Mountain Biking - Handlebars & Seatpost???

OK, so I just bought a Specialized Rockhopper 05'. I put the Candy SL's on. I also got a longer & lighter Bontrager Stem which has helped with my climbing.

IMHO the handlebars, stem, and seatpost are the worst parts on the bike. Everything else on the bike is decent enough for me. I was thinking of a setback seatpost for better leverage but I also was considering one with a shock or carbon fiber with dampening.

So, I need Handlebars and a seat post. And YES I did do a search and found limited info from long ago. I'm looking for new updated opinions.

Handle Bars:

Should I get Flatbar, LowRise, Riser???

Options I've looked into:
*Specialized S-Works Carbon Fiber
*Specialized XC Aluminum
*Easton Monkey Lite Carbon Fiber
*Easton Monkey Lite Aluminum
*Bontrager Race Lite Aluminum

Seatpost

Should I get a Setback or straight bar?

Options I've looked into:
*Thomson Elite Seatpost
*Rock Shox
*???

PLEASE HELP... GIVE ME SOME GOOD INFO FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE!!!

Also if anyone has used stuff thats in good condition please pm me... the seat post is 30.9 and the handlebar im not sure about...

Thompson is the only seatpost I would ever buy probably, and for a bar I like Easton, but the Specialized bars are nice too.

Thompson
There shouldn't be a "P" in Thomson just like there should be none in your _ool. :p:beer:
I agree that they do make the best seatposts and they're light enough that CF has no real savings.
For handlebars I'll direct you here
http://www.maxmcomponents.com/pages/handlebars.html

Ok, so I bought an Easton Monkey Lite CT2 from ebay for $33.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7155094964&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

It should fit...

Has anyone had any experience with this bar? I didnt know it was the older model of the EA70. Is this a good bar or should I give this to a friend and keep lookin :o

Does Carbon Fiber really explode in your hands under too much stress? I really dont feel like experiencing that... lol

Does Carbon Fiber really explode in your hands under too much stress? I really dont feel like experiencing that... lol

CT2 was the old name for the EC70. The EA70 is an aluminum bar.

Beware of carbon fibre handlebars! Mine underwent spontaneous combustion. And then things got so hot that the runaway carbon-burning triggered a Type-Ia class supernovae. You can still see the results of my poor old CT2 flatbar.

oops, my bad. I ment the EC70. So is this an ok bar or should I get something else?

oops, my bad. I ment the EC70. So is this an ok bar or should I get something else?

It's a good bar. I've crashed with mine countless times over the past 5 years and have had no trouble with it. Carbon fibre does require special consideration. Just make sure you know what it is. Check Easton's website for more details. Be careful about clamps. Follow the torque specs.

Plastic is evil.

Plastic is evil.

Tyler Durden would agree.

I ran the EC70 for a while, nice handlebar but your very limited with bar ends

Thomson seatpost, only and forever. Well worth the drop of $$$$...

Handlebar, I have 8 bikes in my house and 9 different handlebars. I have no loyalty. I don't find much difference between any of them.