My Salsa came with 42cm Cowbells but would like to get something wider and with flare to make it feel less sketchy going down hill or faster in general but how much wider without introducing ergonomic issues that would affect comfort?
Wider Gravel Drop bars to feel like give a better feeling of control.
wb3jma
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My Salsa came with 42cm Cowbells but would like to get something wider and with flare to make it feel less sketchy going down hill or faster in general but how much wider without introducing ergonomic issues that would affect comfort?
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3,410 Posts
Are you riding the drops when it gets steeper and rougher? IMO You have to start there for less sketch and more control.. If you can't comfortably ride the drops, then raise the bar you have and shorten the stem. After that, if you still feel too sketch, go wider, but as LJ said, you will need to shorten your stem as the bar gets wider.
DT
DT
bout half and half, drops don't feel any less sketchy.
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1,473 Posts
I went with 46cm Cow Chippers on a 70mm stem on my 61cm Diverge and it is perfect for me. I had the 48cm Coast bars for awhile, but while I really liked the control and shallow drops, I was getting some pretty severe neck/shoulder blade pains. I also love riding the drops with a dropper post. The bike feels super planted on sketchy descents.
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2,663 Posts
I've found around shoulder width or less shouldn't be an issue... it's when you go wider that you start putting your arms/forearms/wrists in novel and potentially challenging positions.
The amount of flare that goes with the new crop of gravel bars should be taken into account too, there are a few bars that angle the shifters in a way that takes getting used to - and is almost bad when they're too narrow. That's why I ultimately didn't get along with the Spank gravel bars - my hands were on the diagonal edges of the shifters instead of the flat top.
I have huge broad shoulders - 50cm - so the new 50-52cm bars feel amazing for me.
The amount of flare that goes with the new crop of gravel bars should be taken into account too, there are a few bars that angle the shifters in a way that takes getting used to - and is almost bad when they're too narrow. That's why I ultimately didn't get along with the Spank gravel bars - my hands were on the diagonal edges of the shifters instead of the flat top.
I have huge broad shoulders - 50cm - so the new 50-52cm bars feel amazing for me.
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3,567 Posts
Something like the Ritchey Beacon XL might work for you. Wider, flared, shallow drop. Would be a lot cooler if it was named 'Bacon'.
Linky Linky
Linky Linky
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46cm Salsa Woodchipper: Salsa Cycles | Adventure by Bike
I LOVE mine (had them on 2 bikes) and they're awesome for descending; there's a little flex when in the drops that takes the sting out of chunky stuff too...
I LOVE mine (had them on 2 bikes) and they're awesome for descending; there's a little flex when in the drops that takes the sting out of chunky stuff too...
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1,790 Posts
I'll echo this. The additional sweep on the Woodchippers, compared to the current crop of flared, off-road drop-bars, adds to stability and control while descending chunky stuff.
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4,551 Posts
My (stolen) gravel bike ran 44cm c-t-c unflared bars and they worked great. I also run the same bars on my road bike. When I replace my gravel bike, I think I'll use 44cm bars with a little flare.
While I love wide bars on my mtb's, currently 2 bikes with 760mm and one with 800mm, I don't really feel the need for extra wide bars for gravel.
While I love wide bars on my mtb's, currently 2 bikes with 760mm and one with 800mm, I don't really feel the need for extra wide bars for gravel.
I think it at least some part on my part that I'm used to the wider 740 and 780mm, bars on my mountain bike but did not want to go the flat bar route on my gravel bike.
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386 Posts
I can't speak with the experience others have, but I went from a 44 wide bar to the 52 Spake Flare 25 Vibrocore and i feel it's much more stable. That said, I mostly flat road it, which can be sandy, and rarely ride the drops. I know with the Vibrocore and some gel bar tape, that my hands feel much better after 50 miles. That I can speak to.
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