Why are handlebars mostly straight?

Gwood said:

and no... this isn't a follow up to the recent poor excuse at
trolling....

A buddy asked me why handlebars on MTBs are mostly straight or with very
slight sweep. Certainly I've often thought my bars would be more
comfortable on long rides if they were a bit more swept (dorsi-flexed?)
to
match what I think would be a more natural grip position.

Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?

Bars are mostly straight because homosexuals are still a minority, thank
God.

Butt seriously, non-bent bars are cheaper to manufacture, hence that's
usually what comes on stock bikes.

--
Slacker

Gwood said:

and no... this isn't a follow up to the recent poor excuse at trolling....

A buddy asked me why handlebars on MTBs are mostly straight or with very
slight sweep. Certainly I've often thought my bars would be more
comfortable on long rides if they were a bit more swept (dorsi-flexed?) to
match what I think would be a more natural grip position.

Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?

Put your hands in front of you, each made into a loose fist around
shoulder width, with the "tunnels" that makes through your palms
fairly parallel to the ground.

If you're like me, they naturally fall to a position that would match
a bar with just a few degrees of sweep. For me it would be very
uncomfortable to ride bars with more than 2-3 degrees more sweep than
my "natural position".

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

"Gwood" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

and no... this isn't a follow up to the recent poor excuse at trolling....

A buddy asked me why handlebars on MTBs are mostly straight or with very
slight sweep. Certainly I've often thought my bars would be more
comfortable on long rides if they were a bit more swept (dorsi-flexed?) to
match what I think would be a more natural grip position.

Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?

Check these out for a bar with more 'bend'
http://www.on-one.co.uk/products/mary.shtml

Steve.

"Gwood" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

and no... this isn't a follow up to the recent poor excuse at

trolling....

Quoted message said:

A buddy asked me why handlebars on MTBs are mostly straight or with

very

Quoted message said:

slight sweep. Certainly I've often thought my bars would be more
comfortable on long rides if they were a bit more swept

(dorsi-flexed?) to

Quoted message said:

match what I think would be a more natural grip position.

Quoted message said:

Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?

These units are pretty swoopy:
http://www.jonesbikes.com/hbar/default.asp

/s

Interesting. When I do the describing action, the imagined bar actually has
a few degrees sweep. Not a ton, but definitely more than a couple of
degrees. Wonder if this is a function of joints/muscles getting a little
stiffer with age (I'm way older than Phil the squid) or simply that some
folks anatomy gives a different "resting" position for hands.

Anyways, I may swap out my Bontrager Race flat bar for something with a bit
of rise and a bit of sweep. Suggestions from the group for something worthy
of the experiment that won't break the bank? (and no trials, FR or DH
durability requirements).

Cheers
Gary

"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Gwood" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Put your hands in front of you, each made into a loose fist around
shoulder width, with the "tunnels" that makes through your palms
fairly parallel to the ground.

If you're like me, they naturally fall to a position that would match
a bar with just a few degrees of sweep. For me it would be very
uncomfortable to ride bars with more than 2-3 degrees more sweep than
my "natural position".

Interesting. When I do the describing action, the imagined bar actually has
a few degrees sweep. Not a ton, but definitely more than a couple of
degrees. Wonder if this is a function of joints/muscles getting a little
stiffer with age (I'm way older than Phil the squid) or simply that some
folks anatomy gives a different "resting" position for hands.

Anyways, I may swap out my Bontrager Race flat bar for something with a bit
of rise and a bit of sweep. Suggestions from the group for something worthy
of the experiment that won't break the bank? (and no trials, FR or DH
durability requirements).

Cheers
Gary

"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Gwood" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Put your hands in front of you, each made into a loose fist around
shoulder width, with the "tunnels" that makes through your palms
fairly parallel to the ground.

If you're like me, they naturally fall to a position that would match
a bar with just a few degrees of sweep. For me it would be very
uncomfortable to ride bars with more than 2-3 degrees more sweep than
my "natural position".

spademan o---) * said:

Check these out for a bar with more 'bend'
http://www.on-one.co.uk/products/mary.shtml

Beat me to it. Are you going to get a some? I was already looking at the
Mungo's but the Mary's seem like an easier compromise.

I have to go with flat bars. I've tried both and for me
theres more control and comfi. Sure flat came around 1st.

"bomba" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

spademan o---) * said:

Check these out for a bar with more 'bend'
http://www.on-one.co.uk/products/mary.shtml

Beat me to it. Are you going to get a some? I was already looking at the
Mungo's but the Mary's seem like an easier compromise.

Probably not, but would be interested in how they handle if you ever get
some.

Steve.

Per Gwood:

Quoted message said:

Interesting. When I do the describing action, the imagined bar actually has
a few degrees sweep. Not a ton, but definitely more than a couple of
degrees. Wonder if this is a function of joints/muscles getting a little
stiffer with age

Makes me wonder if there isn't another cottage industry waiting to be created
(besides custom saddles).
--
PeteCresswell

On Tue, 18 Jan 2005 16:18:56 -0800, "Gwood" <[email hidden]> wrote:

..and no... this isn't a follow up to the recent poor excuse at trolling....
..
..A buddy asked me why handlebars on MTBs are mostly straight or with very
..slight sweep. Certainly I've often thought my bars would be more
..comfortable on long rides if they were a bit more swept (dorsi-flexed?) to
..match what I think would be a more natural grip position.
..
..Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?

Cheaper to manufacture. And bicyclists are apparently too stupid to demand
ergonomic handlebars.
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"😉. Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

Mike Vandeman wrote:
SNIP

Quoted message said:

.Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?

Cheaper to manufacture. And bicyclists are apparently too stupid to demand
ergonomic handlebars.
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"😉. Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

Hi Mike,

I'm new to this newsgroup, but in less than 2 weeks you have clearly
demonstrated how to turn people against whatever you advocate. I now
hate wildlife, habitats, humans, phds, etc. You truly are the master
advocate.

Please don't flip-flop and start advocating mountain biking.

Al

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 04:22:58 GMT, Mike Vandeman <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 18 Jan 2005 16:18:56 -0800, "Gwood" <[email hidden]> wrote:

.and no... this isn't a follow up to the recent poor excuse at trolling....
.
.A buddy asked me why handlebars on MTBs are mostly straight or with very
.slight sweep. Certainly I've often thought my bars would be more
.comfortable on long rides if they were a bit more swept (dorsi-flexed?) to
.match what I think would be a more natural grip position.
.
.Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?

Cheaper to manufacture. And bicyclists are apparently too stupid to demand
ergonomic handlebars.

And Mikey V is too stupid to realize he doesn't know what he's talking
about...

I just hope that he will endorse demorcratic presidential candidates with
the same zeal.

"Al Kubeluis" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike Vandeman wrote:
SNIP

Quoted message said:

.Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?

Cheaper to manufacture. And bicyclists are apparently too stupid to

demand

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ergonomic handlebars.
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"😉. Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

Hi Mike,

I'm new to this newsgroup, but in less than 2 weeks you have clearly
demonstrated how to turn people against whatever you advocate. I now
hate wildlife, habitats, humans, phds, etc. You truly are the master
advocate.

Please don't flip-flop and start advocating mountain biking.

Al

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Gwood" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

A buddy asked me why handlebars on MTBs are mostly straight or with
very slight sweep.
Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?

Quoted message said:

These units are pretty swoopy:
http://www.jonesbikes.com/hbar/default.asp

Wow, that's a pretty unique design, and would do away with the need for
bar-ends at the same time.
How does that sort of weight, 310gm and 265gm depending on the front
extension, compare to a
good set of mtn bike handlebars?

Ezookiel

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 01:27:40 -0600, Ken Graham <[email hidden]> wrote:

..On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 04:22:58 GMT, Mike Vandeman <[email hidden]>
..wrote:
..
..>On Tue, 18 Jan 2005 16:18:56 -0800, "Gwood" <[email hidden]> wrote:
..>
..>.and no... this isn't a follow up to the recent poor excuse at trolling....
..>.
..>.A buddy asked me why handlebars on MTBs are mostly straight or with very
..>.slight sweep. Certainly I've often thought my bars would be more
..>.comfortable on long rides if they were a bit more swept (dorsi-flexed?) to
..>.match what I think would be a more natural grip position.
..>.
..>.Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?
..>
..>Cheaper to manufacture. And bicyclists are apparently too stupid to demand
..>ergonomic handlebars.
..
..
..And Mikey V is too stupid to realize he doesn't know what he's talking
..about...

BS. Why do you think the first handlebars were bent back, so that the rider
didn't have to bend over in an unnatural (for a human) position? DUH!
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"😉. Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 06:54:47 -0500, Al Kubeluis <[email hidden]> wrote:

..Mike Vandeman wrote:
..SNIP
..> .Is this a matter of bar strength, perceived correct posture, or what?
..>
..> Cheaper to manufacture. And bicyclists are apparently too stupid to demand
..> ergonomic handlebars.
..> ===
..> I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
..> humans ("pure habitat"😉. Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
..> years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)
..>
..> http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande
..Hi Mike,
..
..I'm new to this newsgroup, but in less than 2 weeks you have clearly
..demonstrated how to turn people against whatever you advocate. I now
..hate wildlife, habitats, humans, phds, etc.

You don't lie any better than other mountain bikers.

You truly are the master
..advocate.
..
..Please don't flip-flop and start advocating mountain biking.
..
..Al

===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"😉. Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 06:39:42 GMT, Mike Vandeman <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 01:27:40 -0600, Ken Graham <[email hidden]>
wrote:

.And Mikey V is too stupid to realize he doesn't know what he's talking
.about...

Quoted message said:

BS. Why do you think the first handlebars were bent back, so that the
rider
didn't have to bend over in an unnatural (for a human) position? DUH!
===

"Bend over" is *your* natural position... DUH!!!

--
Slacker

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

.>Cheaper to manufacture. And bicyclists are apparently too stupid to demand
.>ergonomic handlebars.
.
.
.And Mikey V is too stupid to realize he doesn't know what he's talking
.about...

BS. Why do you think the first handlebars were bent back, so that the rider
didn't have to bend over in an unnatural (for a human) position? DUH!

They weren't, ergo, your entire argument is, as usual, made up out of
whole cloth.

Bent bars are still available as cheaply as ever, $2 will get you a set
in steel if you want to save money. If you want an ergonomic position
for mountain biking, you can get straight bars for no extra cost.

--
[email hidden] is Joshua Putnam
<http://www.phred.org/~josh/>
Updated Bicycle Touring Books List:
<http://www.phred.org/~josh/bike/tourbooks.html>