Not sure what to select when replacing my existing Base Bar. Vision Tech Base Bar comes in 40 or 42 width. I’m a guy, my current Base Bar is a 42cm and seems like the right width. Do I stick with the 42cm?
Classic bar width theory is that road bar width should be about the same as the shoulder width. In practice, comfort and rider preference are probably the most important. For tri/TT, a narrower bar will be more aero, but really you should be on the base bar that much anyway, except for cornering/steep climbing, when aero isn’t as big of a deal. A wider bar will open up the chest more and may allow better breathing and may be better handling. Although the difference between a 40 and 42 isn’t that much.
From what you say, I would stick with the 42cm if it feels right to you.
Narrow is aero. Heck some people (Natascha Badmann) don’t even have a base bar, so it seems hard to argue that you need a wide one.
Hello Jackbauer and All,
The aluminum VT comes in 40 and 42cm, but the new carbon bar was only available in 42cm when I got mine about 5 months ago.
I wrote to VT and they said that if there was demand they might make a 40cm but no plans to do so.
Cheers,
Neal
I had a bar that was too narrow and it was just horrible (my LBS swapped it out). The only time I’m in my base bar when racing is when climbing (or mount/dismount of course). The narrow bar didn’t give my upper body good leverage to help with the climb and the wide bar was much more powerful. Obviously aero doesn’t matter when grinding up a hill.
Comfort is king…I pretty much follow that rule all the time. I’m going to stick with a 42cm since I have fairly wide shoulders for a lanky 150 lb guy.