Wider Bars - Advice needed

[Sbloomer]

Hi all

 

After being out of the MTB game for a few years (various reasons), I decided to start it up again late last year and bought myself a 2012 Giant Trance X3 26" for a steal.

 

Fantastic bike and I love it.

 

However, I have not paid much attention to the latest trends, and I couldn't but help notice that everyone's bars are WAY wider than mine.  Then doing the research, the reason became clear.

 

Now, I'd like to give the wide bars a bash.  However, my current setup is a 630mm bar on a 90mm stem (frame is a medium, I'm 1.72m).  The general guide suggests that i should be looking at around 760mm.  The issue is stem length.  The guidelines suggest shaving 65mm off my stem, but that leaves me an impossibly short stem.

 

What would the experts suggest I do?  I'm looking at Lyne's combo deal as it doesn't break the bank if the purchase decision doesn't quite work out and if I have to make a change.

 

Oh, and another question, are stems a standard height where they clamp onto the steerer?

 

 

 

 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Hey man, I'd suggest moving to a 50mm stem on the Trance, and widening the bars to 780. Don't cut em yet, but rather try them at that width for a few rides, then move the grips inboard by 5mm at a time (each side) and try that out for a bit. Then move in another 5mm and so on and so on. Do this until you feel comfortable, then move them out to the end again for another test at 780, just to be sure that you don't cut before you're certain of your ideal width. The general range of "acceptable" width is between 740 & 800 depending on personal fit and feel.  The narrower they are, the snappier the handling will be (less actual fore/aft hand movement for a particular change in direction) and the wider they are, the more stable it'll feel, but there'll be a point at which the enhanced stability is overcome by decreased physical leverage (in terms of what you can actually move at that width) due to a grip that is too wide. 

 

There is not a standard height for a stem. Generally speaking, the lower the stem, the better it is for climbing and the easier it is to weight the front end into corners, and the higher the stem the lighter the front end is and the easier it is to unweight the front end in technical sections. 

 

I'd suggest slamming the stem to the base of the steerer (all the spacers on top of the stem) then riding it for a while and then move one spacer under the stem and test again, until you're comfortable. Do this AFTER you sort out the bar width, so when you get the new bars and stem, stick the stem in the middle of your steerer ie equal spacers on top and below. 

[BenReaper]

Well can't add much to what CFM just said, thats about all you need to know.

You could however also have a look at what Ripedé have on offer, they also do nice widebar/short stem combos at great prices.

[DR ◣◢]

I'm 1.79m and settled on 60mm stem with 760mm wide bars.

 

I agree with starting on the 780mm or 800mm and cutting when needed to the right length. 

 

Ask your local shop if they have different length stems you could maybe borrow for a ride or two to try out. 

 

Quick note on the first ride with the wider bars and shorter stem. The bike will feel twitchy so take it easy in the corners. 

[Swany05]

+1 on Rapide

 

Value for money kit and amazing service, ping Kiwi on the forum 

 

 

Well can't add much to what CFM just said, thats about all you need to know.
You could however also have a look at what Ripedé have on offer, they also do nice widebar/short stem combos at great prices.

[porqui]

I would go along with the Captain

 

But - may I suggest that you just get back into riding and enjoying it and then go about changing things.(Unless you don't have flats - get them immediately)

 

Must say that 630mm is very narrow.

[Dirt Tracker]

Hi all

 

After being out of the MTB game for a few years (various reasons), I decided to start it up again late last year and bought myself a 2012 Giant Trance X3 26" for a steal.

 

Fantastic bike and I love it.

 

However, I have not paid much attention to the latest trends, and I couldn't but help notice that everyone's bars are WAY wider than mine.  Then doing the research, the reason became clear.

 

Now, I'd like to give the wide bars a bash.  However, my current setup is a 630mm bar on a 90mm stem (frame is a medium, I'm 1.72m).  The general guide suggests that i should be looking at around 760mm.  The issue is stem length.  The guidelines suggest shaving 65mm off my stem, but that leaves me an impossibly short stem.

 

What would the experts suggest I do?  I'm looking at Lyne's combo deal as it doesn't break the bank if the purchase decision doesn't quite work out and if I have to make a change.

 

Oh, and another question, are stems a standard height where they clamp onto the steerer?

 

Those are great bikes. Had the '12 X2 andd was a ton of fun. Best thing I did was get a 50mm stem and some Rapide Bars. Both Rapide and Lyne do deals for sub R500 and I paid R500 for my second hand stem alone. 

 

Second best thing I did was go 1x on it and get some wider wheels (so technically that's 2 extra things). 

[Sbloomer]

Hi all

 

Many thanks for  the advice.  Much appreciated, especially to you Mayhem.

 

As Lyne is about 5 minutes walk from my office, I popped over there and got a 780mm bar and a 50mm stem, so I will fit that as soon as I can, and start experimenting with it.

 

Those are great bikes. Had the '12 X2 andd was a ton of fun. Best thing I did was get a 50mm stem and some Rapide Bars. Both Rapide and Lyne do deals for sub R500 and I paid R500 for my second hand stem alone. 

Second best thing I did was go 1x on it and get some wider wheels (so technically that's 2 extra things). 

Those are great bikes. Had the '12 X2 andd was a ton of fun. Best thing I did was get a 50mm stem and some Rapide Bars. Both Rapide and Lyne do deals for sub R500 and I paid R500 for my second hand stem alone. 

Second best thing I did was go 1x on it and get some wider wheels (so technically that's 2 extra things). 

 

 

 

Thank you.  It has a 1x conversion when I got it but some of the sprockets were toast, so I splurged and got an SRAM upgrade kit, and fitted some ground control tubbies.

 

I must admit I never thought of "upgrading" to flats - I always used SPDs in the past, but it makes sense in many respects. 

[Reden]

Photo says it all.

Lyne Components carbon bars.

[Sbloomer]

I realized I haven't fed back on this.

 

I got some Lyne 780mm bars and a 60mm Stem.  While I haven't actually fitted the stem (thinking I'd just change one thing at a time), the bar is on.

I haven't done anything challenging yet, but what became immediately obvious was that the bike is much easier to control when riding through big patches of sand.

 

I also started out with my hands on the very ends of the bars, but noticed that my hands gravitated very slightly inwards, but not to the inner edge of the grip, so it seems so far that about 760mm might be natural for me.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I realized I haven't fed back on this.

 

I got some Lyne 780mm bars and a 60mm Stem.  While I haven't actually fitted the stem (thinking I'd just change one thing at a time), the bar is on.

 

I haven't done anything challenging yet, but what became immediately obvious was that the bike is much easier to control when riding through big patches of sand.

 

I also started out with my hands on the very ends of the bars, but noticed that my hands gravitated very slightly inwards, but not to the inner edge of the grip, so it seems so far that about 760mm might be natural for me.

Change the stem before you cut, dude. Great to hear the positive change, though. 

[Sbloomer]

Change the stem before you cut, dude. Great to hear the positive change, though.

Yeah I won’t cut until it’s all dialed in.

[coppi]

My Giant Anthem is fitted with a  90mm stem with 700mm wide bars.

My new Norco Optic..............40mm stem with 800mm bars. I find it very comfortable and get a more direct feeling, will ride for a few more months before shaving anything off if ever.

[Hairy]

If you consider cutting the bars down to the 760mm mark .... give me a shout out first. I have a spare 760mm bar in a very lively green that you are free to try out to see how it works for you ... I am also in the Table View / Sunningdale area.

 

 

Hi all

 

Many thanks for  the advice.  Much appreciated, especially to you Mayhem.

 

As Lyne is about 5 minutes walk from my office, I popped over there and got a 780mm bar and a 50mm stem, so I will fit that as soon as I can, and start experimenting with it.

 

 

Thank you.  It has a 1x conversion when I got it but some of the sprockets were toast, so I splurged and got an SRAM upgrade kit, and fitted some ground control tubbies.

 

I must admit I never thought of "upgrading" to flats - I always used SPDs in the past, but it makes sense in many respects. 

[Hairy]

I also have a spare 50mm you can try out in combination with the 760mm bars and your 780mm bars.

 

I realized I haven't fed back on this.

 

I got some Lyne 780mm bars and a 60mm Stem.  While I haven't actually fitted the stem (thinking I'd just change one thing at a time), the bar is on.

I haven't done anything challenging yet, but what became immediately obvious was that the bike is much easier to control when riding through big patches of sand.

 

I also started out with my hands on the very ends of the bars, but noticed that my hands gravitated very slightly inwards, but not to the inner edge of the grip, so it seems so far that about 760mm might be natural for me.

[Sbloomer]

Great.  Thanks for the offer

 

 

I also have a spare 50mm you can try out in combination with the 760mm bars and your 780mm bars.