Can anyone explain this to me? I never understood why older bikes' drop bars are so narrow, especially on larger frame sizes. Modern bikes seem to have this figured out, as my XL-sized 2004 KHS road bike has something like 46cm or even 48cm bars on it. It feels pretty wide at first, but when you're 6'3", 205+ lbs like I am, it feels much more natural than having your wrists positioned so much closer together than your shoulders are wide.

This old bike I'm repairing now (see 'Superia' thread) is a larger size (60cm-ish) yet has bars who's drops are only spaced 38cm apart. I was going to perform the old flop-n-chop on these for my SS cconversion, but they are just so narrow, that it feels akward to me. Plus, on a singlespeed, the wider bars offer more leverage for out-of-the-saddle climbing. That's why I'm considering instaling flat MTB bars or maybe some riser bars turned upside down. I suggest these options becasue I have some of these bars and it won't cost me anything to try it.

I'd love to have these in a wide size, but don't really want to invest much into this project.

http://www.somafab.com/barpursuit.html

People had narrower shoulders back then...

People had narrower shoulders back then...All those skinny little 1970's coke heads, I guess.:rolleyes:

I'm not sure why, but older bikes were definitely spec'd with narrower bars than today. My old size 57 Bianchi had 3TTT bars that were only 40 cm center-center. I'm riding the same size frame these days but my bars are 44 c-c (and much more comfortable).

Notions of what is proper fit have changed over the years, not always for the better. For instance, many older Italian frames had geometries that are more comfortable for me anyway, with shorter top tubes and longer headtubes. Many newer frames seem to be taking after the Trek model -- that is long top tubes and short head tubes.

BTW, anyone looking for some nice classic 3TTT bars in 40 c-c?

Back then I was pack racing and preferred a narrower bar for clearance. I'm pretty sure the whole industry was following my lead.

Back then I was pack racing and preferred a narrower bar for clearance

That's pretty much the reason—people who were actually racing liked somwhat narrower bars because they make it easier and safer to move up in tight packs. Couple of other things factor in here too: almost all pure racing bikes in those days were sold to racers, not to recreational riders. And no one had yet put out the statement that "narrow bars restrict your breathing." That dubious and unproven assumption has been repeated so many times by so many people now that most riders believe it to be gospel.

I did something similar (though not a fixie) with my 90's Bianchi. I love the extra leverage the wider Scott bars give me when climbing

The real question: why are modern drop bars so wide??

why are old jerseys so small???

why are old jerseys so small???

Yeah. My old jerseys don't fit me any more. What's up with that???

Why don't my legs go around as fast??
Why do I need to put more air into my tires??
Why can't I wear a "medium" short anymore??
Why do I have to wear bibs??

why are old jerseys so small???

It's an immutable law of nature. The longer they hang in the closet or sit in a drawer, the smaller they get. It's the only way I can explain why all my old jerseys don't fit anymore.:cryin:

Why don't my legs go around as fast??

I hear you brother! I recently stumbled onto the local guys doing laps, & tried to hang in for a few--apparently I'd forgotten what fast is...

I think the mountain bike craze influenced (some would say corrupted ) the old ideas about bar width, along with other "improvements" like the the ahead set, dropped frame, etc.

If you think about it, the combination of narrower bars, and usually deeper "belgian" drop gave a decent position--fairly flat back and small frontal area--and if you needed the spread for breathing you were usually out of the saddle, climbing with your elbows out anyways (and gasping--or at least I was...)

[I'm 6'4". I bought a 64 cm bike in 1982 with 40 cm handlebars. In 2002 I bought a 64 cm bike with 46 cm handlebars. When I got on the new bike I told the sales babe that I felt like a parachute. She gave me the line about wide bars opeining uyp your chest for breathing. She was pretty hot and said the word "chest" so my brain stopped working and I bought the wide bars. I spent a year trying to get comfortable, then went back to those wonderful 40 cm bars.

I guess it just depends on what you're used to. I am mostly a mountain biker and run fairly wide bars (for an XC racer), so the use of wide road bars feels much more natural to me. I agree that I feel like a sail sometimes on the road bike, but that narrow stuff just makes my shoulders and wrists feel awkward. Out of the saddle climbs are much more comfortable for me with the wider bars also.