Did a search & nothing came up. I'm posting here as I will be using the bike almost exclusively as a commuter. Mods, if you feel this is the wrong forum, feel free to move it.

I'm rehabbing an old Specialized Rockhopper Comp to use as a part time commuter. I was going to put bar ends on it. Anyone have insight into if the Cane Creek bar ends are better/worse than traditional bar ends (the ones that go off the front of your flat bar)?

I've always used the traditional style (many different brands) & have found them useful, but after coming across the cane creeks, I'm wondering if those would be better or worse (or just different)

Thanks in advance for any insights you can offer. (Pic of cane creeks to follow if I did this correctly)

https://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/...jpg?1241383317

I can't see any pic and the link doesn't go anywhere.

Hopefully it is showing up now. Please let me know if you still can't see it.

Considered the Cane Creeks...

...but went with Ergon GC2 instead



Very comfortable. Lock-on grips. Dual density grip. Integrated bar end with independent angle adjustment.

I'm definitely putting Ergons on the bike, but I was leaning towards regular ergons, then adding the bar ends. I like the integrated ones, but the ends seem to be really short. How do you like the bar end part of the ergon GC2's?

The bar ends looked short to me in photos. When I tried them in person at the shop, they felt good in my average sized male paws. Plenty for me to grab onto, and the bar end was actually my primary riding position. I have them on the shelf (sold the bike w/o 'em); here's the measurements:

grip end-to-end: 5.5"
bar end (aluminum portion): 3.0"
effective bar end: 4.0"

The "effective" measurement includes the portion of the grip extending beyond the bar end; since this is where you will place the heel of your hand while riding on the bar ends, I think it's important. But, yeah, they're still shorter than the GR3, GS3, etc..., but I wasn't considering those for paved roads.

I have both the Cane Creek II Bar ends (attached to ODI Rogue Lock on grips) and the Ergon GC2.

My personal preference is the Ergons, but in retrospect I should have gotten the ones with the longer bar ends. While the Cane Creek are nice, I found the Ergons more comfortable for the wrist. However, its one of those things you will probably need to try out to decide.

I've thought about them (and the Rav-x alternatives), but don't know how they'd play with my recently acquired Ergons. Another reason why I've hesitated trying some is that I would have to give up the bar end mirror...

You should check at the new Ergon grips from cork and bar ends. These look good. You can view them here.

If you are just resting your hands on the grips, the Ergons are good, but if you like to wrap your fingers all the way around the grip, a traditional lock-on grip with the Cane Creek bar ends works better. Also, you get a better grip with the Cane Creeks when climbing out of the saddle. My commute takes me over some true MTB conditions, so a more traditional MTB grip is desirable. Overall, you'll pay a little more with the grip/Cane Creek combo than with Ergon grips, but it's worth the extra cost. No real difference in the number of hand positions available with either.

I have the Cane Creek bar ends and they are meh. Way overpriced IMHO.

Ergons rock. They are just amazingly comfortable!

$14.99 https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1078143_-1___
$7.99 https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...3_20000_400211

Pretty darn close to how the Ergon GC2's feel and work for a fraction of the price. I've been using these for months and love 'em.

I considered combining the Cane Creek barends with a pair of Ergon GP1s as well, but found it prohibitively expensive. I ended up with a set of GC2s and they are indeed excellent grips. One advantage that the GC2 has over other Ergon grips with integrated barends is that the end of the bar remains open, which is great for mounting mirrors:



When I bought a new bike last year I immediately installed a set of GC3s. These are great grips; all the comfort I expect from Ergon plus a fantastically useful barend. Lots of different hand positions. In between the GC2 and GC3 is the recently redesigned GR2.



This past winter I experimented with a set of trekking bars combined with "barendless" GP1s. This has turned out to be the best possible combination of comfort, control, and, IMHO, good looks:



My GC3s have been relegated to the parts bin for now, but I'm sure that I'll eventually find a home for them on one of my project bikes.

I've used a Singletrack bar end that was similar in shape to the CC (T-type). It was ok, light and provided nice hand position options. They lasted on the bike for two seasons before I swapped them out with Ergons with integrated short bar ends. The Ergons are a much nicer grip/bar end combo. They can also be had in a longer bar end version.

irclean, I would love to see more pics of your handlebar set up. I have a set of trekking bars coming but I'm not sure what to do with them. You can pm them to me if you want.

Keep in mind that a swap to trekking bars will likely necessitate the installation of a longer stem; otherwise you'll shorten up your cockpit and feel cramped. Cable routing sometimes requires a little ingenuity, but if you forgo the grips you can push the controls outward so that the cables clear the stem more easily.

Rapidfire shifters with cheap ergonomic grips:



Alfine 8 trigger shifter with OE grips:



Grip shifters and bar tape:

Thanks, I was wondering how to put my rapid fire shifters. Probably no way to keep my bar-end mirror though....

You're welcome, and you're right about the mirror. I tried a helmet mirror but could never get used to it. I've had good luck with both the detachable Zéfal Spy which I found at my LBS, and the more permanent Busch & Müller Cycle Star 901/1 which I ordered from Peter White Cycles. I've also heard good things about the Rivendell German Mirror. I found the best, least obtrusive spot to mount the mirror is on the bottom left corner of the bars:



BTW here's a pic (not mine) of a bike with the controls mounted more outboard:



It leaves about an inch of unused bar on the innermost ends, but you might be able to use that space to mount a bell, etc. The advantage of mounting your controls this way is that it becomes easier to route your cables since their adjustment barrels are not pressed up against the stem (as you can see is the case with my first pic two posts back). You can't use grips this way, but since you're not taping up drop bars there is extra tape to make a cushy feel, providing you don't tape all the way to the stem.