Bar ends - your experience

[jcmeyerSS]

I bought these really short little bar-ends and have used them for 4 years without any issues. I have had them hook on a tree once but had I not had them I would be missing my pinky and ring finger.

 

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/za/en/tioga-powerstud-6-mini-barends/rp-prod7433

 

 

[BrianMTB]

Bar-ends are a liability if you're likely to ride through bush or grass. So unless you are a dirt-roadie sticking to farm roads I'd leave them off.

 

I learnt my lesson the hard way a few times during the Tour De Tuli a few years back. No bar-ends for me anymore.

[bullet77]

I used the cheap SW barends until they broke, I replaced with plain foam grips(ESI type), much lighter and simple. It's like saddles, everyone finds what works for them.   

[Scott2luvit]

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...

ouch, i am just wondering, if you did not have them on, if you would have gone through without falling, I'm just thinking it would have probably caught your bars any case which would have still left you flying or am I wrong? BTW I dont run them either, just curios if they are the cause of so many falls, I never had issues with them when I was still riding my 26er

[Scott2luvit]

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...

ouch, i am just wondering, if you did not have them on, if you would have gone through without falling, I'm just thinking it would have probably caught your bars any case which would have still left you flying or am I wrong? BTW I dont run them either, just curios if they are the cause of so many falls, I never had issues with them when I was still riding my 26er

 

sorry double post, browser froze up

[Greybeard]

Is it not all the less responsive 29'ers with 700cm plus wide bars that have a problem on tricky single track? Just a thought!

I have been using them for years on my 26'er and with 640cm bars, no problem. The benefit for climbing far outweighs the possibility of clipping a wayward tree or vine. Don't listen to the fashion brigade.

[Hackster]

I remember reading something somewhere about how bar ends are responsible for a very specific type of injury to the torso. Can't remember anything else unfortunately which makes this anecdote barely worth sharing.

 

I used to have them, got tired of them 'grabbing' anything that brushed past - they were the cane creek rubbery ones - so pulled them off and have never missed them.

 

Each to their own.

[kosmonooit]

My bar-ended 650b Flash

 

http://www.entopia.org.za/Gallery/cycling/Flash_BlackPanther/Panther_1-s.jpg

[Tromp]

Be careful of the bar ends. You might just spill your drinks.

[Hairy]

Personally had to many clips with bushes in the past to ever want to use bar ends again.

 

This is the only end of a bar I will now consider

 

http://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/beer-and-shot-on-bar-counter.jpg

[habanero]

@hairy you can have a bad fall from there as well.

[Hairy]

@hairy you can have a bad fall from there as well.

True, but at least it will be a slow tumble to the ground and not a high speed flesh grinding on the floor kind of fall .... then again who knows what you are going to fall on.

[RockCoach]

Bar ends became a necessity for climbing back in the day when bars were pretty narrow. You just couldn't get enough leverage and felt awkward when out the saddle. The bar ends basically mimicked your position 'on the hoods' on a road bike so that improved your climbing position.

 

With the advent of wider bars and shorter stems you get that leverage back plus other bonuses like: direct steering feel, better control, able to get the elbows out for fast descending and cornering, ability to move body back quicker and further.

[I FLY]

I have used bar-ends on my mtb since 2001 without any issues.

[Fruity]

I had bar ends on my first few bikes, but not on my last 2.. But thinking of getting bar ends again just because I find it easier to climb with them.

[Gitfo]

Im taking mine off cause i need some wider grips. getting numbness in my hands think my grips are to much in.