Bar ends - Stupid question
 

This might appear as a stupid question to some. I have a Specialized Sirrus with flat handle bars. I am looking at bar ends. My worry is if I fit bar ends and it takes up a piece of the handle bar that my hands won't fit between the space of brake lever and the end of the bar end.
Is it possible to move the brake levers in slightly or it is possible to get bar ends that fit into the handle bar as opposed to bolting on around the end of it.

Brian

Flippant answer: Yes... and yes.

Better answer: You can move all your handlebar furniture inwards... including brake levers. All you need to do is loosen the clamps and just slide them over. The grips will need to be moved too. Most people use a wooden spoon or something to pry one end of the grips up and then spray something like Windex inside. This will sort of lubricate and allow the grips to be moved. Once dry, they'll be firmly positioned again.

You might be able to find bar-ends that fit inside the bar with plugs but they're pretty rare. The last ones I knew of were the old and no longer produced Answer Hyperends but even those ate a slight bit of handlebar space at the ends thus still necessitating repositioning of the grips, brake levers and shifters. They however did space the bar-end itself outboard to try and make up for it.

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Most bar-ends use a clamp. You might also be interested in the Cane Creek Ergo Control bar-ends which also work with the Lock-On system.

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I have both bar ends and an aero bar on my flat handle bar road bike... plus I cut an inch off both ends of the bar. Everything will fit, you just need to move stuff around to where it's comfortable for you.

Trick for getting grips to move if you have or know someone with an air compressor. Blow air between the bar and the grip and it will move around on a cushion of air.

The bar ends that mount on the inside of the handle bar didn't last long. To get enough holding power to handle the torque applied to the bar ends the mechanism either had to be extremely long and beefy (i.e. heavy) or it would distort your handle bars making it next to impossible to ever change components on your bars.

Most bike shops will mount the bar ends for you at minimal to no cost assuming they were purchased from them.

Great

Another one:
Jam an old spoke under the grip and drip some rubbing alchohol in the gap.
The grip will slide right off.

Check out the Topeak barend mirrors. They look like regular barends but a mirror flips out. Pretty cool. I love mine.

No, it is not a stupid question. By all means, if you have straight bars, the addition of bar ends will make a ton of difference in your comfort level and aid you in climbing as well.

I also have a Specialized Sirrus and would like to get bar ends eventually.

Fitted them, they are great. Work out very nicely on the bike

Was it easy to cut the ends of the grips off? And how much did you have to move the brakes/shifters in, if any.

I'd also consider getting the longer "long ski-style" bar ends. (These point foward roughly half their length, then make a 90 degree bend toward the centerline of the bike (the stem) and rise a little bit upward.
While this type of bar end might present a hazard off-road, for pavement bike use they provide at least one extra hand position which shorter bar ends do not.

To make your grip on the bar end more comfortable and secure, try wrapping them in handlebar tape!
(It also looks good!! :D )

I've done this on my flat-bar pavement-oriented bikes. Just remember when you are in heavy traffic, for your safety get off the bar ends! (Hint for bar end users: You needn't let go of the bar, just release the bar end and rotate your hand(s) inward, pivoting on the palm(s). Your hand(s) will fall naturally onto the controls.) :)

Water, water, water. It's all that's needed to get those grips a-moving. Pry up the inner end of a grip and dribble some water in. No other chemicals to eat away at the rubber when the water has evaporated. Same when putting on the grips.

And use water to lubricate whatever cutter to remove the ends of the grips when fitting bar extensions.

One other observation... one of the reasons why motorhommer probably is feeling even more comfortable is that handlebars should be about the width of your shoulders (I measure outside to outside; others are slightly different). The inch or so of bar space taken up by the extensions means the grips (along with levers) have moved into a position more akin to the shoulder width. Of course, that still leaves the bar ends at the extended width. I think madhouse alluded to this when he said he cut an inch off either end of the bars.