Bahnzo

I'm getting close to dialing in my fit, but I think my bars are too narrow. These bars are 40cm, and I still have problem with numbness in my fingers which I'm sure has to be due to my wrists not being straight. I feel like my wrists are slightly bent inwards when I'm on the hoods. Plus, if you look at the pic, it seems my arms are on the outer parts of the bar.

Thoughts?

fietsbob

Open bottom end , (typical non flared out) drop bars is suggested to be as wide as your shoulders.

Tape measure is better than the camera, there..

Bahnzo

Update here: Yes, the bars were too narrow. I switched to a 42cm bar and it's much better. More than measuring (which I got different results from different people measuring), was that simply holding my arms at my side, and then bringing them up to the drops showed me they were too narrow. When I did that, my hands were slightly outside the drops (my thumbs hit the bar ends actually). With the new 42cm they come up and grip perfectly. Today I had my first ride, and it's night/day now. Not one touch of numbness and I'm comfortable in all positions which has never been the case.

It's like a new bike!

woodcraft

I suggest that you raise the brake levers so that when on the hoods

your wrists are neutral e.g. thumbs not pointing down.

This allows a chain of positives- arms bend, shoulders drop, back flattens,

& wrists rotate in for comfort & less pressure on the hands

Bahnzo

I'll give that a try, but I actually spend more time on top of the hoods (if that makes sense) instead of "in" them. So in that position, my wrists are straight and thumbs are neutral and everything feels good so far. I rode 30 miles the other day, and for the first time in forever had no issues with numbness in my hands. But, I can see what you are getting at, so if I do have any troubles ongoing, I'll give that a shot. Thanks.

Carbonfiberboy 

I always go for the brake-levers-must-be-vertical guide to hood positioning. Secondarily with hands in fast hoods position (thumb over top of brifter, forearms horizontal) wrists should rest nicely on ramps. I use that second position a lot on long rides.

bichngoc94

If your handlebars are too narrow, your shoulders feel strained when riding in this position

Bahnzo

I brought my brake levers up just a tad for my ride today, maybe no more than 1-2cm, but it made a nice compromise between in the hoods and on them. Thanks, I'll be keeping them there I think.

redlude97

No such thing as too narrow nowadays. Plenty of pros running 38cm or narrower bars even with super broad shoulders. I personally run 38cm bars on the road bike even though I was fitted for 42cm. Still run 42cm on the gravel bike and a 46cm on the cross bike.