Would you prefer slightly long handlebar for bikepacking?, TourDivide

Question

I'm about to cut my handlebar to 620mm or 640mm
I have 620mm handlebar with minivelo and I'm very much tailored to the size.
However, I've read wider handlebar is better for controlling..
Mike hall (below) seems to be riding with slightly over-sized handlebar to me.. I'm not sure though

edit - mike hall is the current record holder for tour divide.

Andy P · Accepted Answer

The tour divide is a long event riding 10-20 hours a day for over two weeks.
Your biggest priority should be comfort, your bars should be set to a width that is most comfortable for you.  Any small amount of discomfort with the position after a 1 day ride will be much worse by 15 hours into day 3.
If you are fortunate enough that your body will tolerate and/or adapt to a wide range of positions, you should then think about how your bar width is going to interact with the rest of your kit.  For example some bar bag designs interfere with your brake levers if your bar is narrow.
And what about other accessories you may want bar space for (gps, power bank, tri bars, feed bags)?
Once you answered these questions you will have your answer.
And as is the nature with bike packing you may only find out what is going to work well for you after you've experimented in training.

juhist · Answer

However, I've read wider handlebar is better for controlling..

True, but then again wide handlebars feel unnatural like a huge steering wheel in a car would. I think you'll find that most road riders prefer a drop handlebar about the same width as their shoulders (usually around 40 cm). Then the arms don't have to extend sideways.
So this argument for better control applies only when you absolutely need the control. Such as when mountain biking. Also, if riding on the road during snowy winter, then you might also want to use a mountain bike style wide straight handlerbar on the road. You need very precise control on uneven snow modified by pedestrians that have walked over it.
In the picture you linked, the handlebar style is suboptimal. For roads, you should be using a drop handlebar about 40cm wide.
A wider handlebar allows easier mounting of lots of accessories (reflectors, bell, speedometer, GPS computer, smartphone holder, headlight, electric bike computer for changing assist level, etc). Road bike drop handlebars have little possibility for mounting lots of accessories because the handlebar tape takes so much area that you need for keeping your hands on it. So I can understand if one selects a drop handlebar 5 cm wider than shoulders. But anything more would be excessively wide.

Would you prefer slightly long handlebar for bikepacking?, TourDivide

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