Bar Ends, any good?

iPad
iPad Posts: 112
edited November 2009 in Commuting chat
I was wondering about getting some bar ends for my flat bar Giant Escape R1.

I appreciate that the biodynamics of my arms would be improved by turning my hands through 90 degrees but is that beneficial for cycling?

Is it worth it, are they any good, or just a waste of time?
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they have such great ideas

Comments

  • Wallace1492
    Wallace1492 Posts: 3,707
    I got bar ends fro my MTB (had slicks on at the time and using for commute)
    I found the different hand positions to be excellent, reduced numb hands by miles, and its great on steeper hills for leverage.

    I got these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Cane_Creek_Ergo_Control_II_Bar_Ends/5220000162/

    Very solid, I am very pleased with them.
    "Encyclopaedia is a fetish for very small bicycles"
  • More for hills as Wally has said but it does help on the longer flatter sections where you can be sure you don't need brakes.

    I've got xtx ones - very light but on at an angle so need to chop my grips slightly first.
    Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
    The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
  • I find they can be good for changing your hands and seating position over longish rides which can stop some discomfort. However you don't have your hands on the brakes so your reaction times are significantly slower.
  • I've never been a fan has to be said, but if they give you more hand positions which is good for comfort.
  • They look wrong on riser bars. Otherwise all good
    <a>road</a>
  • iPad
    iPad Posts: 112
    I got bar ends fro my MTB (had slicks on at the time and using for commute) I found the different hand positions to be excellent, reduced numb hands by miles, and its great on steeper hills for leverage. I got these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Cane_Creek_Ergo_Control_II_Bar_Ends/5220000162/ Very solid, I am very pleased with them.

    Those were the ones I was thinking of, thanks Wallace
    More for hills as Wally has said but it does help on the longer flatter sections where you can be sure you don't need brakes. I've got xtx ones - very light but on at an angle so need to chop my grips slightly first.

    It was for going uphill that I was thinking of, so it does sound like they would be beneficial.

    Ta
    I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they have such great ideas
  • They look wrong on riser bars

    +10
    Le Cannon [98 Cannondale M400] [FCN: 8]
    The Mad Monkey [2013 Hoy 003] [FCN: 4]
  • +1 for the Cane Creek bar ends.

    I used to get tingling hands on my old flat bar hybrid & adding a pair of these fixed that and also gave me another position to use when climbing.

    Mike
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,538
    Bar ends rock on a flat barred bike, could not imagine riding my mtb on just the standard bars, riser or not.

    I have shiny carbon ones on my MTB :D

    Dan
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • sarajoy
    sarajoy Posts: 1,675
    iPad wrote:
    I got bar ends fro my MTB (had slicks on at the time and using for commute) I found the different hand positions to be excellent, reduced numb hands by miles, and its great on steeper hills for leverage. I got these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Cane_Creek_Ergo_Control_II_Bar_Ends/5220000162/ Very solid, I am very pleased with them.

    Those were the ones I was thinking of, thanks Wallace

    Or if you're cheapskate like me, save some money and get these: http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-SJSC ... -13134.htm

    They are /very/ like the cane creeks and I find them very nice to grip onto :)
    4537512329_a78cc710e6_o.gif4537512331_ec1ef42fea_o.gif
  • thegibdog
    thegibdog Posts: 2,106
    I spend most of the time on my bar ends, much better hand poisition and gives you more leverage. I got myself some of these which I find more comfortable than regular bar ends but they may be on the short side for some:

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 372c012369

    Previous to that I had some Post Moderne micro bar ends which were nice and light (and now going spare...) but not too ergo. Amusingly the alu ones are lighter than the carbon ones:

    http://www.postmoderne.com/pst/product-index.htm
  • moonio
    moonio Posts: 802
    I bought some but cant use them with my bar end mirror :?
  • the ergon ones are the dogs...

    but if i want varied hand position then i'll use bullhorns/drops/butterfly bars.