ziggydcat

A little help here, I ride a road bike with a stock set of bars that measure 42 cm. I tend to get some shoulder fatigue on longer rides and have talked to a good friend who is also a master mechanic for Specialized. His recommendation is to go up to a 44cm bar. My shoulders measure 56cm and all of the "set up guides" say to go as wide as your shoulders measure. The closest any bar manufacturer offer is 46cm.

SO, any broad shouldered guys or gals what have you found that works best for you?

Nose4it

If you can find the 46cm bars I would go with them. My shoulders aren't as broad as yours but I went from a 42cm to a 44cm bar and it works just fine. I also replaced the stem with a shorter stem and increased angle for a more relaxed posture. Aerodynamics will suffer, but the comfort is worth it. I enjoy longer rides (normally 50-80 miles) and I don't race, so comfort trumps aerodynamics. Also, it helps to keep the elbows slightly bent and sit up occasionally to take some pressure off the shoulders.

Jarrett2

I've been wondering about this lately as well. My Roubaix has 42's on it and I get some shoulder blade pain during riding sometimes.

My AWOL has 12 degree flared drops on it and they are way more comfortable than the angles of my Roubaix bars.

It makes me wonder if I should do the flared bars on the Roubaix or maybe go to some 46's.

jwood72

I use 44cm drop bars, I have seen 46 cm bars, but I haven't bought any yet. I think and have been told that the 44cm bars fit me well. I would say to try some wider bars for yourself

On my SS29er, I have Easton Havoc bars that are 785mm I believe and those are so nice for how I ride that bike.

MRT2

In your case, the answer is clear. Install the same bar you have on your AWOL on your Roubaix.

Jarrett2

One problem with that, Specialized doesn't sell the bars from the AWOL separately.

I assume I could get something similar from Salsa though.

MRT2

Salsa, Soma, Nitto, Velo Orange.

dr_lha

Yep. Arnt they just a knockoff of Salsa Cowbell bars?

Jarrett2

I assume so, I've never groped a Salsa before.

dr_lha

They have the same 12 degree flare. Not sure about other geometry.

Wingsprint

I don't have shoulders as wide as you and I am using 3T Ergonova's in 46. Super comfortable for me.

TrojanHorse

Keep in mind some bars are measured outside to outside and some are center to center, so a 44cm C-C bar is probably identical to a 46cm O-O bar. Some measure at the bottom of the drops too, so if they flare outwars and that's where they measure, your hoods might not be wide enough to be comfortable.

Other dimensions to consider include reach and drop and the last consideration is shape - I HATE the goofy looking so-called ergo shape. I really like my current bars, which are shallow and smoothly curved.

dr_lha

By "ergo" you mean the bars with the weird kinks in them? What's up with that?

That said, I have some Ritchey Logic II bars which have the flat section in them and find them to be very comfortable to ride on the drops vs the compact bars on my other bike. Probably because I have 3XL hands.

Black wallnut 

I have wide shoulders, not sure of the measurement but I went with 44cm bars. 42 seemed too narrow to me.

ziggydcat

Thanks for the input everyone. I went on a 30 mile ride this morning and played around with where my hands sat on the current bars and even rode for a while with just the balls of my thumbs on the brake hoods. Apart from feeling goofy and adding some extra stress to my wrists the wider position felt great. I will be pulling the trigger on some 46cm bars here in the near future.

jsigone

I run 46mm 3T ergonova on my CX bike. The extra leverage is nice for the off road adventures

obed7

Where are you taking the measurement on your shoulders?

c_m_shooter

Grand Cru Chris's Rando Handlebar - Handlebars - Components Available in 42cm through 50 cm widths. I have the 50 on my Fargo and like it a lot.

TK LP

I use a Nitto Noodle in 48. The Velo Orange didn't come that large when I built my bike, but the 48 and 50 would have had my interest.

bassjones

Zinn - https://www.bigandtallbike.com/JK-wid...C-C_p_169.html - has wide bars for sale as well. Up to 48CM C-C