BNA - Australian Cycling Forums

by **LuckyPierre** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:32 pm

I put bar ends on my mtb as a matter of course, but ...
I don't think that I've used them in anger yet - admittedly, that's in less than 12 hours of actual riding :wink:

.
I do worry about them getting 'hung up' on trees / bushes on tight single track.
So, do I keep them, or do I ditch them?

by **Forum Ads** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:37 pm

by **Bnej** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:37 pm

I have short alloy bar ends on my MTB.

They are mainly useful on the road or on long stretches of pedalling. They're also handy for road climbing out of the saddle I have had wrist problems with flat bars so I need them on there.

I have caught on a piece of branch once but it just tore off. Remember to hook anything you have to hit it with your bars anyway.

by **Kalgrm** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:42 pm

I said keep em, but I think it depends on the style of bar end, the width of your bars and whether you actually benefit from having them.

My own ones are long and curve in substantially, giving me three distinct riding positions. I've even gone so far as to fit grips to mine because I was spending so much time riding them in my "aero" position.

As far as getting hung up on trees: my opinion is that if you're that close to the trees with your normal bar width, you're going down big-time anyway. The bar-ends offer some (minimal) protection for your hands and levers. They also help prevent the bars making "core samples" of your guts, should your bar plugs fall out.

On that cheery thought, I bid you good luck! :wink:

Graeme

by **europa** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:46 pm

They'd provide a bit of hand protection wouldn't they?

Richard

by **toolonglegs** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 6:55 pm

Keep 'em on flat bars,loose 'em on risers!....mtb fashion faux pas!. :wink:

by **Bnej** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:03 pm

Why aren't you allowed bar ends on risers?

by **toolonglegs** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:27 pm

ha...you can do what you want....just stirring :wink:

I was just thinking about a guy I passed on a repco sprecial with 2 inch risers,tri bars and huge bar ends!... :shock:

by **Mulger bill** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:35 pm

I wouldn't be without barends on Princess.

As you can see, they're hanging off a riser bar, If I may paraphrase a line from a Mel Brooks film...
"Fashion? We doan need no steenkin' fashion"
I ride what works for me, barends give me some protection from branch slap, provide alternate hand positions and do allow a way better climbing position, by moving weight forward and opening the chest for better breathing.

Shaun

by **Mulger bill** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:36 pm

OK longlegs, you got me with the aerobars *shudder*

Shaun

by **mikesbytes** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:43 pm

Aero bars on a mountain bike... I've actually seen it.

Now let me see... my torso may be acting as a parashute, but that doesn't matter because my arms ain't in the wind

by **toolonglegs** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:16 pm

Don't get me wong...i lov aero bars...oops I mean bar ends :wink:

I ride a rather large mtb with a 140mm stem and it still feels too short.I have also got XT 180 cranks and 48/38/26 chain rings and boy do I get grumpy if i have to get out of big ring!

by **LuckyPierre** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:24 am

toolonglegs wrote:Keep 'em on flat bars,loose 'em on risers!....mtb fashion faux pas!.

And I thought that roadies were the ones who were accused of being 'fashionistas'. :wink:

I've kept riser bars on Gfer, so as to fashion faux pas - mea culpa.

by **timbo** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:56 am

A friend of mine has a dual suspension mountain bike, and he changes wheels to light weight rims with slicks, bolts on some aero-bars, locks out the rear suspension and Hey Presto, a bike for club triathlons.

by **Mr888** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:31 pm

Can I have your bar ends if you decide to ditch them? I've been looking for a pair for my new MTB.

BNA - Australian Cycling Forums

Keep them or ditch them ...

Bar ends riding single track?

Keep them or ditch them ...

Who is online