Bar ends - your experience

[Uni]

So something I've noticed of late, because I keep getting numb hands I've been moving my hands around and adjusting my grips while I'm riding and I've noticed that when I do the "head down and slow slog up a hill" - I climb better (faster and able to to it on a harder gear) with my hands in a light fist resting on the bars as if it was bar ends - so I'm thinking I should get some, but I hear scare stories of catching trees, falling on them etc.

 

Also the added width to my bar, even if it is just 5cm overall - and it's not a flat bar?

Naf /noob factor doesn't bother me.

[kosmonooit]

I dont have a problem with them being caught up with anything.

 

Tried one of my recent builds without bar ends, but going to retrofit although need to change to flat bars with little of no sweep back, I find that geometry doesn't work for me.

[Pulse]

Get some bar ends. It will make your climbs (non technical) easier, and gives you alternative positions to 'rest' your hands.

 

No one cares what other people think

[Boerklong]

They work for me on the climbs

[Pieterg]

If it work for you go with it, can be a bit tricky on tight single track

[Uni]

I dont have a problem with them being caught up with anything.

 

Tried one of my recent builds without bar ends, but going to retrofit although need to change to flat bars with little of no sweep back, I find that geometry doesn't work for me.

IF it's gonna require changing handle bars etc I'd rather do without right now, budget is a bit on a squeeze, but I'd be keen to try it out - maybe get something off the classifieds?

[Uni]

If it work for you go with it, can be a bit tricky on tight single track

I think on tricky single track the problem exists between the saddle and handlebar but sounds like a plan.

[gogo@]

..resting on the bars as if it was bar ends...

 

Also the added width to my bar, even if it is just 5cm overall - and it's not a flat bar?

...

Which is why I enjoy mine. I have the Ryder Epic ones which give a couple of options. There are probably better ones out there as mine could do with being a bit chunkier.

The hand position you describe opens your shoulders and improves breathing. I think.

See if you can try out a couple of different ones, look at what your friends have, before you commit. There's a lot of variation, some quite subtle. In the end it's what works best for you and the kind of riding you're doing. Definitely helps prevent gangrene setting in on long hand-numbing rides!!!

[canfan]

Not using then currently. Use to enjoy having the additional hand position option. But took it off after nearly wiping after it got caught on a tree branch.

[Tatt]

I'm running the R170 cheapie version of these from Sportsmans:

 

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.co.za/v-grip-ergonomic-grip.html#.VDLyHBEcTIU

 

They're brilliant for going both up and downhill and every now and then I catch them on a branch just for fun!

 

Tom

[Pusher]

They work for me.

[Brendan2013]

I will never use bar-ends again.

 

I was doing a race at Woody Cape last year. Long foresty jeep track type downhill.

I was in the left 'lane' cooking it at about 35km/h+. I moved to the left edge of the track to avoid a upcoming pothole.

If my mate behind me had brought his GoPro I would be viral on Youtube.

My bar-end caught on a vine which I didn't see. Yanked the handlebars sharp left and my front wheel went into the pothole.

Sent me airborne over the handlebars and my bike got its introduction to a pilots license.

I ended up with only a broken front wheel thank goodness.

But a 13km walk out was pretty crap. Pushing and dragging a one wheeled bike... not fun.

 

Oh ja. My point... Bar-ends suck imho...

[Shebeen]

I'm running the R170 cheapie version of these from Sportsmans:

 

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.co.za/v-grip-ergonomic-grip.html#.VDLyHBEcTIU

 

They're brilliant for going both up and downhill and every now and then I catch them on a branch just for fun!

 

Tom

have had the original versions of that for nigh on 6 years now, ergons. What i liked about them was the grip and the end are almost integrated. I do real long distance stuff, and begin to miss them when riding my ss for any ride longer than an hour.

 

You won't need new bars, but will need to hack your grips to fit them. That's a write off if it doesn't work

[JXV]

I ride a lot of bushy trails and they hook on stuff. Have not used bar ends since the 90s and likely never will again.

If your hands go numb try profiled grips like Spez Contour or Ergon (the ones that dont have built-in bar ends).

The Spez Contours are available in different profile thicknesses, even a ladies version which is thinner to suit smaller hands. Remember to factor in thickness of the padding in your gloves when trying them in a shop.

[Squier]

I used to ride with bar-ends. Had them for a couple of years and enjoyed the extra position available for my hands. Decided to go without bar-ends on my new build in April this year and can honestly say that I haven't missed them much... if at all.

[kosmonooit]

IF it's gonna require changing handle bars etc I'd rather do without right now, budget is a bit on a squeeze, but I'd be keen to try it out - maybe get something off the classifieds?

 

That's just what I found, def. no go with riser swept back like I have on my Prophet am bike, its really just about the geometry. If you have carbon bars, you must be careful with torque, some even have inserts for the ends.

 

Bar Ends are personal thing, and why I am going back to them on my Scalpel is that I find my hands reaching out for them on long hauls and climbs, but they are not there.  You can get a bit of relief with the palms of ur hands on the end of the bars, but its just not the same.