Tall Cool One

I just placed an order for my new road bike. The bike comes with Cannondale C3 handlebars. The problem is my hands don't feel quite right when I'm in the drops with these bars. The angles of the drops just don't line up with my oversized hands very well. Also, it feels like there is little room between the edge of my hand and the bar end.

I feel I don't want to get bars with a much deeper drop but I need a lot more reach so there is extra room at the end of the bar for my meat hooks.

Anybody with big hands that has a handlebar that feels good on the hands in the drops?

boy scout 161

I haven't found any drops that feel comfortable for me either, so I am interested to hear recommendations as well.

rockdog

I love my Nitto Noodle Bar. I have the 48cm version, lot's of real estate on top of the bars for my XL hands and just a really comfy bar all around. And their kinda pretty.

Tall Cool One

I wish I had an "old school" bike to put those noodle bars on. They look VERY comfortable.

Mr. Beanz

Give it some time to get used to the new bars. My Cannondale has a llong lower section in the drops. My Lemond came with a more ergo bend set up which left less length at the end of the bars (lower section). At first it seemed tahtn when I went in the drops, half my palm would miss the bar.

I really didn't like it but once used to it, very natural. The benefit I see is that the bars are wider ad more comfy while riding the hoods.

Once I went back to the Cannondale, I stood to climb and actually hit my thigh on the long lower section of the bars. After that, and once used to the new bars, I actually like them more never hit my leg either! I jsut might switch out the longer bars later on!

The shorter bars also have aflat spot at the bend where my hands rest while using the brakes from thedrops. The flat section is actually much better than the curved section on he longer bars. I guess that's why they call them ergo, much more comfy on the wrists!

Tall Cool One

Do you think rotating the front of the handlebars down (so that the bow of the bar points toward the ground) a little would help my situation? There is a pretty big difference between seat height and handlebar height. I think this might move my hands "up the bar" a little bit giving a little more space at the end of the bar.

Am I making any sense?

Mr. Beanz

I would try it it fit's comfy. I did mine but actually getting used to the bar's length is a big part of it.

When I rotated my hb's, I also loosened the allen screw jsut inside the brake hoods to slide the levers to a more conmfy positon too. Makes a big difference. Not sure of your mechanical experience but had to loosen the tape to do so. One big reason I try to use tape without the adhesive backing.

Tall Cool One

Fortunately, the bike hasn't even arrived at the shop yet. I will make sure I tell the mechanic to wait on putting on the tape until I have the handlebars and hoods where I want them.

ALLSTOTT

i have wide palms and i have found that handlebars like the cinelli VAI Palm that have a wide grip up top work GREAT.

Mr. Beanz

If that's the case, have him call you before he cuts the forktube too. You can choose the height you like....If you let them cut it, you have no options other than flipping the stem.

I left mine uncut and like the height.

bigfred 

Add me to the list of riders who haven't found an ergo bar that I like. My solution? Cinelli deep drop/ long reach .

metal_cowboy

I switched to Nitto Noodle bars 48cm on all my bikes. They have a great design for large hands.

Homeyba

+1 to this! It's better to leave it uncut and use spacers to cover the space so that you can make adjustments later. You can always cut it if you need to at a latter point.

Tall Cool One

I just talked to my bike shop today. My bike came in. When I asked the mechanic about not cutting the steerer tube he said that he gets them in the shop already cut. He said if I need more height we can work on that with a different stem. I am looking forward to getting a good fit on my bike. I am even more excited about getting out on the road with it.

Mr. Beanz

Was you bike in BEFORE You called? Something sounds fishy! But who am I?

Tall Cool One

I wondered about that. It was my fault I should have told him not to cut the steerer tube when I ordered it. I thought I had 2 months to worry about it and was going in this week to tell him not to cut it and put spacers on but it came in this week.