What happened to barends? When did they go out of use?

[ultrazenith]

Back in the 90s, bar-ends were a must have accessory. They looked ultra cool, like a pair of fixed bayonets ready to slice through massed pointy helmeted hordes. They were a cheap way to customise your bike, adding your own touch and a splash of colour if that was your thing.

I still find them cool and useful when sprinting out of the saddle, or to get the extra hand position. But nowadays it's rare to see even XC oriented riders using them. So, what happened - why did they fall out of favour? All I can think is that they can look a bit silly on modern wide and/or riser bars...

Any ideas?

 

[zetecmk2]

i too think they were the victim of fasion police when risers became common. they did help climbing though.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

I used to like them , but they didn't do much for the looks of the bike . Most importantly for me though , I like my top tube without dents .
Got around this by using these instead



Mike

 

[drystonepaul]

Re:

They do look silly on riser bars, and are a bit pointless on really wide flat bars. They are however still great on relatively narrow (about 23 inch) flat bars.
I have bar ends on many of my retro bikes, not just because they are period correct, but because they are great for climbing and for extra hand positions on long rides.

 

[Neil]

Re: Re:

I used to like them , but they didn't do much for the looks of the bike . Most importantly for me though , I like my top tube without dents .
Got around this by using these instead



Mike

Are they Scott ATT-2 bars or whatever they're called?

They do look silly on riser bars, and are a bit pointless on really wide flat bars. They are however still great on relatively narrow (about 23 inch) flat bars.
I have bar ends on many of my retro bikes, not just because they are period correct, but because they are great for climbing and for extra hand positions on long rides.

This.

Hand position and just seems to feel that bit easier on my aging shoulders.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

The ones pictured are 560 at their widest point . AT2 bars Neil . Great for flat easy sections as well as climbing . May even get another pair for my other Scott .

Mike

 

[Neil]

Re: Re:

The ones pictured are 560 at their widest point . AT2 bars Neil . Great for flat easy sections as well as climbing . May even get another pair for my other Scott .

Do they come up for sale much?

And are there any current equivalents?

 

[citrixccea]

This might be heresay, but I find Barends mirror the position of riding a road bike on the hoods, comfortable for hills and straight roads, but not for descents! I've ridden flat bars with long stems and bar ends for at least 20 years

 

[Smithjss70]

Riser bars pushed them out for me.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re: Re:

The ones pictured are 560 at their widest point . AT2 bars Neil . Great for flat easy sections as well as climbing . May even get another pair for my other Scott .

Do they come up for sale much?

And are there any current equivalents?

Well there's these ,


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VERY-RARE-SCO ... 4ad6f2928e

on eBay right now .

I got mine with the frame thankfully , as these ones pretty pricey !

Mike