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I need to purchase some new handlebars for my new bike frame/project.
I had an issue with my steerer being too short but I have sorted that now by buying a new stem with a shorter stack height.
Now I am using a Ragley stubbing stem with 0 degree rise and a 60mm reach. I will be riding mainly XC (but some cycle ways and roads to get to them) in and around Harrogate, North Yorkshire and parts of the Yorkshire Dales. So plenty of hills to climb up and go down!
Personal preference pays a large part of choosing these of course but which width of bar offers the most control wider or narrower?
Also should I get the maximum amount of rise to compensate the 0 degree rise of the stem?
So my question is which width bars and how much rise would I need?
Also any recommendations?
Buy wide bars and cut them down till you are comfortable.
Buy a bar with a rise that puts the grips at a comfortable height.
Pretty much only you can answer this.....
It really is trial and error if you don't have another bike to reference from, but I'd try starting off with some 20mm (mid) risers @ around 760mm
Its easier if you buy a new bike they can at least measure you up and send you on your way with a bike that fits - its tailored to you. I'm kind of working backwards from that with a limited budget. I can't afford a bad decision! The width is easy I suppose - buy long and then cut if needed. The rise? Buy the highest I can and then possibly turn them away by a degree or two? The thing is I've never had a stem that short. I have some 780mm wide Kona's kicking around somewhere, if I can find them I will fit them and see how it feels. Cheers guys
A year ago I managed to get some 30mm and 50mm rise Spank 777 bars for about 20 quid each. Find some wide, cheap, alu bars - maybe Spank, On One or Superstar. Buy a couple of different rises, try the different rises out on the trail and cut the one you like down to suit your preferred width.
What type of bike, and what wheel size is it? Obviously personal preference will dictate what is right for you, but the bike and type of riding you intend to do may point you in the right direction.
In terms of width a narrower bar will give you faster steering (some say twitchy), while a wider bar will give you more control as you have to turn a wider bar further than a narrower bar to move the wheel the same amount. In general the shorter the stem the wider the bar to keep you balanced toward the center of the bike.
If you have a tall front end, or a 29er you might want a flat or shallow rise bar, if it is a 26er perhaps you would want more rise?
As said On One have various width and rise bars starting from about £10, so think about the rest of the bike and choose something that you think will be suitable. If you find that you have bought something that isn't right you can probably sell them on again for close to what you paid for them.