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Handlebar Sweep - Natural Position of Hands

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Xcyclist

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I always wanted to try bars with more than average sweep so I got some Salsa Bend bars with 17 degree sweep. I went for a ride around town and developed forearm pain. I played around with rotation of the bars, levers, etc., and no better. The stock bars had 8 sweep and 5 upsweep and although they were a bit wide for me, my arms felt fine. I’m thinking of trimming them and putting them back on the bike.

My question is when your in riding position with hands on the grips, should your knuckles be perpendicular to the grips, or close to it? 2nd photo with the 17 degree bars (Deity grips) where my hand seems to be fighting the sweep. And the stock bars where the knuckles are close to perpendicular.

Image

Image
 
#2 ·
With sweep back bars, your elbows need to be tucked in more, your hands would be in better position that way.
That was why I ran them while my shoulders were in pain, now running Salsa Rustlers bar with 11 degree sweep.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Strafer said:
With sweep back bars, your elbows need to be tucked in more, your hands would be in better position that way.
That was why I ran them while my shoulders were in pain, now running Salsa Rustlers bar with 11 degree sweep.
Click to expand...
I hear you about elbow tucked in, and I forced them in to get that proper grip so that I had a straight line from wrist up the elbow, but it felt very awkward and wouldn’t stay in place. I’m guessing because that’s not the right position for me.
 
#5 ·
The big sweep can open up the thumb joints for those with thumb joint pain (like me). I've got a set of 20deg Answer bars on one bike for that issue, but narrow bars have a similar effect for me.
Your forearm issue is perplexing, I want to say where your knuckles are pointing shouldn't really matter. You've got something going on, other than my thumbs which is fairly recent, I can jump on a variety of bikes/bars without issue, I think that would be typical for most 'seasoned' riders.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
I know my explanation with the knuckles was a bit odd, was just how I thought to explain it.

Point is when I hold the 17 degree swept bar, the middle to ring finger feel like they’re off the bar, not resting comfortably, but with the 8 degree bar all fingers feel more engaged.
 
#7 ·
I've experimented a lot with different sweep bars, and the conclusion I came to is that it's a very personal fit thing. Like saddles. Your shoulder width, arm length, the bar width, how upright you are, and your bike's reach all play into it. I don't think there's any way to calculate it out, you just have to try some bars and see what you like.

I've ridden bars from 8° to 45°. Finally settled on 12°-16° as suiting me.
 
#9 · (Edited)
With increasing back-sweep, the ends of the bars have to be angled downwards slightly so that wrist-forearm angle should remain fairly neutral.

Try this to illustrate: Hold your hand out like you're gripping a flat-bar, 0-backsweep. Now, laterally rotate your wrist as if you're gripping a bar with 17-degree back-sweep (That's what your picture looks like). Now, supinate your wrist slightly until the forearm-wrist angle returns to neutral.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
VegasSingleSpeed said:
With increasing back-sweep, the ends of the bars have to be angled downwards slightly so that wrist-forearm angle should remain fairly neutral.

Try this to illustrate: Hold your hand out like you're gripping a flat-bar, 0-backsweep. Now, laterally rotate your wrist as if you're gripping a bar with 17-degree back-sweep (That's what your picture looks like). Now, supinate your wrist slightly until the forearm-wrist angle returns to neutral.
Click to expand...
I think this is what caused the pain. When I put the 17° Bars on I kept the upsweep same as before. After riding around for a hour like that, noticed the pain shorty after.
 
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