Why did handlebars get the curve up?
11-01-05, 09:54 AM
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Why did handlebars get the curve up?
I just bought a new mtn bike, 12 years since the last purchase, and was wondering why handlebars are curved up instead of angling up the stem to accomplish the same effect? Did riders decide that angling the stem up looked dorky? Gotta admit one way to spot the entry-level bikes vs. the high-end stuff is that the stems on nicer bikes don't angle up as high. Anyway, just wondering...
11-01-05, 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by AusTai
Gotta admit one way to spot the entry-level bikes vs. the high-end stuff is that the stems on nicer bikes don't angle up as high.
Handlebars "got the curve up" because a law was passed that requires that handlebar manufacturers revert to the designs used when mountain bikes were first widely available. Riser bars.
11-01-05, 10:38 AM
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^^Wow, you are smarter than this newb too!? Amazing! That makes you now what, like 45-0?
11-01-05, 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by justsomeguy
Handlebars "got the curve up" because a law was passed that requires that handlebar manufacturers revert to the designs used when mountain bikes were first widely available. Riser bars.
Still have a pair from my first bike in the garage although mine are "racier" (a bit lower and not yellow)
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11-01-05, 11:39 AM
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To actually answer your question I offer a speculative chain of thought. Threadless headsets have little adjustability. Manufactures like to chop steertubes. Bike with high rise stem looks cheap. Technical riding requires a more upright position. Most casual riders perfer a more upright position. Hence Riser bars for the masses!
11-01-05, 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by gattm99
To actually answer your question I offer a speculative chain of thought. Threadless headsets have little adjustability. Manufactures like to chop steertubes. Bike with high rise stem looks cheap. Technical riding requires a more upright position. Most casual riders perfer a more upright position. Hence Riser bars for the masses!
I would disagree that technical riding requires an upright position. Technical uphills require a lower front end which is why lots of bikes have adjustable travel forks. This is especially true on hardtails. A high front end will lead to problems keeping the front wheel on the ground. Dualies have similar problems but it's not as pronounced (as far as I can tell) because of the extra traction. On downhills, a more relaxed front end helps with stability so a high front end and rider position is better.
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11-01-05, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by unsuspended
^^Wow, you are smarter than this newb too!? Amazing! That makes you now what, like 45-0?
11-01-05, 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
...But I think you really nailed it on the high rise stems. It's not that they look cheap but that they look dorky and Heaven forbid that anything should "look" dorky! As with so much of modern mountain biking, it's about fashion and not necessarily function...
11-01-05, 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by AusTai
OK, I can see how riser bars give a comfortable height to low-rise stems on low-price bikes, but do high-end, more "serious" bikes still use straight (relatively) handlebars, or do all mtn bikes use riser bars now?
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11-01-05, 04:11 PM
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Throw the stick!!!!
Originally Posted by cyccommute
Cross country racer hardtails - mostly straight. XC duallies - slightly in favor of riser. Dual suspension everything else - try and find a straight one
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11-01-05, 08:13 PM
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Somewhat related, should the handlebars on a hardtail sit higher than the saddle?
11-01-05, 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by AusTai
Somewhat related, should the handlebars on a hardtail sit higher than the saddle?
11-02-05, 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by never
It's personal preference and riding style. My seat is above the bars on all of my bikes.
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11-02-05, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
Maybe it's related to the hair growing in my ears
11-02-05, 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by unsuspended
Or the height at which you hike your pants up
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11-02-05, 01:50 PM
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Another reason for riser bars is that, generally, they have more sweep than a straight bar. Flat bars usually have very little sweep (the angle at which the ends of the bar are bent back towards you), I prefer more sweep that a straight bar offers. Also, risers are usually wider, and can be cut down if desired, to further customize the fit to the individual.
11-18-05, 10:59 PM
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OK, the comments about riser bars being for the masses and not for serious riders isn't supported by what I saw today in the bookstore. Going through a number of mtn bike magazines, looking at what racers are riding, it's very clear that riser bars are almost the norm, regardless of the type of racing. So there must be a performance and/or comfort justification for the move to riser bars from straight bars, but I just don't see it yet.
Why did racers make the switch to riser bars? Simply to sit more upright?
Why did racers make the switch to riser bars? Simply to sit more upright?
11-19-05, 03:46 AM
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I don't know, I feel a lot faster in the position dictated by my flat bar, especially climbing. I still see plenty of hardcore dudes riding them. Easier to be superlight too, if you're so inclined.
11-19-05, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by duckliondog
I don't know, I feel a lot faster in the position dictated by my flat bar, especially climbing. I still see plenty of hardcore dudes riding them. Easier to be superlight too, if you're so inclined.
If there are good reasons why everyone is moving to riser bars besides looks, I may change out my wife's handlebar. The riser bar on my new bike does feel nicer, but maybe because the bike is all new and much improved over what I was using.
11-19-05, 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by AusTai
I just bought a new mtn bike, 12 years since the last purchase, and was wondering why handlebars are curved up instead of angling up the stem to accomplish the same effect? Did riders decide that angling the stem up looked dorky? Gotta admit one way to spot the entry-level bikes vs. the high-end stuff is that the stems on nicer bikes don't angle up as high. Anyway, just wondering...
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11-19-05, 03:16 PM
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
I agree but I am noticing that as I grow towards geezerhood, my handlebars are creeping up. Where my handlebars used to be 4" below my saddle, I near to 2" now. Maybe it's related to the hair growing in my ears
11-22-05, 01:00 AM
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Originally Posted by AusTai
How about the bikers around you? What percentage would you say use risers now? Are you the norm or the exception?
If there are good reasons why everyone is moving to riser bars besides looks, I may change out my wife's handlebar. The riser bar on my new bike does feel nicer, but maybe because the bike is all new and much improved over what I was using.
If there are good reasons why everyone is moving to riser bars besides looks, I may change out my wife's handlebar. The riser bar on my new bike does feel nicer, but maybe because the bike is all new and much improved over what I was using.
11-22-05, 04:59 PM
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I went ahead an ordered the handlebar. 215g for $15 sounds good. My wife would enjoy the more upright position anyway. She'll probably miss the bar ends though. Still don't understand how riders gave them up simply because they don't look good with risers.
12-01-05, 09:46 PM
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I don't think it's so much that they look bad, but it's an uncomfortable mix of components. Risers are very wide and swept back, in addition to being higher. Imagine holding onto bar ends that are significantly farther apart than your shoulders are and pointing outward a few degrees. Now imagine controlling your bike like that. Horrible.
12-01-05, 11:13 PM
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
But I think you really nailed it on the high rise stems. It's not that they look cheap but that they look dorky and Heaven forbid that anything should "look" dorky! As with so much of modern mountain biking, it's about fashion and not necessarily function.
Less of a look thing, the lower smaller stem with risers >to me< feels to be better\stronger for leverage over the front wheel.
Also for leverage I prefer my hands higher, risers.
I simply think frames involved with lots of leverage evolve to have longer -higher headtubes\short stem and risers bars.
And a long stem at an angle greater than than your downtube will look ugly as sin.
