Cycling Tips #3 Golden Ratio of Handlebar

What can be learnt when installing a handlebar in the bike is that handlebar is a part of a big system called bike, or bicycle. Like other thing in this world, it has its design which is different between one brand and other. When designing a bike, the factory considers many things to get best performance and look at the same time. So, maybe it can be called Golden Ratio, though usually it recognizes on web or logo design. Then what is Golden Ration in a bike?

Let's say that wider handlebar gives impact for the hand range, and the body weight will move into the front. So, some bikes type that use wide handlebar puts short stem; i.e. in the downhill bike, because this can make the hand range still powerful and consistent. The Golden Ration is here, the ratio 2:1 can be used to guide people to get best combination between stem and handlebar. If the handlebar is wider about 20mm, the stem length must be decreased about 10mm. This can be a guidance but the most important is the comfortableness.

If you think that your handlebar is too wide, don't be afraid to cut it. It's like when you like a product of handlebar from certain brand, but you think that it is too wide, actually the handlebar is made wider to give people choice to cut if the bar is too wide. And the best way to find out that the handlebar too wide or not is check or test it first. But don't forget to consider the Golden Ratio of handlebar, check also the length of your stem, is that too short or not. Based on experience, like said on previous article that said wider handlebar is suitable for technical riding, for the fast and wide track; while narrow handlebar is suitable for r