Gaddmeister
Retrobike Rider
Do bar ends make a difference or are they purely an opportunity to give you different hand positions?
Do bar ends make a difference?
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doctorstewie
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I think they can be very handy when climbing: both in and out of the saddle. They make it easier for me to shift my weight forward to get it where it needs to be without cramping my arms in toward my chest. Which for all I know is a terrible bit of technique: all I know is that I like them 
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I've ridden with them for most of the last twenty five years. It's nice to have an extra hand position, or two, on long rides. I've even used them on risers.
But in the last few months I've stopped using them completely. Fitness, determination and technique are bigger determining factors about whether you'll get up that tricky climb. It is a shock initially to move to a shorter stem, higher bar - but you simply lean further forward rather than have the bar end pull you into that position.
They make no difference.
I've ridden with them for most of the last twenty five years. It's nice to have an extra hand position, or two, on long rides. I've even used them on risers.
But in the last few months I've stopped using them completely. Fitness, determination and technique are bigger determining factors about whether you'll get up that tricky climb. It is a shock initially to move to a shorter stem, higher bar - but you simply lean further forward rather than have the bar end pull you into that position.
They make no difference.
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Difference for what?
Try them and if you like them, use them.
They suit some people and don't suit others.
They're not a climbing tool, unless that is what you like.
They are great for me for slow bumbling rides, even though I don't have fitted to my riders I still even rest my hands in the stubby bar end position and I used to have lovely onza Ls bitd.
Fit some, try them for a couple of month of riding and then take them of and ride again and decide for yourself.
Difference for what?
Try them and if you like them, use them.
They suit some people and don't suit others.
They're not a climbing tool, unless that is what you like.
They are great for me for slow bumbling rides, even though I don't have fitted to my riders I still even rest my hands in the stubby bar end position and I used to have lovely onza Ls bitd.
Fit some, try them for a couple of month of riding and then take them of and ride again and decide for yourself.
66 triumph daytona
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I cant figure out why they are out of vogue of late.I have them on all my bikes(even my modern with risers) and find them essential for out of the saddle climbing.If you ever look at a road rider climbing they invariably have their hands on the hoods of their brakes,an identical bar end position.I use short ergonomic carbon ones as pictured and recommend them highly.
http://www.aawyeah.com/ritchey-wcs-carb ... -bar-ends/
I cant figure out why they are out of vogue of late.I have them on all my bikes(even my modern with risers) and find them essential for out of the saddle climbing.If you ever look at a road rider climbing they invariably have their hands on the hoods of their brakes,an identical bar end position.I use short ergonomic carbon ones as pictured and recommend them highly.
http://www.aawyeah.com/ritchey-wcs-carb ... -bar-ends/
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They make a difference to your top tube if they turn around too far!
I like the idea in principle but have a pair of Scott AT2's on one of my bikes to avoid the above problem. They're built in, so no chance of damage to the frame.
I like using them , both off-road on the flat and climbs. Also great on the road, as I'm more streched out than I would be.
However, i do think they don't look as good on a bike as just a pair of flat bars, but that's just my personal preference
Mike
They make a difference to your top tube if they turn around too far!
I like the idea in principle but have a pair of Scott AT2's on one of my bikes to avoid the above problem. They're built in, so no chance of damage to the frame.
I like using them , both off-road on the flat and climbs. Also great on the road, as I'm more streched out than I would be.
However, i do think they don't look as good on a bike as just a pair of flat bars, but that's just my personal preference
Mike
Re: Re:
They make no difference to your ability to go up hills - which I'm fairly certain is what they were originally intended to help with. I used them for around 25 years before finding out they didn't really make a difference after I'd got used to riding without.
It's telling that practically no mountain bike racers use them nowadays.
But as you say if people like them, then go for it.
FluffyChicken":3r2a9o9q said:
They make no difference to your ability to go up hills - which I'm fairly certain is what they were originally intended to help with. I used them for around 25 years before finding out they didn't really make a difference after I'd got used to riding without.
It's telling that practically no mountain bike racers use them nowadays.
But as you say if people like them, then go for it.
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They do give a more natural position for sprinting out of the saddle on flat or hills.
I would probably use more, if not for the toptube issue that I always seem to encounter when building a bike. The bars always seem to line up nicely with it :roll:
Mike
They do give a more natural position for sprinting out of the saddle on flat or hills.
I would probably use more, if not for the toptube issue that I always seem to encounter when building a bike. The bars always seem to line up nicely with it :roll:
Mike
