[CR]wider bars or narrower bars

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Avocet)

From: "c. andrews" <chasds@mindspring.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 26 May 2006 11:31:41 -0700
Subject: [CR]wider bars or narrower bars

I followed the thread about wider/narrower drop bars with interest, but not much care, I missed most of the posts, I think.

However, I would be interested to hear more from those who like narrow bars. Because, most of the time, I just can't stand them. I don't know if it's because I have broader shoulders than the usual competitive cyclist (I do, and so do many other people I know...), or what, but narrow bars not only make it harder for me to hreathe easily (this is so obvious I can't imagine someone arguing about it), but they feel distinctly peculiar in steering, compared to wider bars. Grant Peterson has discussed this many times, in his various catalogs.

The only reasons I can see for using narrow bars (38cm c-c and under) are if you're in a very tight peloton, if you have very narrow shoulders, or, you just like the feel of them for some reason, or if you're doing it for authenticity/nostalgia reasons (like that pre-war Bianchi of yours just wouldn't look right with anything wider than 36cm c-c <g> otherwise known as the "looking good on the slopes" defense)--I actually like riding narrow bars sometimes, just for the variety of it..plus, it reminds me of my old Mondia Special that had 38cm bars. But, I wouldn't do it often.

Somewhat apropos of which, has anyone noticed the high prices old Cinelli and TTT bars go for on ebay in the wider sizes? I know I have.

Charles Andrews breathing freely in SoCal

"The deeper I go in considering the vanities of popular reasoning, the lighter and more foolish I find them."

--Galileo Galilei