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I need 38cm handlebars?!

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I need 38cm handlebars?!

Old 10-28-09, 01:40 PM
  #1  
khatfull
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I need 38cm handlebars?!

Let me preface this by saying I'm 6' and I currently ride a 42cm bar and have always felt like a tripod. I knew I could do with a narrower bar but never knew quite how narrow until yesterday.

I stopped into an LBS I've never been to (as they were on the way to a client I rarely see) just to poke around. They had a particular Kore handlebar (the road Elite) in 38cm to 46cm (dang, 46cm is wide). I got one of the LBS guys to hold the bars against my shoulders and to beat all the 38cm bar ends (no flare) poked me right in those little bony protrusions on the front of my shoulders. The LBS guy said he'd never seen a 6' guy with shoulders as narrow.

So, I think I want to try a 38cm bar. The selection isn't too great but I'm sure I'll find something.

Any issues with handling when going to such a small bar?
Any other issues a smaller bar presents aside from the oft mentioned "closing down" of the chest etc. which I don't think will be a problem.

Thanks.

EDIT: And I did verify, these were C-T-C measured.

Last edited by khatfull; 10-28-09 at 01:44 PM.
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Old 10-28-09, 01:50 PM
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I don't think I've ever even seen a 38c road bar.
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Old 10-28-09, 01:55 PM
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I ride a 38cm bar on one of my bikes. On the other, I ride a 40 (42 O-t-O deda). I don't really notice the difference between them, though I do love the deda bars.
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Old 10-28-09, 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by cyclefreaksix
I don't think I've ever even seen a 38c road bar.
https://www.google.com/products?hl=en...ell=1&oi=spell

Just sayin'

I had a 38cm set of nitto track drops- I gave them to someome who wanted them.

I know what its like to feel like bars are way off- 42s and 38s are both uncomfortable to me.
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Old 10-28-09, 02:08 PM
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I had a 38 on my winter bike. I did not like it when climbing out of the saddle. Otherwise no difference.
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Old 10-28-09, 02:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Raiden
https://www.google.com/products?hl=en...ell=1&oi=spell

Just sayin'

I had a 38cm set of nitto track drops- I gave them to someome who wanted them.

I know what its like to feel like bars are way off- 42s and 38s are both uncomfortable to me.
Didn't say I didn't know they were made, I've just never seen a bar setup that narrow in person. I ride 46c and when compared to my shoulders, could go larger.
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Old 10-28-09, 02:10 PM
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Cinelli has some narrow bars - 38cm
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Old 10-28-09, 02:29 PM
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And that returned:



$32.95

https://ypsilanticycle.com/page.cfm?P...ils&sku=HB9040

Probably not light but cheap enough to try...and the tops look intriguing.

Thanks!
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Old 10-28-09, 02:52 PM
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Mine are 36cm and I love them! If they're the right size for you you shouldn't have any issues. Mine are Salsa Short n Shallow compacts...

There's a huge dude who works at the shop, and when he held them in his hands they looked seriously miniature.
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Old 10-28-09, 03:13 PM
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Careful - you might turn vintage as well. Way back when 38s and 40s were about all you would find in a road bar.
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Old 10-28-09, 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Bob Barker
Careful - you might turn vintage as well. Way back when 38s and 40s were about all you would find in a road bar.
+1, I was going to mention there are options with vintage bars...
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Old 10-28-09, 04:22 PM
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you cant have the ergonovas in my hands right now, but you can order your own.
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Old 10-28-09, 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Bob Barker
Careful - you might turn vintage as well. Way back when 38s and 40s were about all you would find in a road bar.
I used to ride on 38 centimeter bars on my vintage Bianchi. It didn't affect the comfort or handling that much, but I certainly do prefer wider bars. I ride with 42 centimeter bars now.
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Old 10-28-09, 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by khatfull
And that returned:



$32.95

https://ypsilanticycle.com/page.cfm?P...ils&sku=HB9040

Probably not light but cheap enough to try...and the tops look intriguing.

Thanks!
Those dimension bars are really high quality, and pretty light too.
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Old 10-28-09, 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by cedricbosch
Those dimension bars are really high quality, and pretty light too.
Finding them VERY hard to find, everyone seems to be out. QBP is here in Minneapolis and I spoke to them, they're out until late December.

Anyone knows of an LBS that has them in 38cm in stock, let me know!
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Old 10-28-09, 05:51 PM
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Universal Cycle ?
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Old 10-28-09, 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by cyclefreaksix
I don't think I've ever even seen a 38c road bar.
38 was pretty standard for smaller guys back in the day. It appears that handlebars have gradually been getting wider since the late 1960s.

35 years ago the Fit Kit said I was supposed to use a 40 cm medium-drop bar so that's what I used. Around 1990 I got the notion to get a 42 cm Cinelli 66 (quite deep drop) and the salesman convinced me that I'd probably like a 44. After getting used to catching a little more wind in my chest I never regretted the choice.

38 is still available in the WSD bends that smaller women's bikes are equipped with. Even the larger WSD bikes are coming in with 42s.

I think you'd be pleasantly surprised with the leverage and control a 40 could give you.
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Old 10-28-09, 06:27 PM
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I use 38cm, but then again i'm 5'5"...
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Old 10-28-09, 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by RichinPeoria
Universal Cycle ?

My second thought, and out of all sizes?!
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Old 10-28-09, 07:11 PM
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https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/C...CategoryID=452
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Old 10-28-09, 08:27 PM
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Interesting.

I have a 3T Ergonova Team on 40cm here at the house. I switched back to the stock CDale bar in 42cm when I thought I needed to "open up" a bit more. I stuck with it thinking it was just something I needed to get used to.

I just measured the Ergonova...40.5cm at the bar ends...38cm exactly at the hoods! I knew they flared, but didn't realize how much. Now that I'm in a significantly different position on the bike, farther back and more drop, I'm going to switch back and see what they feel like again.
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Old 10-28-09, 08:49 PM
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My 80's road bike has, I believe, a 38 bar. It's too narrow for me. Probably weighs as much as some people's bikes, so I don't think you want it .

I generally ride a 42, it's a comfortable fit for me. So send me your old one .

I've sometimes wondered if they used to use narrower handlebars to make it easier to balance with one hand while you're operating the downtube shifters. Maybe this is a completely stupid idea though.
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Old 10-28-09, 09:11 PM
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Yeah, the Ergonova team is 200g on my good scale...3T calls it 198g. But, I assume they probably quoted a 42cm bar as do most manufacturers. Still, 200g is ok.
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Old 10-28-09, 09:18 PM
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most smaller womens specific road bikes come with 38cm bars. look into specialized or trek/bontragers women specific bars i dont see why males cant use them
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Old 10-28-09, 09:39 PM
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Me either.
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