Originally Posted by
oldbear63
I rode a 2004 Lemond road bike for about 12 years until it wore out and I just replaced it with a new Fuji. My new bike has 31.8 mm handlebars that are flattened on the top and I noticed that I have had significantly less hand pain with the new bars. When I reconditioned my old bike and tried riding it I found that the old 26 mm handlebars are much too painful. When I replaced them with a modern handlebar (and a shorter stem) I found my old bike was also quite comfortable. The modern brake / shifters are also much more ergonomic and comfortable on long rides.
My old bike has 26 mm handle bars and I only realized how thin they were when I got my new bike. I was constantly shifting hand positions and numbness was a regular part of riding. With 31.8 mm flat or aereo bars I can ride in one position for miles without numbness. The old shifters are also much less ergonomic and I now find them uncomfortable too.