mtblife said:
I'm setting up my bike for XC racing. Is it smart to put bar ends on a riser bar, or should I stick withd a flat bar instead?
Works for me. IMNSHO, bar-ends and rise bars solve two different problems. Rise bars solve the problem of low bars. MTBs have small headtubes, and one's ideal MTB frame is much, much smaller than one's ideal road frame. Rise bars also tend to be wider. Not because they have to be, but that's just how they make 'em.
Bar-ends solve the problems of any straight bar, regardless of rise: Lack of hand positions and an unnatural wrist angle. For most of us, when we stick our arms out in front of us, our hands end up largely vertical, with palms facing in. Bar-ends allow for a position with a neutral wrist angle. This can be of great comfort on the flats. Also, standing up while climbing and rocking the bike feels much more controlled and natural when grasping the bar-ends than when on the grips, at least to me.
FYI, on my singlespeed, I'm running Azonic DH bars, 71 cm width and 2 1/2 inch rise, with medium-length curved bar-ends, wrapped in black CatEye cloth handlebar tape. I always tape my bar-ends, there are few things in this world more slippery than sweat-drenched aluminum. Climbing on a single speed involves lots of standing, pulling hard on the bars, rocking the bike, sweating, and cursing. (if I have the breath) The bar-ends more than pay their way... I use them all the time.
If you like bar-ends on flat bars, you'll probably like them on rise bars, and for all of the same reasons. Ditto if you don't like them on flat bars. Mountain Bike Action, aka "Your BIke Sucks", may frown, and your buddies may not get it, but ride what works for you.
--Shannon, hiding from the MBA fasion police, in
San Diego, CA