies, and flat and riser handlebars for those who enjoy MTB. Mountain Bike Handlebars Koop concurs that there is likely an aerodynamic advantage to be had from using a narrower handlebar. He cautions, however, that any resulting riding position needs to be sustainable for the duration of the event, and not have real-world implications that outweigh any aerodynamic advantages.

When you ride a bike, a number of forces are acting against you, such as rolling resistance, aerodynamic drag and gravity. Interesting article. I’m an advocate of narrow bars, especially if you ride in fast groups or race. It isn’t bad enough to be a deal-breaker for me, and I found it was only noticeable on gradients that were steep enough to be a generally unpleasant experience anyway. Those are just my personal definitions, however, in regards to road bikes. In reality, whether a handlebar feels wide or narrow will depend on the characteristics of any given cyclist, to a degree.After all, if a 36cm handlebar is better than a 42cm handlebar, is a 32cm handlebar even better, and so on? Where’s the limit? Away from long, steep climbs, aerodynamic drag is usually the primary force slowing you down. Steve Sayers / Our Media You might also want to get a bike cover if your bike will be open to the elements whilst at work, school or elsewhere. A cover will protect your bike’s surface from wear and tear, helping to keep it in the best condition possible. Reach is the distance from the tops of the bars to the most forward portion of the bend and is a measurement of particular interest to women who feel too stretched out when grabbing their brakes. Drop is the distance from the top of the handlebars to the bottom (usually measured center to center) and when too deep, maneuvering to reposition from hoods to drops can feel unsafe. With regards to handling, there are, according to Koop, “two things at play with narrow handlebars. Steering torque and force input accuracy.”

As most cyclists will protest, none of us are truly average, so tailoring the bars to suit you is a good idea. This is particularly relevant for women who have bought a unisex bike over a female specific bike: most women have narrower shoulders compared to men of the same height so will want a narrower handlebar. Before you go we’ve put together some top tips for you to consider when you’re buying any cycle products online. These tips can apply whether you’re a new rider or an experienced cyclist. How to shop for cycling stuff, smartly and safely.Whatever you might be buying for your cycling trips, it’s important to do your research. Afterall, cycling can be dangerous if improperly or inadequately equipped, so it’s vital that your gear is safe and high quality.

Narrow handlebars can speed up handling and decrease steering accuracy, which isn’t what you want when riding off-road, or if you’re a less experienced rider. Russel Burton / Our Media I’m confident handlebars in the region of 36cm to 40cm are unlikely to cause any handling issues for the majority of cyclists, though, and, providing you have no issues with the fit, they should make you a little faster for no extra effort.

The handling effects of the ultra-narrow handlebar are most notable when climbing, particularly on steep hills. Russell Burton / Immediate Media

It’s most often measured centre-to-centre (from the centre line of each drop of the handlebar), though some brands, such as Deda, measure outside-to-outside (from one outside edge of the handlebar to the other). Unlike you, however, I can’t identify with your experience of being more fatigued from using the narrower bars. I find it pretty interesting though. Do you do any strength training? I strength train year around (usually once per week), so perhaps that has made the difference with me. Some riders like the stability afforded by slightly wider bars - so you could opt to go one size up - to a 40cm bar. However, this will mean that you are having to move your arms out to reach the levers, causing your shoulder blades to collapse which can cause discomfort. To determine the correct width of a set of handlebars, a measurement is taken from the acromion of one scapula to the other. The acromion is the bony ledge at the attachment of your arm to your shoulder.As we say above, price is the most common top consideration for people buying cycling gear…the same goes for buying Cycling.