Different types of bars for hybrid/mtb?

tangled_metal

I've got a Spesh crosstrail that I intend to dip ,my toes into cycle touring alongside commuting (currently about 4 months into between 3 and 5 days a week). I'm a former road bike rider with drops so the flat (without bar ends) is wrecking my hands and wrists on even a moderate 1.5-2 hour ride. I do have dodgy wrists and one elbow so need to move grip around.

That got me looking at new grips and bar ends. I dropped into Gyllside Cycles in ambleside (a touring specialist apparently) and he mentioned something better than the buttfly bars called a trekking bar. To me it looks like abutterfly bar but the forward part does not join the rest but is loose. Like a longer bar end bent round to allow a forwards grip. Apparently it is different to a buttefly as it has 3 parts to it that can have its angle adjusted separately somehow.

Anyone tried one of these? Any good? It costs about £55 but the decent grips and bar ends I've seen cost £44.95 for ergo grips (flat part) with bar ends. The factory fit spesh grips have the the flat bit (one is at different angle to the other for some reason) but would need to be cut away to fit aftermarket bar ends so I reckon need tobe replaced hence the need for good grips and bar end (the one I saw is a kit).

The Rookie

If your grips have the flat section at the wrong angle, it's no wonder they are causing issues, fix what you have would be the obvious first step!

tangled_metal

The flat section is ok just one side is at a slightly different angle. It is not much different just that I am a bit obsessional about that sort of thing and it annoys me ever since i first spotted it.

The main issue is the lack of a change in hand position. I am used to drops with a multitude of slightly different hand positions. I have really put my wrist, elbow and shoulder joints through the wringer over the years whitewater kayaking. Made worse by the fact I am kind of too flexible at the joints (hyperextension is one medical sounding term for it). The result is when riding with one hand position it puts a strain on my wrists and even elbows that is working on the the joints without the ability to give them respite by a slight tweak in the direction of the forces. I found that just moving the hands slightly along the drops made a huge difference and would give more time of comfort. All I can do with my flats is take one hand off at a time to shake out. Not safe especially if I am carrying a toddler on the child seat at the back.

What I need is a really good option that allows me to move about on the bars. I've heard that there is a potential problem with butterfly bars but these different trekking bars allow great flexibility in hand positions (almost as good as drops) but do not have the same problem. I didn't really take it in but I think it was something to do with the butterfly bars modifies the bike fit/your position such that it causes problems. I didn't really listen because i was conscious I was late for something and was really wanting to get out of the shop. Some bike shop people are so passionate about bikes that they just talk about bike things all the time. It is not just them selling things because they are giving you advice that wouldn't lead to a sale such as little tips to avoid spending money. Sign of a good bike shop I reckon.

Basically what is a good option to allow me to vary my weight on my hands and wrist on a flat bar hybrid bike? It is not like drop bars would work due to the ride position.

apreading

those ergonomic spesh grips are pretty good, I fitted them to my boardman and happily ride over 100 miles with them and bar ends, without any problems.

I would just add some cheap bar ends and see how it goes - you havent wasted much if you decide you need something different then.

I ave something like the Ritchey comp bar ends here: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ritchey-comp-bar-ends/

tangled_metal

The spesh grips are pretty good but on mine they go around the end of the bars. All grips I have seen seem to go around the end of the bars which is where the flat part of the spesh grips are. Unless I am getting the wrong idea the bar ends would need to have a bare section of bar to tighten around which means cutting into the current grip.

I have looked at other grips and some have a means to attach bar ends. For example Ergon grips and bar ends have a little metal, removable bit at the end of the bar that is separate with the rubber grip going around it. They make a version without bar ends and also sell bar ends separately to retro fit. these bar ends are fitted by taking this silver metal bit off and sliding the bar ends under the rubber of the main grip and tightening it up. My grips just cover the whole end so short of fitting a plug type bar end I will need to remove the existing grips too. The plug fitting bar ends are not supposed to be that secure a fit. I can see how they could swivel round inside the bar if not really securely fastened.

I'm just thinking of getting the ergon 3 grips with the bar ends too for abotu £44 or spend a tenner more and get the trekking grips which should offer almost drop bar level of hand positions. just wonderingif anyone has experience of the trekking bars and whether they are much better than normal bar with decent grips and ends??

apreading

Just move the grips, brakes, gear shifters in 15-20mm or so and there will be room for the bar ends. To make room for both the bar end and a full width grip, any solution will necessitate moving your current hardware inboards in the same way. I have some Ergon ones which integrate the grip and bar end and yes, they do look neater but they function just the same - in fact I prefer my Spesh grips with Ritchey bar ends so the Ergon ones are on my off road bike that doesnt get used alot and the Spesh/Ritchey are on the on-road bike that does thousands of miles a year.

tangled_metal

I'd still have to cut the end of the grips off since they go over the ends., up a bit messy. I take it they're just glued on so what's the best way to take the grips of to move them?

apreading

Ah - your grips must be different to mine: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... p-ec021313 These have a plug in the end you can just remove.

tangled_metal

I tried to find a picture online showing what they look like. They are black with that flat shaped bit but there is no silver end and the other side the rubber extends over the end of the bars without the need for a separate end cap. It is the one that came with my bike last year (2013 version of the Spesh Crosstrail bought in the sales just as the 2014 version was coming out in Autumn 2013 IIRC).

I've seen these after market spesh grips which have a very similar shape to them about the flat part which I think does help a bit. Although I have the feeling that the flat bit has been angled too far down for me to actually have my palm on it during normal use. Perhaps the bars are not positioned right or the grips aren't for me. The size is an XXL frame and the bars are swept back a bit. TBH I am tempted by changing out the bars for something else but that would be a while down the line. It could be that I sell this one day for a CX bike converted for the mixed use/commuting/road/simple off road/touring use. Perhaps the Croix de Fer (better version than the CdF cheapo model) once I have more pennies saved up.

Just think I should give flat bars with a bar end a chance before I write them of in favour of the drop bars I am used to the most. Thinking a decent bar ends or trekking bar or something else might save me the expense of a full on bike switch. I have seen a guy riding a full on road bike with a flat bar. Apparently he swaps it over from flat bar to drop bar from time to time. If he's doing a long road thing it is drop bar but he commutes a lot and does a lot of short evening rides with a local cycle scene club (low miles to a pub and back). So he uses a flat bar on it, perhaps with a different stem and angle I can't remember. It gives him a more relaxed position for commuting I think he said. Even think he fitted an aero bar for that TT position on the flat bar. A bit strange.

dj58

Do you mean these? http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.u ... pgripstape