Is wider better....

[dirttorpedo]

There was a trail in the are called "Cut Yer Bars" back in the 90's and I think that style of riding influenced bar widths. I always cut about 1 1/2 inches from my bars back in the day, but now I prefer them wider - more real estate for lights, etc.

 

[Rod_Saetan]

It does seem to have gone full circle - we started off with wide, swept back bars, up until perhaps 90ish, then the trend was for narrow straight bars, then obviously risers, and now low, wide, swept back bars are in again.

I have some real monsters from the 80s, like some 700mm wide, 12 degree bend ITM ones that weigh about 500g! Comfy though.

 

[Anthony]

Don't forget that (on mountain bikes) narrow bars came from the era of long stems. To an extent, the long stem counteracts the twitchy steering of the shorter bar.
Short bars and long stems on MTBs are heroic.

I think this is absolutely right.

They allways told me to have bars as wide as your shoulder..... That way you can keep your arms straight and have maximum control.

I think this is absolutely wrong.

Straight arms equals minimum control. Everybody negotiates singletrack with arms bent. Tight twisty work with your arms straight would be extremely difficult.

Reminds me of the difference between small boy racer steering wheels and decent size ones. I once had a lift from a friend with a BMW 328 coupe and when I got in the passenger seat, I realised I was looking down on him. He had his seat on mega recline and he drove (with tiny steering wheel) with completely straight arms. Luckily he was quite tall, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to see over the dashboard. His body language told me that he expected me to be impressed with this macho display, but I must admit I was quite apprehensive. It just looked so difficult to perform any kind of manoeuvre. I couldn't get out quick enough.

Anything requiring finesse and control you use bent arms. You're doing it when you use your keyboard or when you're working on your bike. Your dentist has bent arms, etc, etc. Bars well wider than shoulders, bent arms, short stem - gives you fast steering that you can comfortably control because of the wide bar and bent arms.

 

[Russell]

is wider bars better ... ?

To a point, yes.