Aaron Gwin Discusses Proper Bar Width, Roll, and the Ideal Cockpit Setup 5

Here is a basic step-by-step tutorial on how I set up my handler bar, brake lever, and grip positioning to achieve the perfect cockpit setup. (Shout out to my wife for filming this!)

If you found this video helpful please share it.

Bonus Tip: Once you find your preferred setup and are comfortable, I would recommend marking the bar and lever positioning in a way that will allow you to find that setting again should you take your bike apart or need to change something out. I make small marks with a sharpie.
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Aaron Gwin
Bike Setup
5 comments

View replies to: Aaron Gwin Discusses Proper Bar Width, Roll, and the Ideal Cockpit Setup

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Jim_Oxborrow
3 years ago
This is going to sound so obvious but it’s Completely down to the length of your arms, more specifically forearms. take it from me as someone with relatively T. rex proportioned limbs, anything more than 750mm
Just doesn’t work. I have no room to absorb hits/ pull over stuff. Great for all you orang-utans out there though! Ps not calling Gwin an orang-utan but he has got……long arms lol
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Nexus_mkIV
3 years ago
It wasn't that long ago when a survey of EWS men and women riders seemed to almost all land at 760. Vital testers recently noted anything less than 770 was unridable. As AG noted about if your riding a lot of tight stuff go narrower, but the 770 seems like a good place to start for most people. While I'm sure tons have people just ran with the 800+mm bars there bike was spec'd with and had good success, it does seem like you're missing out on a little better fit by cutting them down a bit.
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SprSonik
3 years ago
Great exploration of why he sets up like that. I run wider bars than most of my buddies for this exact reason...it is where I put my hands when I bench in the gym.
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Snfoilhat
3 years ago
I found this strangely relatable for mountain bike content. More than anything it comes across like a genuine attempt to help less experienced riders make a few simple decisions and arrive at a better outcome for themselves. So it came across to me a lot like the 5-10 minute demonstrations I do to introduce students to new lab equipment, or to ask them to think about more familiar equipment in a new way. I don't know if it gets engagement or changes people's behavior or moves product better or worse than all the other mtb marketing using tropes from beer or car commercials. Still it's refreshing
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