Bar Ends.

Paul Sh
Paul Sh Posts: 607
edited September 2007 in MTB general
Just coming back into biking after many years away i often think back to certain bikes i once owned and how much things have changed, one bike i was thinking of was a second hand mountain bike which had all sorts of after market kit fitted, one of the things fitted were bar ends which i found excellent for climbing up hills, looking at pics of bikes on this forum i don't see anyone using them.

My question is..... why don't you guys use them and are they something that is now frowned upon for whatever reason, Just curious.

Comments

  • do you mean the bull horn type things?
  • I got rid of mine after catching them in umpteen branches.

    My mate got rid of his after coming off and getting it implanted into his stomach!!
  • as Rock hopper said about his mate, theyre damn dangerous!! if you come off, they would do some serious damage if you landed on them, especially because theyre pointing up!! owch! thats why many dont use them, and they look a bit pants aswell tbh!
  • formerlyknownasbonj
    formerlyknownasbonj Posts: 483
    edited September 2007
    I've got them on my road bike, they're probably alright for non-off-road, trekking, and light XC.
  • Amos
    Amos Posts: 438
    I think people use to use them a lot before riser bars became the standard.
  • Bromski
    Bromski Posts: 239
    Has anyone ever tried micro bar ends?

    I keep being tempted by (the male version of) these

    http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=13529

    But I don't know anyone that's tried them...
  • I have bar ends on my hybrid, bloody marvellous things for giving a few extra hand positions on flat bars. Mine aren't really that much above the horizontal and they're only about 4" long so I'm not too worried about impaling myself.

    And yes, they look a bit pants. I can't begin to tell you how much I care. 8)

    *edited due to premature posting*
    Even if the voices aren't real, they have some very good ideas.
  • My mate uses them on the bike he uses for jumping, pretty sketchy if you ask me :roll:
  • HJ1976
    HJ1976 Posts: 205
    I have bought some from my LBS recently for my new bike, but haven't fitted them yet......will give the bike a few more runs before I start cutting the grips to fit them (assuming that is what you need to do now!)
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,691
    have em...love em....the rest off you can step off (!!!)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • L60N
    L60N Posts: 223
    Bar ends.... LoL :lol:
  • Wow, who'd have thought this was such a contentious topic? :shock:
    HJ1976 wrote:
    *snip* ...cutting the grips to fit them (assuming that is what you need to do now!)
    That's what I did, couldn't see any other way.
    Even if the voices aren't real, they have some very good ideas.
  • I used to have the full bore wrap around bar ends on my old trek 6500 back in the late 90's. They were grand!
    No one uses bar ends any more becasue they are such an inefficent way of climbing. Just take a look at your speedo when you stand up to stomp... the speed goes right down. Also by getting forward over the front of the bike the butt end of the bike becomes light and prone to wheel spin, just what you don't want on the steep bit of a climb.
    Might have to go look for my old pics my old trek looked awesome!
  • When I used to ride 7 years ago everyone and their mothers had bar ends. I have recently started again and noticed the same thing. Riser handle bars are standard now and there are more then enough parts to help you reach a more comfortable position without bar ends.

    The only up-side to bar ends is the better power output when going up hills. I think bar ends are no longer in fashion and after thinking about it - the increased weight and having to cut my grips made me change my mind about putting them on my bike.
  • Mog Uk
    Mog Uk Posts: 964
    Sod what everyone else thinks, I've got Ergon R1M grips fitted to my RHopper and I bloody love em... Incredibly comfy grips and the bar ends are great when climbing and cruising ( commute ) Best addition to my bike...

    http://www.bykeline.co.uk/ErgonBarEnds.htm
  • I use to run 'Profile' bars years ago on an old Marin Pine Mountain.

    They were the ones that litterally created another handlebar, which looked more like a bash guard and weighed as much as the bike! :?
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Bar ends provide a change of position for comfort and a stretched out posture for fast sections (or on the road). I like 'em.
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,969
    I have a nice little pair or carbon ones fitted to my MTB, and love them to bits.

    For me, the extra hand positions, is awesome, I quite often ride on the juncture between bar and bar end.

    If you like/liked them, then get some.

    Dan
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,691
    YES YES OTHER PEOPLE LIKE THEM TOO!!!

    I'M NOT A COMPLETE WIERDO....YAY!!!!!!!

    i feel so validated all of a sudden
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    ddraver wrote:
    YES YES OTHER PEOPLE LIKE THEM TOO!!!

    I'M NOT A COMPLETE WIERDO....YAY!!!!!!!

    i feel so validated all of a sudden
    No, you are just a complete weirdo, like us!!!
  • Paul Sh
    Paul Sh Posts: 607
    So what do you all reckon on these, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=19639
    I like the look but aint got a clue on function. I was also thinking of getting the matching bars.
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=19575
  • Paul Sh wrote:
    So what do you all reckon on these, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=19639
    I like the look but aint got a clue on function.
    I prefer the 'L' shaped ones to maximize the choices on hand position, but I have to admit the stumpy ones look better. Depends what your priorities are!
    Even if the voices aren't real, they have some very good ideas.
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,969
    Paul Sh wrote:
    So what do you all reckon on these, http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=19639
    I like the look but aint got a clue on function. I was also thinking of getting the matching bars.
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=19575

    They are slightly stubbier than mine I think

    60012.jpg
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    Yeah similar story here, just got back into cycling after a 10 year break and noticed no one seems to use bar ends anymore. I soon got used to not having them on my new bike but recently did a 55-mile sponsored ride so fitted the bar ends from my old bike and was glad I did, I must have spent 80% of the ride on the bar ends and it was soooo much more comfy than when I was doing 20-30 mile training rides without them. That said I'm intending to take them off again for proper off-road use as I usually end up in forest single-track and think they'd be a bit dodgy there.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,691
    I us e the stumpy ones - in all riding condidtions

    there are plenty of other things to get the bike caught on
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Just hold the very end of your bar if you need to climb a hill... or just ride harder!

    You could get one really long one a joust with it?
    ....DaZeD aNd CoNfUsEd....