I have followed the thread of widening bars. Why is it not possible to get a set of 44s and be happy. Those seem to satisfy most riders. Because the b ike will then be modified, why not use a contemporary bar of a wide width? When I hear hoofbeats, I look for horses first, not zebras! I just don't understand the dilemma. I suppose one could get appropriate tubing, have the portion at the stem ei ther expanded and then bent to shape or have a sleeve added and then ben t. The custom bars could then be heat treated. I personally would not put physical well being behind saving some money on another set of bars. I hate to deter inventiveness, but there may be a reas on that bars are not made in two pieces and then joined together. I wish you good luck and happy trails, john strizek, sacramento california, usa