Do bar ends make a difference?

[lumos2000]

they are good for hanging your shopping on and protect your hands when bouncing of cars in heavy traffic.

 

[WD Pro]

I used them BITD and still kept them on the Marin rebuild. This is retrobike, not modernbike ...

My recollection of the early days of bar ends :

• Chop your bars down - narrow was cool.
• Realise you get a bit uncomfortable on longer rides.
• Add bar ends - problem fixed.

I do think they help with an out of the saddle sprint when comparing the same width bar without them. Greater chest spread / easier breathing ? Wrists stronger / stiffer in that orientation ?

WD

 

[FSXStumpy]

I still ride with barends and wouldn't like to go without. While I do like the extra hand positions, and occasionally use'em climbing, for me, I like the added security they give me as I bomb technical downhills - I don't have to grip the bars as firmly and still don't worry about sliding off the end. I like the little straight Titec ones best.

J

 

[Max2559]

Re: Re:

I think this is spot on. Personally, learned to live without them (recently) as caught my bar ends on a tree at speed and I didn't like the taste of my own face.

They make a difference if you're charging down narrow twisty single track through the woods! Very handy for snagging on branches, foliage, and my favourite... brambles :facepalm:

They seem to suit 1990's MTB'S With flat bars and long, low stems, useful for extra hand positions on long rides, and I find they give me a more natural riding position on long climbs, similar to riding on drop handlebars.

However, riding my modern bike with riser bars & shorter stem, I don't miss them one bit. I've ridden further, and longer, on my modern bike and found that I can live without the extra hand position, and have no need for them on the climbs.

These days, I think bar ends are more suited to touring bikes, town bikes, or those retro Mtb's from the 90's.

 

[02gf74]

Echoing what has been said.
I had bar ends on bikes but took them off and dont miss them.

Extra hand position and wide grip for climbing are nice to have but not necessary, i do just as well with flat or riser bars.

Disadvantage is a bit more weight and snagging or branches or tall grass which happens so rarely; ofcourse same can happen w/out bar ends but much less likely.

 

[mattr]

^^^^ except with the latest fashion for bars so wide that you can't actually reach the ends....

 

[Rampage]

They either protect your hands from branches / thorns etc or they get stuck on them and pull you off.

I imagine they are good for carpel tunnel sufferers due to the extra positions you can put your hands in.

 

[kingoffootball]

I have not actually tested it empirically, but I do feel like bar ends allow me to use stronger muscles in my upper body more effectively and therefore climb better.

I do like them regardless for the rotated hand position, as I have had neck/shoulder pains in the past (caused by working at low desks etc) and so appreciate being able to use the more natural hand position.

 

[T'boo Ted]

I was happy using them today. Admittedly it made things a bit interesting in the super twisty tech stuff, I was on them for maybe 40% of the ride, off them for 50% and didn't want them for 10%, so overall for me they were handy.

 

[dirttorpedo]

I love them for climbing and for cruising on the flats.