Terrapin Ben

Who uses them? I put a pair on my bicycle over the winter and i have to say they do look sexy. i am pretty sick of riser bars. i don't ride freeride or downhill and i just don't really like the aesethics of them. they also seem to be the standard now-a-days. Besides, i think they make my bike look faster. i suspect a trend toward flat bars in 07. any input or comments? sweet blog and happy trails! i also am a fan of the new specialized ergonamic barends. they would look attractve on my bicycle as well. my old bar end paired with my riser bars gave my bicycle the look of a male bull.i did not dig it.

SneakyMilo

I am upgrading the cockpit on my HT and I will most likely be going for flat bars. I doubt there will be a trend towards flat bars while free riding and DH are so popular. Even people who never do those activities still seem to want to buy bikes that have that "agressive" look.

Terrapin Ben

true that.

Falanx

I do. Can't get a pair of three-foot bendy bars through some of the gaps you can take some nice, smooth, rigid, strong 540mms :-)

born2bahick

I use em, but I only ride XC.

jiiiim

i like riser bar over flat and i ride XC

Svr

Tried risers twice, once back in the late '80s (they were fashionable back then), and again about six years ago. I'm back to flats, they just agree with my riding style better.

LowCel 

I went back to flat bars a couple of seasons ago, for my riding style they just feel better (to me).

pinkrobe

Flat FTW! For a given weight, they're stiffer and stronger than risers. I have risers on one bike because I need the height - I can't find a 150mm stem with a 15-degree rise.

taylor p

double true

mirona

I rock flat bars. Did the riser thing for a while and felt like I was riding a comfort bike

mindbogger

I also just went back to flat on my XC bike. 31.8 oversized! sooo sexy

Flak

On my commuter.

Pigtire

Started using these bars and I have to say I love the sweep.

WannaGetGood

They are mainly used for XC. The farther you have to lean back, the harder it can ge to pedel. So not having that bend in the bars makes it easier to pedel.

I also have that feeling that the straight bars would have a better chance of braking when using them on FR or DH, even DJ.

wethepeople

These are the flattest bars I'll ride.

Stacey

While talking bars, but not meant to hijack; Bar extentions... How does one determine their angle? What do you cover them with? Foam tube, bar tape, they make a special grip, enquiring minds want to know.

Pigtire

Bar extension meaning bar ends? What I used to do is to line up the barends w/ the rise of the stem and go from there in finding the best angle for my wrist. I never really wrapped my barends but some riding buddies used spent inner tubes for grip and comfort.

pinkrobe

Bar ends can be pretty darn effective. As for angle, it depends on when you use them. I set up the angle to keep my wrists in a neutral position for standing climbs, perhaps 30 degrees up from horizontal. When I was just looking for a place to rest my hands, it was good enough at that point. I wrapped mine in black hockey tape. One $0.99 roll did about a dozen pairs of barends.

Stacey

Thanks guize!

DevilsGT2

Flat. It feels more engaging, and puts me in a better position to pedal/control the bike. My friend has risers and I can't stand them, perhaps it's the bike though.

One thing I really like about flat bars is that it's easier to bend your elbows to get closer or away from the bars, which is a big help in shifting your weight around and doing tricky stuff on the trail.

cryptid01

I have risers, but I run them upside down.

euroford

thought risers looked dorky.

but like, ya know, everybody was doing it....

so i bought some low risers.

now i'm running tall risers.

i gladly exchange a less than optimal pedaling postion for higher bunnyhops, easier manuals and bomber descents. the more 'bmxish' position makes the bike feel much more nimble and tossable.

my XC machine still has flat bars, and i don't plan to change it.

of course, i havn't ridden the XC bike since i built the 'fun' bike, so yeah, it gets to keep its flat bars.

wb 86

Both my SS bikes have flat bars, they are strict rigid XC one speeders and the flat bar gives me the best ride and control. However the full squishy "all mountain" project bike based on a Fuel EX frame is getting low risers. On a few bikes I rode before beggining my project, I found the "BMX-like" position more comfortable for the trails I ride and for the above mentioned reasons. However I have a nice light, hardly used flat bar if I decide to change my mind and stick w/ what I know.

Craig