Mountain Biking - Flat bars making a comeback?

read some articles in a few mags saying a few of the winning XC riders are going back to flats with barends or something due to more hand positions. So are they now making a comeback?

Now I got a certain LL Cool J song stuck in my head!

I dunno but seems like it would make sense with folks on niners especially since their front ends might be a little higher.

One bar I'm hoping makes a comeback is one that had zero rise and zero sweep. Seems like they were called Shotgun Bars, but my memory is more than a little spotty.

I think flatbars have made a bit of a comeback because of 29ers and their taller front ends. However a lot of the new school options are wider and have more sweep than the flatbars of yesteryear. I'm using 640mm Titec flatbars and thinking about going wider. If I get more into the endurance racing thing I might go back to risers though.

Yo're also seeing bars like the Ritchey 10d which has a forward sweep before it sweeps back (guess how many degrees) to allow a riser-like hand position, I guess, only without the rise.

After driving with flatbars and Ergon barends on a hybrid for a few years - thats whats going on my next mtb build. That and thumbies. I`m getting pretty bored with the need to buy the latest round of 9 or 10 or 11 speed shifters that will be discontinued in a few years and parts will become unavailable.

DANG, just when i upgrade to a bike with a nice moustache shaped bar (no bull horns) its out of date.......

I love flat bars with bullhorns, it ain't cheating if its helpful.

Lowar! Moar lowar!

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Clip-Ons.jpg

Lowar! Moar lowar!

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Clip-Ons.jpg

Now thats an interesting build!

So what exactly are we looking at? Are those clip-ons commercially available or did you come up with a one-off that you`re gonna hog all to yourself?

Nice looking rig - what are you using it for and how do you find that goemetry?

Now thats an interesting build!

So what exactly are we looking at? Are those clip-ons commercially available or did you come up with a one-off that you`re gonna hog all to yourself?

Nice looking rig - what are you using it for and how do you find that goemetry?

The bars were produced by this company called Adobe. Check it out, it's pretty awesome.

The bars were produced by this company called Adobe. Check it out, it's pretty awesome.

Lunchtime letdown! :(

I`m not familiar with any bicycle components that go by that name, but since you didn`t post a link and there are some perspective issues in tht photo - I suspect you`re referring to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.

Shucks - I was hopin` for something in the real world.

For the record, Pro-Tek (http://www.protekk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=227&zenid=se1otmlbqbd0dagva8cn3t1om4), Woodcraft (http://www.woodcraft-cfm.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=OOOX) and a few others make clip-ons that fit 36mm stanchions. Then you'd just have to deal with making the controls work with 7/8" bars :D.

If they ever have - - and I get invited to participate in - - another Red Bull Road Rage, you can bet I'd be shopping me a pair.

For the record, Pro-Tek (http://www.protekk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=227&zenid=se1otmlbqbd0dagva8cn3t1om4), Woodcraft (http://www.woodcraft-cfm.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=OOOX) and a few others make clip-ons that fit 36mm stanchions. Then you'd just have to deal with making the controls work with 7/8" bars :D.

If they ever have - - and I get invited to participate in - - another Red Bull Road Rage, you can bet I'd be shopping me a pair.

Thanks for the link - I guess what piqued my curiousity about that photo posted was because I have long history with sport motorcycles already.

But all the triple crown forks I`ve seen for bicycles have way more travel than what I`d be interested in myself. If someone made a light 100 to 130mm travel fork like that I might bite.

But another dumb question of the day - why would those clip-ons be an issue to put any bicycle components on? The size is the same - yes?

But all the triple crown forks I`ve seen for bicycles have way more travel than what I`d be interested in myself. If someone made a light 100 to 130mm travel fork like that I might bite.I happen to have a 100mm-travel RS Judy XLC in pretty good shape still in my spare-parts cabinet ;).

http://www.bicyclebuys.com/productimages/1630667.jpg


But another dumb question of the day - why would those clip-ons be an issue to put any bicycle components on? The size is the same - yes?That's why I included the caveat - - since non-OS moto bar size is 7/8" (which also happens to be BMX size); and moto OS is 1 1/8" (as opposed to bicycle 25.4 & 31.8mm), brake perches, shifters, etc. aren't going to play nice.

Lowar! Moar lowar!

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Clip-Ons.jpg

LOL, add a 50cc motor to it and this could open up a new category in bikes: Hybrid Downhill/Sport-bike :D.

I happen to have a 100mm-travel RS Judy XLC in pretty good shape still in my spare-parts cabinet ;).

http://www.bicyclebuys.com/productimages/1630667.jpg

That's why I included the caveat - - since non-OS moto bar size is 7/8" (which also happens to be BMX size); and moto OS is 1 1/8" (as opposed to bicycle 25.4 & 31.8mm), brake perches, shifters, etc. aren't going to play nice.

OK - my mind was still on clip-ons and there I figured the only variable would be stanchon size. I`ve PM`ed you on the Rockshox.

IIRC, the Judy only has 28mm stanchions. I think there may still be vintage and mini clip-ons that are that small.