Bar ends?

[Frozen208]

I was looking through Jenson, and I saw some bar ends, and I was wondering, what are they for? I don't see them in any of the pics of your rides. Are they just just a riding style prefernce kinda thing?

 

[mcgrath]

supposedly they give you leverage on climbs, and supposedly they "aren't cool" but whatever. I know a few people that use them and love them, more for a different hand position on a long ride than anything. Give em a try.

 

[i am dino]

supposedly they "aren't cool"

he is right, they aren't cool.

 

[TURNERob]

Bar ends and skin tight lycra suits go very well together :wave:

 

[mcgrath]

you guys aren't very nice.
​

 

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Everyone has their opinion on bar ends. i've been using them for a very long time. they offer some leverage on climbs, and also allow for various hand positioning to combat hand fatigue on extended rides. in some cases, they've helped defect me off a rock wall, fence or fellow rider/racer. But i've also been hung up and thrown off my bike twice in all the time i've been riding; so it isn't like thay are risk -free. it's all a matter of personal preference. if you like to climb get them, if climbing is not your thing, pass on them.

 

[gurp13]

Ahhh, bar ends. Well, personally, I like bar ends. I use a pair of old Specialized that I bought about ten years ago. They're "L" shaped. One of the criticisms is that bar ends catch on branches and stuff to whip your handlebars around and throw you. Yeah, maybe that happens with straight ones, but I've never experienced it. That's why I use the ones that have a bend in them. The way I figure, if something gets me there, I'm prolly going to eat dirt anyway. (Now, there was that f*cking tree what grabbed my helmet in Kernville and yanked my donkey off the bike. That was fun.)

I use the bar ends when I'm climbing. They put a little extra weight/leverage over your front tire on steep or technical climbs to help keep the nose down so you retain control. And, like EMB, I use them on long rides to change hand positions. Sometimes, in using them, I feel more stretched out in the cockpit and have a little more pedaling power for climbing, too. Strictly speaking that's what they're for; climbing. You never ever want to use them when you might need the brakes. Unless you get all emo and want to die. Then, latch on and ride the black wind, baby.



The "L" shape also protects my hands to some degree, actually warding off branches and stuff. I attached a picture where you can see the bar ends (if you squint and sh1t 'cause it was a bigger pic on my computer). I position them so that they are mostly extending forward from the handlebars but slightly up so that they are a little above my knuckles.

The other thing is that they look cool. I don't give two sh*ts and a squirt what anyone says. My bar ends look tight. They're like devil-horns or some sh*t. (And, as soon as my gut melts away, I'm buying lycra, too, b*tches! Aww yeah!) And, as you know by now, the most important aspect in mountain biking is looking cool. That's why we wear such bitchin' helmets, y'know.

 

[Juliius]

For the 12 years or so that I've been mtn biking ... I've had bar ends for all but the last year or so (mainly because I've got carbon fiber handlebars and most bar-ends are a no-no...). I've had the huge freakin' antler sort and the short stubby type - they do exactly what gurp said - the help stretch you out a bit while climbing ... helping you to keep that balance between weight on the rear to maintain traction and pressure on the front tire to keep a line. When you're on longer rides it helps to be able to switch up hand positions - particularly if you're prone to having your hands go numb for one reason or another while riding. They can indeed help in keeping your hands from getting bashed by one thing or another - but they can also get you caught up (both points already made by others).

What I've found is that when I was first starting out - the bar-ends were a great guide at helping me find some front-to-back balance for climbs. Without them, however, I find that there really is no such thing as a climb that I can't do without 'em but would be able to magically pull off with 'em. They're most appreciated (by me) on a long uphill spin. If you're just pumping up shorter, technical stuff (think 100 yards or less) - you'll eventually figure out how to make the climb with or without bar-ends.

much to my chagrin, I'm becoming the master of coming in late to posts and basically saying what's already been said - o well - had a spare minute or two with an opinion... l8

 

[i am dino]

in a nutshell:

bar ends are for XC, you don't see too many freeriders or downhillers with them.... and no Patrick, we aren't mean....if we were, we'dd suggest you put them on your Foes FXR cause we know how much you utilize all that travel.

 

[Skeeter]

if we were, we'dd suggest you put them on your Foes FXR cause we know how much you utilize all that travel.

WOW no wonder Pat doesn't like to post here anymore

 

[killa Cali Kid]

Bar ends and riser bars are same as belt and suspenders. you DO NOT do both.[-X

that said if you have a rig with flat XC bars -you're good to go

 

[gurp13]

Bar ends and riser bars are same as belt and suspenders. you DO NOT do both.[-X

that said if you have a rig with flat XC bars -you're good to go

All due respect... (don't you just love to start off stuff that way? What it really means when you say something like "all due respect" or "I don't mean to offend you, but..." is that you're really going to lay one on them.)

But, seriously, all due respect, I don't know who made up that rule. I think it's stupid. I have a riser bar AND bar ends. Probably people make fun of me but so what? If the bar ends didn't serve a purpose for me, as the analogy between bar ends and risers suggests, then I wouldn't use them. Risers go up, bar ends, at least mine, go forward. You don't wear belts and suspenders 'cause they do the exact same thing. But, riser bars don't allow you to change hand positions, for example.

And, I agree with Juliius, bar ends are not magical and they are not indespensible. I could ride without them. But, I don't wanna! I think that if you like 'em and they make riding more fun then you should use them. All these rules about riding (lycra, leg shaving, bar ends) is kinda lame, if you ask me. I mean, I guess I could see if the bar ends were keeping me from having fun or being a better rider then I should think about getting rid of them. But, I don't see how that's the case.

 

[mcgrath]

yeah, I really need to start using that bike.... I'm thinking I could throw it down the 26' hucks that ya'll are going down. And I love posting here... just been away for a week, I'm back now and things are settling down. Rob, when are we getting to my fork?
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[Stray_Bullit]

Bar ends and skin tight lycra suits go very well together :wave:

Don't forget the Oakley Blades while you are at it! 8-[

 

[killa Cali Kid]

I still say belt and suspenders next gen below