On Tue, 2 Sep 2003 17:11:00 -0700, Tom Keats <
[email protected]> wrote:
> checked out how my old bar ends would go onto drop bars. They'd just stick crazily out
> sideways, and
...depending where you put them -- how about sliding them all the way up past the brake levers, and
have them stick up?
That's one example. With all of the positions and angles on a drop bar, you can hang bar-ends in all
sorts of weird angles.
> What I'm getting at is, drop-bar'd road bikes have an aesthetically pleasing simplicity about
> them. While
Amen, brother!
> people are entitled to do whatever they want to their own bikes, I think it's still kind of a
> shame to spoil that delicious sleekness with add-ons and afterthoughts.
Agreed.
> Maybe there is some functionality to bar ends on drop bars, and I guess there's no harm trying it
> to see what happens.
People who experiment in weird ways are rewarded in good ways, at least sometimes.
> But in my honest opinion, it sure would have a "teat on a bull" appearance. And I've found out
> myself how
It certainly would have that appearance.
> easy and tempting it can be to overly complicate a bike.
The only time I think I have that problem is when it takes me 45 minutes to get ready to go for a
bike ride, and I see people just hop on and ride. They get to ride 45 minutes longer.
Okay, that, and when I consider just how heavy my mountain bike has gotten.
> Maybe drop bars already intrinsically provide enough of a variety of hand positions?
One variety fits all? While drop bars do provide enough for most people in most situations, it's
certainly worth experimenting, for somebody who isn't easily embarassed, with additional positions.
Note that there are lots of attachments for drop bars, under the category "aero-bar" and "tri-bar".
Those are for people to gain additional variety.
> As an urban rider, my own preference is against anything that takes the hands too far away from
> the brake levers.
I ride suburban and rural, and do okay by putting my hands near the levers when I think I could be
in a situation to use them.
> If anybody out there does stick bar ends onto their drop bars, please at least don't use 'em while
> riding close to stucco walls.
...or just don't ride close to stucco walls. I sure woudln't.
> cheers, Tom
--
Rick Onanian