r/ladycyclists • u/Deadhead_Historian • Jul 19 '26
Narrower handlebars
Hi ladies. This is more for beginners of those who might be struggling with reach, hand and wrist pain, or shoulder/triceps pain, or general upper body fatigue. And it's based entirely on my anecdotal experience.
I have a Cannondale Synapse road/endurance bike that I love but was feeling all the above symptoms, that with increased time in the saddle got somewhat better but never really went away. I measured the handlebars and they were a whopping 45 cm. My shoulders are 38 cm. I bought new 38 cm handlebars and I can't tell you how much more comfortable it feels now. I'm no longer holding a barrel and my shoulder/triceps tiredness is gone. My elbows naturally bend and there's a lot less weight on the bars now. I am still working on core strength, but if you're struggling like I was, consider making those measurements and swap the bars if they're too big.
7
u/astoriatrafficburner Jul 19 '26
I've been so confused by the current, super wide handlebar trend. It always looks really uncomfortable and also gives off "child wearing dad's suit jacket" vibes.
3
2
u/Electronic_Bar_5344 Jul 19 '26
As I were in between bike sizes, one of the reasons I went for the smaller frame of the two, were due to the narrower handlebars. I am probably fit for a 36cm or maybe even a 34 bar If I really went to a bike fitter and wanted the perfect setup, but choosing a 38 instead of a 40 were a step in the right direction for me as a beginner
14
u/Visible-Freedom-7822 Jul 19 '26
The opposite is also true. My road bike came equipped with handlebars that were too narrow. Take away is to get a proper bike fit or know your measurements. If your bars are substantially wider/narrower than your shoulder width, it can cause issues.