supahjew

I have a hybrid with straight handlebars, I was thinking of buying a pair of bar ends and pointing them downwards, similar to a road bike...would this work? My hands and wrists, my fleshy palm area around my thumb especially - they get very tired and numb on my normal handlebars, with gloves on even.

https://www.touringonbikes.us/images/jean5.jpg <-- Like those, except downwards (why would they be pointed almost horizontal, doesn't that make the hard to reach?)

will dehne

I have those bar ends on one of my bikes in that position. I use the hybrid for long distance, fairly high speed riding on lime stone R to T. There are big pot holes in unexpected places. My hands were unable to hold on in one such event resulting in bad injuries.
I got rid of these bar ends and replaced with T-shaped bar ends from Trek. Much better grip and control. Now I have more hand positions.
For higher speed, straight shot riding, I installed aero bars in addition to these bar ends. I am very happy about these aero bars. No more numb hands, need less energy at same speed, can use that energy for sprinting and powering up hills.

Pointing down the bar ends (shown in your picture), will result in more weight on your hands which will not make them feel better.

AndrewP

I have bar ends pointed almost horizontal, so with my hands on the ends I am in much the same position as on the hoods of a drop bar. This gets me down a bit when I have a head wind. You will have to find the exact position that is most comfortable for your hands.

Grasschopper

I have bar ends on my Marin pointed slightly upwards. Not sure I get what you want to do with them pointed down but that sounds like a bad plan to me. I love the bar ends like I have them and use them almost more than being on the flats...it is sort of like riding on the hoods but wider. Another option for you might be the Nashbar Trekking bar...my wife has one and loves all the hand position options she has.

Here is my Marin, it has different bar ends now but they are positioned the same.


And here are the Nashbar bars that are on my wife's Sirrus.

veneer

grasschopper.. can you post a pic of ur wife sirrus with that handle bar? cuz my wife has a sirrus as well, and i wanted to give her more handle positions. thanks.

bsyptak

I've added bar ends too, the ones that have a curve in about the last inch or 2 of the end. For ultimate comfort, add foam grips. Better size bar too with some sort of grip on them. Mmm.

supahjew

Even though I want those types of bar ends, I don't understand what purpose they serve like that. How can they be grabbed by human hands if they're facing away from the rider?

Grasschopper

Sure, I will try to get to it later this evening.


Huh? It is a very natural hand position. For me it is uncomfortable to ride on the flats for any length of time because you have to roll your hands in. When using these bar ends it is like when your hands hang at your side, but then you just swing them out and spread them apart a bit due to the width of the bars. Your palms face in and you grip the bar end like any other tube.

Am I missing something here?

veneer

sweet.. thanks grass~

Grasschopper

hey veneer - I am not going to have a chance to get to that tonight but check out this thread which is VERY similar to this one for a couple of pics of bikes with them on. I sort of like the setup with the mirror, and additional bar ends...I might have to get another set of these for my Marin and set it up like that.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...shbar+trekking

veneer

wow.. that's interesting.. looks comfy as well..

primaryreality

Take a look at this thread:

The "Antler" Bar

jkmartin

I have a hybrid with bar ends similar to what bysptak has pictured. The riding position is very natural and comfortable. I probably spend most of the time riding with my hands on the bar ends.

It sounds like you're not only talking about pointing the bar ends down, but also back towards the bike. And I guess that's possible but I don't think it would be a very comfortable riding position or offer you many hand positions. If you're going to point the bars straight down, you're going to be grabbing the outside of the bars at very odd angles and that will lead to very quick fatigue.

Then again, you may be thinking that the bar ends can be rotated so the bend at the end is parallel with the bike instead of being pointed inward. I've never seen any bars like this. I'd visit the LBS to see what they have available and possibly try out bar ends already installed on mountain bikes.

supahjew

I was just thinking of drop bars like on a road bike