Jack Simpson, Midland C&AC roadman, record holder late 40 early 50s used to wag us wipper snappers that our bars should be the same width, as how long our pump??? was!!! Bluemels in thoes days where 15" long about 38?? Jack allways boasted that he had a 16" Bluebels (Sorry Dale) so his bars where wider, But as I have said before, I am 5'5" 130 lbs and narrow shouldered, I have allways ridden with my wrist in and my elbows out, this DOES lower the back, lets the chest drop, makes for better beathing,this combined with deep drop bars, angled down would stretch the body out and make for a aerodynamic (did NOT have that word then!!) position on the bike. I do have several photos of 50s roadmen in Cycling's The Higginson twins where know for the aero position, as times then showed, Stan Higginson did a 57.35 25TT in1952 his bro Bernard a 58.25 25TT. ANOTHER FACT re. the stem height, in the late 40s early 50s it was the fashion to ride frames that would be big by to days standards, theory was that longer tubes NO MATTER what size would absorb road bumps better and be smoother to ride, this meant for me, the seat was only a couple of inches above the stem at its lowest, so I needed deeper drop bars to get in an aero tuck,(as they say now) When you consider the weight of the bikes back then and the wheels used, the times roadmen did where outstanding, TDF riders likes of Coppi, Bartali on 3-4sps riding the mountains the way they did, stopping for a pint and a fag WOW!!! Cheers John Crump OldnarrowshoulderedBrit, Parker Co. USA