Mountain-bike handlebar theories

Like for the rest of us, modern mountain bike design has evolved and so has the handlebar. Today, the front wheel is farther forward with a fork far less vertical, leaning more towards the rider.

This requires to bring the rider upper body forward to compensate, and designers accomplish this by spreading the handlebar wider. Not only this might be less than perfectly anatomical and comfortable, but it dangerously exposes the end of the handlebar to obstacles like trees that border single-trails. Another lousy design compromise? Definitely.

One of the “comfort” theories proposed, is that after measuring one's shoulders width, adding 4 to 6 inches to that measurement should determine the proper handlebar with. Another is to do push up and measure the distance between the two supporting hands; it pretty much leads to a similar result.

Before I take my hacksaw and cut, I'll test this solution today, before I cut tomorrow. Not such a bad idea!