So still on the quest for some relief for my arthritis, grips have helped, but what bars flex more flat or riser, I know 31.8mm bars are less stiff than 35mm (swapped to 31.8) but do flat bars flex more than risers or the other way round
Cheers
I dunno but I've noticed significantly less arm batteredness with carbon and Spank Vibrocore bars than with standard alu bars (though they were FatBars which are pretty stiff I think)
I’m pleased with my OneUp V1 carbon bars with a 20mm rise/800width. I think the V2 version got stiffened up for downhill certification. I appreciate it all might be subjective but I can see how the ovalised section will help with vibration damping.
Depends too much on the use of the bar, what the manufacturer thinks they need to do etc etc. I've had both flats and risers at both ends of the spectrum. Best thing is to find a bar designed for shock absorption, and try that. Vibrocore as above is a good start. Flexx have actual sprung/damped bars too. (There are others!)
Cheers I'd forgotten about the vibrocore bars, will have a look
One Up bars the FS, Vibrocore on the HT. Both make my shoulder ache (post breaking CB) less than other bars- alu or carbon. It's not much but it's enough for me to be able to tell.
Choose something from the list...
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/tested-compliant-mtb-handlebars-vs-vibration-damping.html#cid4068471
Choose something from the list...
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/tested-compliant-mtb-handlebars-vs-vibration-damping.html#cid4068471
But note that from least to most flexiest in that test you're looking at 3.5mm - 4.5 mm . I wouldn't be bothering with bars here. Longer travel softer fork maybe.
Cheers for the link, looking at the flex chart may as well stick with the RF bars I fitted instead of oem 35mm bars.
I think the V2 version got stiffened up for downhill certification.
OneUp V2 is in theory less stiff than V1. Both are rated for DH use .
I’ve yet to try a V2.
I’ve been running V1 for a few years now, after trying lots of bars back to back (different materials, bar clamp size, vibracore brands, etc).
Note that the alu OneUps don’t have the compliance of the carbon ones.
I'm using Deity Speedway carbon bars at the moment, but they're as stiff as they come. Great for precise input and control, but not for comfort. My next bars will definitely be OneUp carbon as I only ever hear good things about them. Apparently their ebike carbon bars are tuned for extra comfort too, with a lot of people using them on regular bikes. A review:
https://theloamwolf.com/reviews/components/review-oneup-carbon-e-bar/
Here's the Flexx bars mention above:
https://fasstmtb.com/collections/flexx-handlebars-handlebars
By no means a cheap solution, but they appear to be very well reviewed.
Revgrips might also be worth a look -
A friend of mine with bad wrists swears by them
Yup, they help. Not cheap though. If you get some… get some replacement grip sleeves while you’re at it, they wear just as fast as normal grips.
It'll be hard to find them now but Crank Bros did a carbon bar, the Cobalt 11, which is downright bendy- but also 780mm long, 9 degrees backsweep so a surprisingly modern shape considering it's like 14 years old. I have one on my fatbike and the comfort it adds is just incredible- though it's not as good at "buzz reduction" as some of the modern clever bars, you can bend it visibly just by pushing on it. Slightly noticable when you ride though imo not as instrusive as you'd think. Basically it's the reason I'm still riding my rigid fatbike despite mangled hands.
(if one does come up for sale I'll fight you for it)
Depends how much you're able to spend on trying things out. I'd be looking at 31.8 alloy bars with more-than-standard rearward sweep (12° or so)
I tried a race face carbon sic bar- too stiff
Two MTB with spank virbrocore bars- ace
One bike came with a rental carbon bar- good
For me the bar shape has more to do with comfort than the flex. I think, I've not tried two of the same shapes in different manufacturers or two of the same bars in different shapes
I’ve put some OneUp V2 760mm/20mm on my bike. There is a rocky, not very steep but quite fast descent I ride a few times as it’s a link route and I “think” I’m sure that the front end feels less harsh/rattly with the OneUp. I’m sure it’s smoother with the new bars, but there was a few weeks between tramming it down the sections after fitting them, so maybe I’m just woo’d with how damn good they look on the bike. It’s very subjective in the absence of back to back/blind testing or lab results.
Edit, the bars they replaced were solid Aluminium scaffold tube style e-bike handlebars with cable ports in them so I suspect very over engineered.
Drop bar mountain bike - think of all the hand positions!
Girvin Fkex-Stem™
I'm sure there's a modern equivalent out there somewhere?
Depends how much you're able to spend on trying things out. I'd be looking at 31.8 alloy bars with more-than-standard rearward sweep (12° or so)
Yep. That's what makes the difference to me. I've got some SQLab 12' on one bike and Sonder 15' on another. Riding a 9' bar now is really uncomfortable. I find it surprising that there aren't more options out there.
do flat bars flex more than risers or the other way round
Much of a muchness AFAIK. More dependent on the construction etc.
My previous commuter I had Ritchey WCS carbon flat bar and it was a lovely, flexy thing - I could see it flex when I wrenched on the bars during traffic light grand prixs. But that was a xc-orientated flat bar and built accordingly.
I've still not found anything comfier than my 38mm rise v1 Nukeproof carbon 31.8 bar though. Unsure if it's a combination of the shape/upsweep/backsweep and construction, but it's just 'comfy'. Still available via Evans/Sports Direct, worst case. I was almost swayed by deals on a v1 OneUp carbon recently but the Nukeproof is just too nice.
Choose something from the list...
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/tested-compliant-mtb-handlebars-vs-vibration-damping.html#cid4068471
But note that from least to most flexiest in that test you're looking at 3.5mm - 4.5 mm . I wouldn't be bothering with bars here. Longer travel softer fork maybe.
It might not be a lot, but I found moving from a stiff alu bar to the OneUp v1 made a big difference to arm fatigue. I can't say its just because it flexes a bit more, or it's some other property but it was noticeable on the first ride. I have a different set of carbon bars on another bike that also work for me, so maybe its also about the shape / material than the flex, or could just ne that the alu bars I was on originally were particularly bad for me in some way.
This is with 35mm bars, I never had an issue with 31.8 alu bars.
TLDR: Bars definitely impact on hand / forearm fatigue.
PNW Carbon bars feel compliant. Cant remember for certain, but when I was researching the most comfortable bars they came out as a giod choice. They certainly feel nice and muted on my Rigid Single Speed and I'm happy to blast through quite rough trails.