Flat or Riser Bar?
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The advantage is being able to get your bars lower. 29ers typically are taller at the top of the head tube than 26ers (depending on head tube length). I run a flat bar and a flipped stem (-6 degrees) on one of my 29ers. That bike is for XC. I run a riser bar on my AM 29er.
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Thinking about a flat for my 29er for the reasons Thor29 cites. I find I like the sweep and rise angles of my current riser, so I need to figure out what that translates to in a flat, which typically specifies sweep only.
At the end of the day, it's only the location and orientation of your grips that matters. How they got there is just a detail.
At the end of the day, it's only the location and orientation of your grips that matters. How they got there is just a detail.
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This. I have a low-rise bar on my AM 29er for this reason. Otherwise the front end would be ridiculously high.
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In addition to being simply necessary to get the desired riding position on a 29er, flat bars are stiffer (for the same weight) or lighter (for the same stiffness) than riser bars, because there are fewer bends.
Rotating the bar is one way to adjust tilt. Works on a riser or flat all the same.
Rotating the bar is one way to adjust tilt. Works on a riser or flat all the same.
Can change wrist angle a bit depending on what angle your risers were swept at and so force your elbows out more as your arms try to maintain a straight wrist-forearm alignment.
At least that's my experience as I find that toward the end of long rides I'm wishing my flat bars were much more swept back so I could just lock my arms out straight on the final road section home.
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At least that's my experience as I find that toward the end of long rides I'm wishing my flat bars were much more swept back so I could just lock my arms out straight on the final road section home.
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Don't forget bar ends look better on flat bars.
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So no one using risers on a 29er is in the "desired riding position?"
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My bars are .5" higher than my saddle with a flat bar a 0* stem. Risers just put me to upright with my hands to high. Actually thinking about dropping my fork back down to 100mm to lower the front end some.
Talk about an adjustment when I get on the road bike and the bars are 2" below the saddle.
Talk about an adjustment when I get on the road bike and the bars are 2" below the saddle.
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If you see someone using flat bars on a 29er, one explanation is that it is necessary for them to get the desired riding position. Is that sufficiently clear?
There are other reasons (weight saving, ergonomics and aesthetics) as well.
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I use a riser on my hard tail 29r Flash carbon and it works for me. I did not like the flat bar that came with it stock and I wanted a little more upright position. I used bar ends in the past, but I honestly don't miss them anymore. I climb just fine with out them. All of this is a personal preference though and is something you really need to work out for yourself. What works for others may not work for you.
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I'm 5'5" and to get a reasonable hand position on a 29er I'd have to run a flat bar and a flipped stem. Low center of gravity equalls confident handling. That's what I've found playing with stems and spacers.
I completely ignored this untill I borrowed a friend's bike with the grips around 5cm lower than mine. No wonder my front end used to wash out on me all the time - there was no weight on it. I went on and ordered a new bar 7 stem the same night.
I completely ignored this untill I borrowed a friend's bike with the grips around 5cm lower than mine. No wonder my front end used to wash out on me all the time - there was no weight on it. I went on and ordered a new bar 7 stem the same night.
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