Alox

I've just bought a Stumpy FS, and in stock form it came without bar ends. Every time I ride it, however, I feel I'd prefer to have bar-ends, particularly while climbing. I ride mostly XC. Interestingly, I don't see my colleagues / riding buddies with bar-ends on their bikes - is there a reason that bar-ends have fallen out of fashion? Is it for some safety / efficiency reason that I can't see, or is it just because the big-name high-buck freeride heroes don't use them, so they've been phased out.

Any thoughts?

Flak

Its just a cool factor thing i think.

Some people think they catch on branches, but i dont think thats really the case. If you like em, go with em.

gmoneyhobbit

barends are the best

i think its just been made a taboo barends and risers, risers do nearly the same thing, just lack the availabiliy for different hand positions

jag89

Flak

I agree they look a little odd on risers. But i dont like riser bars anyway so its a non-issue for me. I just like having the different hand position on long rides and for climbing.

Al.canoe

Bar ends are primarily for climbing while standing on the pedals. They should be adjusted so the hands are not cocked relative to the wrist on a steep climb and out of the saddle. That provides two advantages: more comfortable hand/arm position while standing for a while and extra leverage (longer lever arm) that puts more force (from your pulling on them) on the rear tire contact-patch to improve traction. My reference is Ned Overends book.

It's not a style item, it has real utility if you do steep climbs. Who cares how they look? They really work and mine are on riser bars. One can always ride with a mask (like Zoro) so your friends can't recognize you.

There is rumor of a safety issue with the ends doing some damage to the rider in a crash. I can certainly see that with the Aluminum ones. The nice carbon-fiber ones which are really neat, are so well curved at all points that I can't imagine getting hurt. I prefer the longer ones that curve-in and shield the outer half of the grips. They provide more leverage and they push the vines away. If you hang one, you would have done it with just the grips too. They also allow the bar to bounce of off trees with out hanging up.

The carbon fiber ones are also lighter so they don't impede the ability to snap the bar around as much.

Al

erhan

I always needed bar ends, but the fear of hooking them to the trees kept me from getting them (used to hit the edge of the bars to the trees a lot).. Now that I don't ride in dense forests anymore, I want to try them. Actually, I'm gonna get a pair tomorrow

Al.canoe

I ride a lot where these thin pine trees are really close to the trail, including the curves. I've hit them many times, but never hooked a bar end.

My riser bars are two inches wider than standard bars. Makes the trees even closer. That's OK as with the bar ends, your grips are about the same width apart as on a standard bar with no risers.

We also have lots of vines droopping onto the trail. Hung up one once. Manged to muscle the bars and keep going until the vine broke.

Al

iamthetas

try these www.canecreek.com/ergo_control_ii.html
I use them and love them a lot. in conjuntion with my Ergongrips www.ergon-bike.com/ergon_mp1.php now I can ride all day and get 0 arm or hand discomfort

khuon

I use them therefor they cannot be cool.

the pope

The world champion used them last year. If you're burning by people, who cares? Who cares, even if you're not?

GreyGoat

the major disadvantage for me would be having to have my bars that little bit wider to make room for them.. and the increased likelihood of hooking them on something while on narrow trails.. like somebody already mentioned..

Maelstrom 

I don't use them because they aren't cool. I don't find them functional for my riding. I don't think people should use them because they are cool. If they serve a purpose use them. I have considered the small ones for my xc ride, and may still do it, someday. But it sure ain't a priorrity.

BoSoxYacht

When were these ever cool ? I loved them on narrow 20.5" bars when I lived north of Boston , but I never thought they were cool . My 25" low-rise bars make them unnecessary on my current ride .

mcoine

The last set I had I got rid of by '94 or so. I didn't think they really helped me all that much. I would say today they probably aren't "cool", but that shouldn't stop you from using them if they help you.

valbowski1980

Meh.... I don't like them.

gmoneyhobbit

ponchotempest

I need them on my SS. It is far easier to pull up on the bars with that somewhat underhand position than the overhand position of being on the grips. They really let you use all of your leg power by planting the back wheel. There's no need for them to be longer than a few inches though, or else everything flexes too much.

And to officially qualify myself as uncool, I used to rock 'em on a riser bar on the FS.