riser bars or bar ends on straight bars

[e-rider]

Probably the same reasons you buy road bike bars that are shoulder width, try google?

I remember as a kid with my first decent bike the bike shop measuring my shoulders against the bars.

you are clearly living in 1988!

 

[Silver]

What is wrong with risers and bar ends? surely this combination offers more control and flexibility for longer rides and endurance events?

 

[Ticktockmy]

I recently fitted 27 inch slight riser bars, fouind they really made handling much better, but I did cut them back to 26 inch, as I have found that 27 inch bars made it hard to get the bike into the Bike area on the night sleeper where as 26 fit lovely..

 

[maurice]

you are clearly living in 1988!

Really, how so?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

What is wrong with risers and bar ends? surely this combination offers more control and flexibility for longer rides and endurance events?

Nowt at all, makes for a supremely comfortable and versatile cockpit. But when you unload the bike at a trail centre, or go riding with strangers, you may find people pointing and staring at you.

 

[lukesdad]

Nowt at all, makes for a supremely comfortable and versatile cockpit. But when you unload the bike at a trail centre, or go riding with strangers, you may find people pointing and staring at you.

Too much time spent reading Glossy magazines probably Greg, where as we spend too much time reading old farts on forums

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Too much time spent reading Glossy magazines probably Greg, where as we spend too much time reading old farts on forums

Spot on. In my case their strangled cries sounds something like " OH.MY.GOD. Its.a.Boardman, Its.from.Halfords. AND.ITS.GOT.BAR.ENDS!"

Though I often get complemented on my white grips and guards.

 

[ultraviolet]

i think your main problem is stem length; most flat bared bikes have a long stems and your going to find that difficult for more technical all mountain riding.

change to a shorter stem will put you further over the back of the bike and quicken your steering. ideal for steep descents and technical trails   

 

[lukesdad]

i think your main problem is stem length; most flat bared bikes have a long stems and your going to find that difficult for more technical all mountain riding.

change to a shorter stem will put you further over the back of the bike and quicken your steering. ideal for steep descents and technical trails

Stem length is indeed important in more ways than one. longer stem flat bars= more efficent climbing.

 

[judee12]

I've started riding more technical stuff and found my narrow XC bars a bit too low and narrow even with bar ends. The geometry was very much long and low at the front and arse up at the back. I experimented various setups, firstly a higher stem, which changed the feel dramatically. It made me more confident on descents, but the stem was shorter than before, which made the bike even more twitchy, and bizarrely, as speed increased, so it felt that I was having to wrestle the bike a bit more. Eventually I put a pair of 720mm lowish riser bars on, and now love the setup. The only downside is seated climbing, where I now have to scoot forward on the saddle to keep the front wheel planted

So, to answer your question from my experience, you need to find the stem/reach/width that sits you up a bit more that the race position. Shorter stem will be more direct in terms of steering, and a wider pair of bars will calm it all down a bit.

 

[judee12]

Nothing to do with cycling but loved your Comfortably Numb quote at the end!