BTW, Hoy was the first top sprinter that I ever saw using super narrow bars.
I don't think that this is a coincidence:
Both are Scots and I've heard Hoy speak favorably of Obree. It would be a safe assumption that Obree influenced the Team GB move to super narrow bars.
For example,
Hoy was riding these (I think) 34cm Nitto B123:
While his teammate Craig Maclean was riding these (I think) 38 or 40cm Nitto B123:
Other teammate Jamie Staff also on 38 or 40cm Nittos:
Edit 2:
I mean, even steel is fine...as long as they are narrow
