 |
ValueAct Capital Women's Cycling Team Talks - Handlebars |
| If you have trouble knowing which handlebars are for you, don't worry, you're not alone! With different widths, various diameters, and a slew of "drop" shapes and depth, it's hard to find one that is right for you. However, there are signs you can look for while riding your bike that will let you know what sizes and types of bars are a good fit. For women, it is especially important to watch for these signs because women's shoulders tend to be narrower than men's, and handlebar material also makes a big difference. Here, the ValueActCapital Women's Cycling Team talks about the important details of handlebars and how to know what's working for you. Lisa: In my experience, handlebar width should be equal to the width of your shoulders. Often, I've seen people riding with bars that are too wide for them and they have difficulty handling the bike, as well as suffering from shoulder and back pain. Sharon: The shape/drop of handlebars is a very "personal" matter. You've got to be comfortable on the bars - both on the hoods and in the drops. You also need to be able to reach the brakes comfortably, so that when you're in races you can feather your brakes when you need to. I'm a "classic" drop girl. I find that I can comfortably ride the drops and reach my brakes, and even get down in an "aero" position for those breakaways! Martina: Ergonomic handle bars, like the Ritchey Carbon Logic Evolution, are my favorite. I just feel like I can rest my hands more comfortably on the ergonomic shapes. Taitt: Another thing to think about is handlebar material. I use Ritchey's Biomax Pro aluminum bars, which are light, stiff and fit me well for sprinting. But if you have shoulder or hand pain, consider investing in carbon bars. The extra dampening you get from carbon may reduce some of the road vibration. This can be great, especially if you enjoy long rides. Coach Smartt: Those are all great points. Each cyclist should also ask their local bike shop about oversize vs. standard diameter Ritchey bars. Oversize bars have a larger diameter where they meet the stem and provide greater stiffness when a rider is out of the saddle, especially for larger and/or more aggressive riders. So, if you compete or just really like to sprint for those county line signs, remember that the only two contact points you have with the bike are at your feet and your hands, so oversize bars are an excellent way to improve your power transfer. Courtenay: More on the shoulder and hand pain issue... If you have a sharp pain between your shoulder blades, especially when you are in the drops, and/or if your hands start to go numb, it's quite possible that you are using handlebars that are too wide and switching to a narrower handlebar will probably alleviate your pain. About Team VAC The ValueActCapital Cycling Team is managed under the umbrella of Momentum SportsGroup, LLC, which also manages the Health Net Presented by Maxxis Cycling Team. Additional sponsors include Serotta Competition Bicycles, the Dubai International Financial Exchange, Ritchey, Beljium Budder, Capoforma, Cytosport, the US Women's Cycling Development Program and other valued sponsors. ValueAct Capital is one of the premiere value-investing firms in the United States, taking large ownership positions in publicly-traded companies and then working closely with company management to generate strong returns. ValueActCapital is excited to sponsor a dedicated, talented cycling team that embodies the firm's own work ethic and drive for success. |