[VTSession]

I'm 6'2", bars are 800 mm and aren't getting cut.

 

[Geralt]

5'7" and I think 730mm is probably about the width limit for me. 740mm is where the push-up method puts me, but using a 740mm (with a stem that I knew was at least a cm too long) gave me persistent elbow pain which has lasted for months even after I stopped riding. That was on a rigid bike which I'm sure magnified the problem. I put a 720mm with 20° sweep on that bike, and it's working much better for me.

I think I'm going to tempt fate by trying the 740mm bar (with a stem of the proper length) on my full-suspension bike. At the first hint of worsening elbow pain, the 740mm will be replaced with something narrower.

 

[leeboh]

It's not your height, it's shoulder width. Dress shirt is a 17 x 36" sleeve. 28" bars work well for me. I find 15 to 20 degrees sweep to be comfortable too.

 

[Lone Rager]

750
690
5'9"

 

[LyNx]

Well, check out the SQ Labs sweep bars, they might suit you better, good review here. Also with dirt drop bars, you need to run them a lot higher, so when you're in the drops, you're not that bent.hunched over, so maybe try a higher rise stem and/or spacers.

I ride singlespeed on trails that don't allow a lot of sitting. I feel much more fast and confident attacking the trails with my hands set just a little wider than my shoulders, which puts the ends of my grips (which are about 5" long each) at 28-29" apart. I want to like big bars, but I just can't. there's probably an interesting reason for that and I'd like to know why.

I have also enjoyed riding a cyclocross bike with drop bars on the same trails, but after a few miles, the drop position, which gives me the most confidence, hurts my back and the lack fo tire volume beats me up.

I think my "attack" position is more elbows down than elbows out. maybe it's an upper body strength (or lack thereof) thing. maybe I am really a dirt roadie at heart, although I have never been a road roadie. I'll go review some videos of Jeff Jones riding and see what his position is with those super-sweepy bars.

 

[k2rider1964]

I'm 5-8 and can comfortably ride 740-760 without even giving it a 2nd thought. I've demo'd bikes with 800mm bars...no bueno for me. I have no desire to "get used to" something I don't like. I currently have 750 bars on (2) bikes and 760 on the other.

 

[Shadow4eva]

.


Sent from my iPhone via Tapatalk

 

[RS VR6]

I'm 5'8" with a slim build.

Trail bike: Enve RSR 760mm stock length
XC bike: Enve SWP 720mm cut from 740mm

Wides I've tried was a 780mm. I didn't really like it.

 

[Bob Tilton]

Excellent feedback - thanks all! Leaning towards trimming mine down to 760mm based on above info, palm pain, wide fly push ups vs shoulder width push ups.

Also, 400mm steering wheels got changed out to 350mm steering wheels back in the 60s. That might make sense to vintage car owners.

800mm... ain't got time to get use to them.

 

[scottzg]

Excellent feedback - thanks all! Leaning towards trimming mine down to 760mm based on above info, palm pain, wide fly push ups vs shoulder width push ups.

Sayin it again-

move the grips/levers in and see if you're happier. If so, and you're running a fancy carbon/alloy bar, consider buying one that's the length you want and unloading the long one. An uncut bar is almost always more comfortable than a cut one.

Cheap bars are overbuilt- cut away!

 

[BrianU]

I am 5'6", built up a Kona Unit earlier this year and put a 740mm carbon bar on it. Left it at this width for quite some time, while I experimented with several different stem lengths. Finally settled on a 70mm stem and started experimenting with width by moving my grips in 10mm increments. It always amazes me how different 10mm can feel when tweeking a cockpit. Finally pulled the trigger this past weekend and cut them to 730mm.

Repeating what has already been said several times, move your grips and ride, before cutting. Of course this is assuming you are using some form of lock-on grips. If not, might be a good time to start.

One more piece of advice I would add that has not been mentioned yet. Once you think you have the width you desire, ride different types of terrain. A relatively flat, fast flowing trail that has you spending the majority of your ride seated and spinning, is going to put you in a different riding position than say a technical trail that frequently has you out of the saddle.

 

[Legbacon]

If you cut to 760mm without experimenting, how do you know it's ideal? Regarding the pushup method, I'm sure it's fine for finding the easiest pushup position.

 

[Harold]

I'm 5'8. Mine are 720mm uncut. Answer 20/20 bars, and they only came in that width. I also like the sweep. The trails I rode at the time were super twisty and narrow, and that width felt good. I recently moved, and the trails are more wide open. I'm feeling like I could use a wider bar, so I'm considering a new one. My wife got a new bike recently, and I cut hers down from 780mm to 740mm. She's 5'3, and she's really liking 740mm.

 

[Shayne]

I find 560mm to be kinda wide.
Everyone is different.

 

[jeremy3220]

Regarding the pushup method, I'm sure it's fine for finding the easiest pushup position.

Many people don't have a good pushup form anyway.

 

[Phlegm420]

**** it then, just cut the bars with whatever random method you want! Obviously it's all whatever you want to do, why even go to the internet for advice!

 

[scottzg]

Also, 400mm steering wheels got changed out to 350mm steering wheels back in the 60s. That might make sense to vintage car owners.

800mm... ain't got time to get use to them.

Wasn't that in response to power steering? So you're saying that you should run the handlebars that the rest of the steering was designed around?

 

[jcd46]

5'11.5'' - 760 on one bike, which is perfect. I have 740 on another bike, and I can really feel the difference. I should have gone 760 but I don't ride it to often, and I can adjust fairly quickly.

 

[Clayncedar]

810 mm.
No cut.
5'7"

Really wide shoulders and tend to ride to the outside on the grips even at this width.

My bars from the mid-1990s actually fit INSIDE my bars' grips now.

 

[33red]

You could test imagine a 720mm cut, place your hands/brakes/shifters like they would be for about 2 weeks, etc,, until you hit your sweet spot than cut.
My legs are crazy long my saddle must be high for my knees and my torso is real short so any bike is too long for me the wider the bar the worst.
I replaced my 700 by a 680(used it was cut) raiser and it is fine.
On a fat i had a 740 it was too wide, now 720 is fine, but it depends on your stem, your preferred position and obviously habit, a new 1 might feel odd but great after 2 weeks, also your saddle position is linked, so your height is a tiny part of that equation, often the shorter boxer has the longer arms.
The more speed the wider
The closer are the trees,,, and after mixing all those factors it is your bar
so with 3 bikes i have 720, 700, 680