Bike fit / correct riding position

I don't see why narrower bars would require a longer stem, unless you shoulders/elbows don't rotate like mine do.

I like to keep my torso in the same position without my elbows compensating / my torso changing position?

Think going from from a Towel Rack to a 3T Scatto, would you really keep the same stem?

Like I said, unless your arms don't rotate like mine (or most humans) I don't see why stem length would change. Pretend hold 46cm bars, now rotate your forearms to pretend hold 36cm bars. See? Torso doesn't move.

I changed from 42 to 38 and didn't need to change stem.

With his torso in the same position and his hands in the same position, his elbows could be moved inwards, right? See how his wrists and shoulders allow rotation. mindblown.gif

Of course you can keep your torso in the same position, but bending my elbow at a smaller angle is not natural to me.

Forearm to Upper arm angle should be the same. Imagine clapping for the NHS without moving your shoulder.

Imagine clapping for the NHS without moving your shoulder.

I am struggling.

Anyway, with my new #dadbod I might just buy a hybrid.

Surely narrowed bars will increase reach?
Wide bars will will make the angle of your arms more obtuse and move your centre towards the stem.

Maybe the narrow bars are rolling your shoulders in and causing you to hunch over a little?

Surely narrowed bars will increase reach?

No. Measure saddle tip to hoods on you own bike. Now go towards the centreline of the bike but at hood level. Measure again.

You can reach further straight ahead of your shoulders than at an angle to the side, as with a wider bar.
I went from a 40 to 46 and both are good with the same. The 40 was narrower than my shoulders and 46 wider, so in the end the difference seems to be pretty small.

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You can reach further straight ahead of your shoulders than at an angle to the side, as with a wider bar.

Yeah but even so, people move their elbows out so this is also irrelevant.

went from a 40 to 46 and both are good with the same.

Exactly.

Hippy's shoulders deffo not 38 cm though.

Yeah, would be relevant if the bar is actually really wide, like the widest new gravel drop bars or mtb bars.

36cm C-C in my road position. Maybe I should put even skinnier bars on my bikes (obviously with no change in stem length :P) ?

The OP was going from a 40 to a 38 or something similar. We're not talking going from woodchippers to hipster stem grippers.

Not sure about the road position, but you could put dildo bars on your fixeh, you know, "to go through small gaps".

obviously

Obviously.

Man I forgot about those dildo bars! Hahaha

If I didn't just redo my drops I'd swap the 'em on my pub bike for a set of those.

Went from 42 to 38, rechecked dims and the narrower bars have 3mm less reach. Was just surprised how different the reach felt even with the hoods on the same angle. TBH the old bars were pretty comfy i just don't like how they feel in the hooks so wanted to try some different bars. 38's were all i had lying around.

Out of interest why did you choose narrower bars?

Narrower bars means I can fit more bikes against the wall in my bedroom :)

Out of interest why did you choose narrower bars?

He thought they'd make him look slimmer

Everyone thinks I have aerobars on my bike but they're actually just moob holders combined with extra food storage sticks. #hippyisfat

Pretty sure trigonometry produces the opposite result to what you suggest