Why risers?

"Steve" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> What is the point of risers? I've got them on my new bike, but it seems that it puts me in a more
> upright position, making my control less agressive. Why do I see the easton monkeylite (riser) on
> most racer's bikes?

As others (notably, Keith Bontrager) have pointed out, risers are an answer to a question that
nobody was asking. The same effect (higher handlebars) can be had with a taller stem. Risers are
neither stronger, lighter nor better suited for any type of riding. They just look trendy. They used
to be found on "old skool" bikes only. Then in the 90's, nobody used risers. Then in the "new
millenium", they made a comeback. It's pure fashion. You'd be better off with a set of different
stems that you could swap-out to give you more handlebar positions.

Most flat bars have a very shallow bend. The deeper bends of riser bars are more comfortable. That's
about the only benefit I can attribute to risers.

-Barry

"Steve" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> What is the point of risers? I've got them on my new bike, but it seems that it puts me in a more
> upright position, making my control less agressive. Why do I see the easton monkeylite (riser) on
> most racer's bikes?
>
> Steve
>
>

Personal preference, I suppose. They're a little better for technical stuff as you get less weight
on the front which prevents washouts and going over the bars. They're also a little more comfortable
for seated riding I find because of the wrist angle. Personally, I still like straight bars with
bar-ends as I like out of the saddle climbing with bar-ends.

Cheers,

Scott..

Steve wrote:

> What is the point of risers? I've got them on my new bike, but it seems that it puts me in a more
> upright position, making my control less agressive. Why do I see the easton monkeylite (riser) on
> most racer's bikes?
>
> Steve
>
>

dood dosen't everyone ride DH now? They started it and everyone else just kinda went along... It's
all about DH and Freeride now.... NOT. Flat bars and barends for 15 years now, why would I change?

B. Sanders wrote:
> As others (notably, Keith Bontrager) have pointed out, risers are an answer to a question that
> nobody was asking. The same effect (higher handlebars) can be had with a taller stem. Risers are
> neither stronger, lighter nor better suited for any type of riding. They just look trendy.

They can also be used to adjust fit problems for people who have ill fitting bikes. It's not always
about high performance.

My dad (60 years old) was complaining of lower back pain when he rode his mountain bike. I installed
a shorter stem and some risers which shortened the reach by about 5-6 inches and he's a lot happier
and more comfortable. It was a lot cheaper than getting him a whole new bike.

--Bill Davidson
--
Please remove ".nospam" from my address for email replies.

I'm a 17 year veteran of usenet -- you'd think I'd be over it by now

B. Sanders said...

> Then in the "new millenium", they made a comeback. It's pure fashion.

That is no doubt part of it, but maybe it is easier to bend tubing to get the desired position than
to redesign stems.

> Most flat bars have a very shallow bend. The deeper bends of riser bars are more comfortable.
> That's about the only benefit I can attribute to risers.

If you want the rise and the sweep that risers offer, then to get it with a flat bar you would need
new bars and a new stem. Risers kill two birds with one stone.

Fred Marx <[email protected]> wrote:

>Steve wrote:
>
>> What is the point of risers? I've got them on my new bike, but it seems that it puts me in a more
>> upright position, making my control less agressive. Why do I see the easton monkeylite (riser) on
>> most racer's bikes?

>dood dosen't everyone ride DH now? They started it and everyone else just kinda went along... It's
>all about DH and Freeride now.... NOT. Flat bars and barends for 15 years now, why would I change?

I'm with you, but don't underestimate the lemming mentality when it comes to bike fashion. If
the guys in the group ride start showing up with Product X, pretty soon only the retrogrouches
(like me...) will NOT have Product X on their bike (applies pretty much equally to roadies and
MTBers, BTW).

It's easy enough to do just about anything with a flat bar you can do with a riser - unless you
want your bars WAY up (like, above the saddle). There are flat bars that are as wide, and that have
as much sweep as most risers - and the combination of those flat bars and a stem with more rise
will weigh less and be indistinguishable in terms of handling. But if that's not what "the boys"
are riding...

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame

On Mon, 25 Aug 2003 04:41:32 GMT, Mark Hickey <[email protected]> wrote:

> But if that's not what "the boys" are riding...

Or is it what was included with my bike. My last two mountain bikes came spec'd with Easton riser
bars. They work fine, so I didn't bother swapping them for something different.

I believe that this has a lot more to do with things than what "the boys" are riding.

Barry

B a r r y B u r k e J r . <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Mon, 25 Aug 2003 04:41:32 GMT, Mark Hickey <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> But if that's not what "the boys" are riding...
>
>Or is it what was included with my bike. My last two mountain bikes came spec'd with Easton riser
>bars. They work fine, so I didn't bother swapping them for something different.
>
>I believe that this has a lot more to do with things than what "the boys" are riding.

That's why they were spec'd though... so you can't escape it.

Bwah hah hah hhhaaaaahhhhhhh....

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame

On Mon, 25 Aug 2003 01:17:45 GMT, "Steve" <[email protected]> may have said:

>What is the point of risers? I've got them on my new bike, but it seems that it puts me in a more
>upright position, making my control less agressive. Why do I see the easton monkeylite (riser) on
>most racer's bikes?

Two possible answers, neither of which is guaranteed to be the reason for any given rider:

The rider thinks they look neat.

The bike came with a threadless fork, and bars with risers were cheaper than a stem that would
produce the same grip position, or perhaps a stem that high just couldn't be had.

(I've heard the latter rationale more than once now.)

--
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On Mon, 25 Aug 2003 04:32:29 GMT, Super Slinky <[email protected]> may have said:

>B. Sanders said...
>
>> Then in the "new millenium", they made a comeback. It's pure fashion.
>
>That is no doubt part of it, but maybe it is easier to bend tubing to get the desired position than
>to redesign stems.
>
>> Most flat bars have a very shallow bend. The deeper bends of riser bars are more comfortable.
>> That's about the only benefit I can attribute to risers.
>
>If you want the rise and the sweep that risers offer, then to get it with a flat bar you would need
>new bars and a new stem. Risers kill two birds with one stone.

Of course, with a threaded steerer, this issue is less likely to be present...but I've seen bikes
with riser bars on a threaded steerer in the stores, so it's likely to be a fashion issue as much as
anything else.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

Dude, if you want to look good in your baggies, you gotta have risers. No duh.

> Personal preference, I suppose. They're a little better for technical
stuff
> as you get less weight on the front which prevents washouts and going over the bars. They're also
> a little more comfortable for seated riding I find because of the wrist angle. Personally, I still
> like straight bars with bar-ends as I like out of the saddle climbing with bar-ends.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Scott..
>
There's another piece of hard-won knowledge that seems to have gotten lost... The reason bar-ends
came into being in the first place is to give a more ergonomic hand position when climbing. Now that
the pros have dumped theirs, the avg joe seems to be doing the same...

Too bad.

Good thing I'm not tempted to follow suit!

Mike

> The bike came with a threadless fork, and bars with risers were cheaper than a stem that would
> produce the same grip position, or perhaps a stem that high just couldn't be had.
>
> (I've heard the latter rationale more than once now.)

Except that the riser bars are harder to switch out, and are usually paired with a stem that's
flipped over to put the rider in a lower position (before the riser bars were added). I can't tell
you how many guys I've seen with their stems flipped "roadie style" and riser bars. If they'd only
turn the stem over, they'd be right where they are with their riser bars!

Since bike fit isn't as critical on a mtn bike, people don't tend to spend the time on fitting that
roadies do. If they did, then those riser bars would probably be long gone.

Mike

RE/
>What is the point of risers? I've got them on my new bike, but it seems that it puts me in a more
>upright position, making my control less agressive.

The height factor seems moot to me. Raise the stem, lower the stem....and all that.

One thing that nobody seems to mention about risers is that if they rise enough, you can get a
significant change in saddle-bar distance just by tilting them fore and aft.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

Mike S. wrote:

>>The bike came with a threadless fork, and bars with risers were cheaper than a stem that would
>>produce the same grip position, or perhaps a stem that high just couldn't be had.
>>
>>(I've heard the latter rationale more than once now.)
>
>
>
> Except that the riser bars are harder to switch out, and are usually paired with a stem that's
> flipped over to put the rider in a lower position (before the riser bars were added). I can't tell
> you how many guys I've seen with their stems flipped "roadie style" and riser bars. If they'd only
> turn the stem over, they'd be right where they are with their riser bars!
>
> Since bike fit isn't as critical on a mtn bike, people don't tend to spend the time on fitting
> that roadies do. If they did, then those riser bars would probably be long gone.
>
> Mike
>
>
It also goes along with the "farmer John" tractor postition that I constanly se on mtn bikes these
days.... I could take the time to descibe it but once you look for it and see it it becomes obviouse
what I mean.... and it looks so comfy and aero.... NOT

"(Pete Cresswell)" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>
> The height factor seems moot to me. Raise the stem, lower the
stem....and all
> that.
>
> One thing that nobody seems to mention about risers is that if they rise
enough,
> you can get a significant change in saddle-bar distance just by tilting
them
> fore and aft.
> -----------------------
> PeteCresswell

I agree about the height thing. Not much different than using a different stem with flat bars and it
makes bar-ends a little tricky to use. About the tilt thing though, it's sometimes problematic
because the angle of the bar changes if you tilt too much and it becomes uncomfortable on your
wrists. But for sure there is some adjustment there.

Cheers,

Scott..

Fred Fred Fred, two *NOT* references in one thread.

Styleguy would say something witty yet insulting to you.

-kurd

"Fred Marx" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Mike S. wrote:
>
> >>The bike came with a threadless fork, and bars with risers were cheaper than a stem that would
> >>produce the same grip position, or perhaps a stem that high just couldn't be had.
> >>
> >>(I've heard the latter rationale more than once now.)
> >
> >
> >
> > Except that the riser bars are harder to switch out, and are usually
paired
> > with a stem that's flipped over to put the rider in a lower position
(before
> > the riser bars were added). I can't tell you how many guys I've seen
with
> > their stems flipped "roadie style" and riser bars. If they'd only turn
the
> > stem over, they'd be right where they are with their riser bars!
> >
> > Since bike fit isn't as critical on a mtn bike, people don't tend to
spend
> > the time on fitting that roadies do. If they did, then those riser bars would probably be
> > long gone.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> It also goes along with the "farmer John" tractor postition that I constanly se on mtn bikes these
> days.... I could take the time to descibe it but once you look for it and see it it becomes
> obviouse what I mean.... and it looks so comfy and aero.... NOT

While letting your top-posting slide?

Bill "just for effect" S.

"Kurd" <[email protected],net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Fred Fred Fred, two *NOT* references in one thread.
>
> Styleguy would say something witty yet insulting to you.
>
>
> -kurd
>
> "Fred Marx" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> >
> > Mike S. wrote:
> >
> > >>The bike came with a threadless fork, and bars with risers were cheaper than a stem that would
> > >>produce the same grip position, or perhaps a stem that high just couldn't be had.
> > >>
> > >>(I've heard the latter rationale more than once now.)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Except that the riser bars are harder to switch out, and are usually
> paired
> > > with a stem that's flipped over to put the rider in a lower position
> (before
> > > the riser bars were added). I can't tell you how many guys I've seen
> with
> > > their stems flipped "roadie style" and riser bars. If they'd only
turn
> the
> > > stem over, they'd be right where they are with their riser bars!
> > >
> > > Since bike fit isn't as critical on a mtn bike, people don't tend to
> spend
> > > the time on fitting that roadies do. If they did, then those riser
bars
> > > would probably be long gone.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > >
> > It also goes along with the "farmer John" tractor postition that I constanly se on mtn bikes
> > these days.... I could take the time to descibe it but once you look for it and see it it
> > becomes obviouse what I mean.... and it looks so comfy and aero.... NOT
>

I believe that Styleguy already covered the riser bar v. bar ends before. Either are good,
just don't do both. Quoting from memory: "You can either be John Wayne or Huggy Bear, you
cannot be both."

"Sorni" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> While letting your top-posting slide?
>
> Bill "just for effect" S.
>
> "Kurd" <[email protected],net> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > Fred Fred Fred, two *NOT* references in one thread.
> >
> > Styleguy would say something witty yet insulting to you.
> >
> >
> > -kurd
> >
> > "Fred Marx" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > >
> > >
> > > Mike S. wrote:
> > >
> > > >>The bike came with a threadless fork, and bars with risers were cheaper than a stem that
> > > >>would produce the same grip position, or perhaps a stem that high just couldn't be had.
> > > >>
> > > >>(I've heard the latter rationale more than once now.)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Except that the riser bars are harder to switch out, and are usually
> > paired
> > > > with a stem that's flipped over to put the rider in a lower position
> > (before
> > > > the riser bars were added). I can't tell you how many guys I've
seen
> > with
> > > > their stems flipped "roadie style" and riser bars. If they'd only
> turn
> > the
> > > > stem over, they'd be right where they are with their riser bars!
> > > >
> > > > Since bike fit isn't as critical on a mtn bike, people don't tend to
> > spend
> > > > the time on fitting that roadies do. If they did, then those riser
> bars
> > > > would probably be long gone.
> > > >
> > > > Mike
> > > >
> > > >
> > > It also goes along with the "farmer John" tractor postition that I constanly se on mtn bikes
> > > these days.... I could take the time to descibe it but once you look for it and see it it
> > > becomes obviouse
what
> > > I mean.... and it looks so comfy and aero.... NOT
> > >
> >
>