Mountain Biking - remember these?

bar ends (http://www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/displayproductlist_v2.cfm?&CGRFNBR=553&CRPCGNBR=553&TextMode=0&CI=1,225,519)

How come I never see people using them any more?:mad: :thumbdn:

It seems as if their popularity died with the advent of the riser bar. Apparently, it's not cool to do both??? Most racer-types are still sporting them though.

Getting to the finish line the quicker is cooler than the most trick riser-bar. http://mysmilies.creativesell.net/contrib/ed/smileeek.gif

I dont use them b/c in the tight singletrack they're a nusiance(sp). It outweighs their pros. My dad actually wants to take his off b/c he's always worried about clipping trees.

as Bac was saying, though, riser bar and bar ends are one of those things that no one does just b/c it looks funny

Im sporting bar ends... mind you, you do have to get over the mental thing about catching a tree. If you think it will happen, you will make it happen!! look for the holes, the clear path, and not at the obstacles grasshopper.

I just don't like the way they look. My rides also tend to be 3 to 4 hours so the extra hand positions doesn't nothing to stop numbness as I don't get it :)

I prefer flat bars with bar ends. I like the extra hand-positions and I like them on the climbs. I've also had them nicely protect my brake levers when I run my handlebars to ground as in during an endo. As Scooby Snax said, if you target fixate on tree-clipping, you will become one with your destiny. It's all about picking that smooth clear line.

they are a must on all my rigs, despite the whole riser-bar trend =]

i find bar ends in-the-way and annoying, but some people swear by them. Its just extra weight to me.

yep. i still run 'em.

http://bile.best.vwh.net/images/bikes/bikes/konabars.jpg

excuse the blurriness, i was having a bad camera day.

When I did a lot of xc I always used them. My favorit pair was made by I think Answer back in '95.

Anyways, they went inside the bars and expanded to hold them in. That way you still had the entire length of the bar to use.





:beer:

I used to run a pair of Titec Stubies, but now I don't run them at all. The only reason I really ran them on my XC rig, was to keep the grips from slipping.. now I use the ODI Ruffian Lock-on grips, so no need for Barends (I never used them to climb anyway). I have really narrow bars, so I never found the stubbies got in the way in tight singletrack. Also, just one more thing to skewer myself with when I fall!

Joe

As fas as being "skewered", Ive not had it happen, even though I'm using a pair of Serfas. the plastic ones that stick back a wee bit from the bar as well.
I sure wish I had them on the beater bike today!! 80Km (50mi) pulling my daughter in the trailer!! Ugh!
after breaking my wrist last year, I need the added hand positions!!

I've been skewared (however you spell that) many times.. here is one where I fell over and somehow dragged my entire weight over the bar-end before I crashed:

http://www.mtbgallery.com/gallery/Man/DSC00990

Just a bruise, but man it hurt!!

Joe