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

[brocklanders023]

Re:

Simply down to a change in riding styles imo. The way bikes 'fit' now is different with the short stems, wide bars with plenty of sweep etc. As daft as this sounds I think people are more likely to get the correct sized bikes these days instead of one that looks the best. I know I have been quilty in the past of squeezing on to a smaller frame because it looked better. At the time bar ends were good as they gave a bit more room.

 

[Jono_blackheart]

Re:

Pretty much became Un-cool (tm) when wide riser bars came in.

Personally I was running a riser bar with bar-ends for a while

Gone back to a narrow/flat bar and bar-ends on my mountain bike (a modern). mind you, they *are* easton ec90 carbon ones! I have a very nice wife - they were a present

Not a fan of the single hand position the riser bar without bar ends gives you..

 

[mr_gumby]

Re:

nice topic, that

I guess that for some retrophiles, barends pose a disturbance to the clean and basic look of their bikes, which is is understandable. I got barends on mine and its a compromise between practicality and a moose-ish appearance (qtd. a user). For now, I decided to leave them where they are ase they are quite handy in Germany's hillier regions and offer relief for aching wrists. They also fend off twigs pretty well.

Best,

gumby

 

[mattr]

The whole race scene has changed. Gone are the long draggy climbs and the fireroad hammering, its all either far steeper up (or down) and much more technical, the races are shorter too, the multiple hand positions aren't really needed.

Except for "general" XC, non-racing. Which has also changed, everyone wants to be a DH or freeride god, with their 400mm travel "sled" and yard wide bars (yes, really http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/y ... 15-bar.htm )

So there probably just isn't the market penetration that there was 15 or more years ago. At least not in the public eye, plenty of people still use them tho.

I only use them on my old race bike, 630mm bars and ends is fine.

 

[mattr]

Re: Re:

As daft as this sounds I think people are more likely to get the correct sized bikes these days instead of one that looks the best. I know I have been quilty in the past of squeezing on to a smaller frame because it looked better. At the time bar ends were good as they gave a bit more room.

Weird, i've never had a bike the wrong size, i think that's more a recent thing (late 90s/early 00s?), going with the DH/Gnarcore thing. Small bikes are more manoeuverable, apparently.

 

[velomaniac]

In the 90's I hated them, I called them vegetation hooks, caused several crashes as they caught the odd narrow tree or branch. Back then though I mainly rode natural single track most of which was narrow and overgrown. But since the invention of the trail centre with purpose built groomed trail, stray vegetation is no longer a threat and I've put them back on and quite like them now, great for climbing.
However I have also got back into natural trail riding around my local path network which are overgrown. Thus now I go out with loppers and a saw and cut back the vegetation rather than remove my bar ends

 

[highlandsflyer]

I find Napalm does the trick.

Always loved my bar ends me, though I am running without them currently on all but one steed. Great for shopping bags.

 

[MADJEZ]

Barends... go out of use.... Sorry don't understand the question....

I refuse to ride without em !

 

[hamster]

I think as mattr says, riding styles have changed. Few people seem to ride bigger distances on bridleways etc (apart from grumpy old men like me). Instead they wear baggy shorts and do stuff that is essentially tooling about in a prepared playground. :roll:
As a result, the longer-distance and long climbing stuff is less important in the design.

Also the advent of full suspension and long travel mitigates against honking out of the saddle anyway.

 

[elite504]

Re:

^^.. yup..
Most of my machines are bar-ended. Just suits my old skool style of riding.
Observing risers with 'ends looks (to me) like a fashion faux pas; but I DO appreciate achy backs etc etc may dictate non fashionable set-ups.