Bar Ends - Page 2

That's why I like'em !! I didn't know that was why but, thanks!

I definitely think the freeriding movement has something to do with it. Nowadays biking around town makes me look like an idiot / roadie wannabe since I actually have the following on my bike:

front and rear commuter lights
bell
clipless pedals
bottle cages
frame pump
cyclocomputer

and not to mention - barends

The only upside to it is that it actually makes my bike less attractive to steal.

I was under the impression that "tree-hooks" are mainly for climbing- they give you a hand position further forward of the normal one to allow you to get more of your weight over the front wheel to keep it on the ground.

I see a lot of them on bikes at school, many turned backwards to give the rider a more upright riding position.

I say use 'em or don't, pointed down if you want. It's your bike.

TD

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"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

Gettting hooked a tree is a danger. But so is RUNNING INTO a tree.

I prefer the BIG barends that effectively act as hand cages. Because when I DO clip a tree, I want to glance off it instead of slamming my knuckles against it.

Oh yeah, and bar ends are good for climbing too.

I definitely use bar ends on my flat bar. Call me old school but when I decided to purchase a Trek Fuel which came with the riser bars, I couldn't stand the pain and stress it put on my wrists on my normal trail that I ride. Once I converted it back to a flat bar and bar ends, I noticed I had more control, easier times with the steep climbs and better overall comfort. I definitely won't go back to a riser bar. Luckily, my trail I usually train on does not have the tree and foilage problems that other posters have discussed about.

I have always been a fan of bar ends as well, and I did much like the rest of you have...gone with the smaller, unobtrusive bar ends. I just upgraded my Klein with an Easton EC70 lo-rise carbon bar and I put on the new Control Tech Carbon stubby bar ends and the setup is great!! I say..."who cares about what everybody else is doing. If the bar ends look & feel good to you, then use them."

My bar ends and bar are one! I use a set of the old Scott AT-3 LF bars, and have a spare hanging in the basement in case this one breaks (since I don't think they make them anymore).

The good things about them:
- They provide multiple hand positions.
- The design helps prevent tree snags.
- The design also helps protect your hands.
- At 210g, they're lighter than most bar + bar end combos.

The downsides are:
- You can't remove the bar ends.
- It's a pain to thread your brake and shift levers onto the bars.
- If you DO manage to hook a tree, you're gonna do it in style.

For me the good things outweigh the bad, so I'm sticking with them.

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my bike page - my journal