Cinelli 65 Criterium bar width 40->44?
07-03-18, 10:44 AM
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junior
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Cinelli 65 Criterium bar width 40->44?
I'm getting my old original Bianchi Campione D'Italia i bought in 1983/84 set up again, and have ridden it on a few rides. I have "new" Modolo 919 gum hoods, and found two packages of Cinelli cork tape in my stash, and was about to rewrap the bars with the new hoods, but then i realized the 40cm wide Cinelli Criterium handlebars seem really narrow compared to what i'm used to these days (I've been riding a new Norco hardtail mountain bike with 760mm wide bars).
I've since discovered Cinelli made the bars in 42 and 44cm wide sizes as well. Trying to determine if 42 is good enough, or should i go to 44. Has anyone made the switch? I have no experience with modern road bikes but it seems wide bars are standard now. And my own body dimensions have changed since high school, so it just figures wider bars would feel better. Thoughts? Anybody have leads on some used/NOS 44cm wide Criterium bars in the original 26.4 size?
btw, I've just read recently that my brake cable housing is completely WRONG!!! lol. as far as i know, this was original routing.
Here's the bike from a ride last week.
My 1983 (?) Bianchi Campione D"Italia
thanks!
-eric
fresno, ca.
I've since discovered Cinelli made the bars in 42 and 44cm wide sizes as well. Trying to determine if 42 is good enough, or should i go to 44. Has anyone made the switch? I have no experience with modern road bikes but it seems wide bars are standard now. And my own body dimensions have changed since high school, so it just figures wider bars would feel better. Thoughts? Anybody have leads on some used/NOS 44cm wide Criterium bars in the original 26.4 size?
btw, I've just read recently that my brake cable housing is completely WRONG!!! lol. as far as i know, this was original routing.
Here's the bike from a ride last week.
My 1983 (?) Bianchi Campione D"Italia
thanks!
-eric
fresno, ca.
07-03-18, 10:48 AM
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I definitely can't ride 40cm bars, never could. I started riding road bikes around 2003/04 and immediately was uncomfortable on vintage bars. I have 44cm criteriums on one bike and they are tolerable, but I'll be honest. Modern bars for the win on a daily rider. Nitto Noodles in 46cm are great. I should have bought 48 cm.
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07-03-18, 10:56 AM
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junior
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Nice. This would not be a daily rider for me. I used to ride this 100-200 miles a week year-round, including small club criteriums and time trials when younger. It's ok right now as an occasional rider, but if i can keep it period-correct, find some original Cinelli bars in a wider width, that would make me happier.
07-03-18, 02:51 PM
#4
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How do you like those criterium bars on longer rides. Enough room on the top of the bars? I am finishing my Ciocc build and was planning to use the 65-44 bars that I picked up.
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07-03-18, 03:06 PM
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junior
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Seriously, I'm not sure how well they'll work for you/us. I've always used these bars, so i'm not used to anything else for a drop-bar bike. I imagine the more conventional style with more top space would be better for long distance rides for MOST people. I don't plan to do more than 40 mile rides, realistically, most being 10-25 miles. You'll just have to try them out and determine on your own. I'm being somewhat stubborn and sticking to the criterium's shape out of nostalgia and aesthetics, more than anything else. If i was smarter, i might go wider and more conventional shape (Giro, Mondo/etc) or even modern bars.
You CAN shift your hands around the entire length of the bars. The corners would be just a different shape than typical bars, and i ride the corners and hoods the most, with cork wrap, and padded gloves. Let me know how it works out for you if you decide to try them out on the Ciocc.
btw, your Ciocc frame looks FANTASTIC. wow.
eric
fresno, ca.
Last edited by ericzamora; 07-03-18 at 03:09 PM.
07-04-18, 09:15 AM
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@ericzamora - Can't help with bar width but there is no right or wrong for braking choice.
P1020897 , on Flickr
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Last edited by SJX426; 07-04-18 at 10:21 AM.
07-04-18, 09:16 AM
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Be sure to check the center dimension- pretty sure 44cm wide 65's will have a 26.0 center.
07-04-18, 09:58 AM
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I believe the theory has to do with how broad or narrow your shoulders are. I had one person tell me road bar width should match your suit jacket size. Not so sure about that but I do know my broader shoulders like wider bars. I only ride 44s.
My purchase tip for you is to make sure the seller/manufacturer is measuring center to center (usually at the end of the drops). I’ve bought more than one pair of advertised 44s that were measured end to end and were 42 c-t-c.
My purchase tip for you is to make sure the seller/manufacturer is measuring center to center (usually at the end of the drops). I’ve bought more than one pair of advertised 44s that were measured end to end and were 42 c-t-c.
07-04-18, 10:24 AM
#10
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In actual use, you bend your elbows, so width of shoulders doesn't affect anything. I prefer 38cm bars so i can squeeze between people in corners during crits.
07-04-18, 10:46 AM
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Funny you should mention that. I was under the assumption that my 1983 bike's Cinelli bars were 26.4, but i measured them with my cheap digital calipers, and kept getting 26.1, or around there on various tries. Thinking my calipers may be off due to the battery, i took them into a shop yesterday, looking for either of the two owners. These two guys SOLD me the bike at a different shop they had back in the 80s. I was hoping they would appreciate that I had kept the bike and was getting it going again. To be more accurate, getting ME going again. They confirmed, the bars are 26.0. Which is really weird to me but I must have bought and added the bar and 1R stem years after buying the bike.
So yes, they're 26.0, and Cinelli has rereleased the bars for nostalgia's sake, so i can buy those for the same price or cheaper than NOS. I don't ride crits anymore, no more racing, so i may go for a new pair of 42s. Hopefully there will be no trouble with the stem, as has happened with others. And for new modern bars? I may save that for my next purchase in a year or so. I think i'd like a carbon fork, steel-framed gravel bike
eric
fresno, ca.
07-04-18, 10:51 AM
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@ericzamora - Can't help with bar width but there is no right or wrong for braking choice.
P1020897 , on Flickr
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Last edited by ericzamora; 07-04-18 at 10:56 AM.
07-04-18, 10:53 AM
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07-04-18, 12:10 PM
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Thanks! It is in the raw in that pic and is now just a frame waiting for paint. Planned for my daughter. I put it together for her to try out. She loved it but doesn't have room in her current apt. 1987ish Pinarello Veneto(?).
Picture as purchased
Pinarello Vento- as purchased, on Flickr
Picture as purchased
Pinarello Vento- as purchased, on Flickr
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07-04-18, 08:22 PM
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My two-bits..... I am a narrow shouldered guy who rode a bike with 44's for years. Nearly without fail, I would develop pain between my shoulder blades on rides of 35 to 40 miles or more. Somewhere, I read that bar width closer to my shoulder width might be the answer. It was and my bikes all have 38s or 40s.
Dean
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Last edited by Dean51; 07-05-18 at 08:44 AM.
07-05-18, 05:16 AM
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Guessing the advent of brifters, with their more comfortable palm rest position, may have brought about the wider handlebar.
Last edited by plonz; 07-05-18 at 05:44 AM.
07-05-18, 07:56 AM
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I rode the same bike for many years with 38 cm bars, so I didn't know any different. When I finally bought a new bike, it had 44 cm bars and I felt like it had mountain bike bars. After getting used to them, I took a ride on the old bike and I felt like I couldn't get a full breath. I tried experimenting with some different sizes and found 42 cm to be my favorite size.
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