[Closed] Does anyone still ride with bar ends at all?

I've got a flat barred Singular Swift and Canyon CF 29er both with Specialized Overendz on them. Great rubberized finish to them.
And got some XLite bar ends in the garage you can maybe have, off my Orange Clockwork '93?

I thought about some the other day while out on the HT. I get pretty bad pains in my elbows after a few miles which did take some enjoyment out of the ride, I had a thought about sticking bar ends on after a long period without them.
(I've had the same bars on for donkeys years but lately my elbows have been giving me grief)

TOGS..

Cane Creek Ergos AND Togs 🙂

Yes, but not on the bike I ride most of the time...

Yep.

It's nice to be able to switch position on long rides. I use Controltech.

Hijack! Got some Mr Dirt ODI lock on compatible (replace the outer clamp) bar ends in the garage if someone wants to make me an offer?

Don't use them now unfortunately.

Miss them though, fantastic on long uphill grinds or just long xc days.

I'm not a fashion victim (well, perhaps I am actually?!)but must admit they look ridiculous on riser bars so not used them in ages.

About to put some on my Sherpa. Tried the short stem, wide bars thing. Meh. Flopped all over the place on climbs. Put a longer stem and 650mm bars on and it climbs like a mutha. Still fine going down. Some tasteful bar ends the next logical step.

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2834/33092919744_8f44b0b738_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2834/33092919744_8f44b0b738_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SqiS6N ]P1030920[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

My Rooster sporting an old pair of Tomac stubbies on a Fleegle bar. I do have a pair of Jonesesque type bars to try though and will be fitting those shortly.

[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/641/21549519892_0f520372b5_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/641/21549519892_0f520372b5_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/yQfVuq ]Singular Rooster[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/28886706@N05/ ]Bigbroondug[/url], on Flickr

wooo!

[img] ?oh=a940739b22559986a8c74f4241a07a60&oe=59878001[/img]

Is anyone here using bar end with the carbon Knuckleball bars, or are bar ends with carbons bars a really bad idea?

I used to [i]love[/i] bar-ends. When the bars got above 700mm they seemed not to help anymore and I let them go. I tried TOGS recently. Those I'll keep. I don't use them a lot in normal operations and I dislike the bar-clutter, but they're a useful thing to have in the spares box for a tour or a marathon or something. I aspire to one day do a trip so epic that a pair tri-bars would make sense.

🙂

Use them on my commuter. With the return of bottle cages, bumbags and saddle bags, I predict bar ends are the next big thing on the enduro scene. Rumour around the campfire is that some of the biggest names have been using them in the off season.

Cane Creek Ergos on my singlespeed, for the extra uphill grunting but also nice to just rest your hands on for longer cruisey bits.

Put mine on in the early 90's, and never had any urge to ditch them. Have to test ride loads of wide bar, short stem monstrosities in work, and it's always good to get back on my own bike. I'd be putting up a wanted ad for Pro Stubbies if I ever damaged mine.

I use a set of alloy Superstar ones on a knuckleball. Mostly for xc and bike packing duties on my rigid 29er.

I clamped them carefully with lots of fiber grip!

I did try some plug ends to support the carbon. I found some Specialized ones but the bars had some extra uneven carbon layup in the end which meant the plugs wouldn't go in.

But so far so good without them.

[img] [/img]

Took me an age to find the Easton Carbon barends, was gutted to find I had managed to damage both when I went for a bit of a tumble on some diesel the other day.

I've been using the Canes Creek Ergos on carbon bars for years without any problems.

I've used tri-bars too when the route had enough road transitions. Against a headwind it is like stepping up a couple of cogs on the cassette.

bigrich - that's an absolutely superb photo! Who was the tog?

I've got them on my road-rat but have never really used them on mountain bikes.

Only ever use them on the singlespeed, Cane Creek Ergos, on a flat carbon bar. Really like having a change of position for longer rides, although I can't wait to rip them off afterwards, as the hand position feels wrong when descending.

esselgruntfuttock - Member
I thought about some the other day while out on the HT. I get pretty bad pains in my elbows after a few miles which did take some enjoyment out of the ride, I had a thought about sticking bar ends on after a long period without them.
(I've had the same bars on for donkeys years but lately my elbows have been giving me grief)

essel - try some bars with a bit of backsweep - I had similar issues to you with flat bars, much improved with a bit of backsweep. 17 degrees, 20, 25, 30...

Whatever you can find cheap to try out.

Cane Creek Ergos on my HT Solaris - the only time I went to BPW was the day before a bikepacking weekend, I was on a HT with mudguards, bottle cages and bar ends. I was in a niche of my own

I have Ergon grips with bar ends in the summer on my jones loops, which resides on my SS rigid Salsa El Mariachi. Put different grips on in the winter so I can fit pogies

Never stopped using them. On both my bikes, on RISER bars!
Fashion police, come and get me!
I like them for the alternative hand positions and for climbing they help as well to keep the front down.

Would there be any benefit on a longer-travel bike? I'm considering some kind of grip change for comfort on longer rides on my Flare, but I'm conscious that putting more weight over the front could actually be less efficient.

Some ancient/vintage (~20yo) alu numbers on 760 wide flat bar on my singlespeed - I am tall/long arms/wide shoulders though.

Ace for getting my gurn on ups steep stuff. Miss them on other bikes on long rides.

A mate had a go on them, and with the width remarked " i feel like i'm carrying a big TV".

Yes, and on a riser bar too! Only because my MTB is both my weekend bike without bar ends, and my bikepacking bike with bar ends. Whilst its currently sporting a 40mm riser, its getting changed to a 20mm one so will look slightly less stupid.

Thanks for responses and pics you lovely lot.

jam bo - Member
TOGS..

I had to google this last night in a semi sleep/awake slumber when I really should of gone to bed and my google fu was down. I had no idea what they were and thought this to had to be some type of internet slang cool kid phrase. I am now more informed about how the duvet rating system works, Terry Wogans followers and photographers.

On the flip side though those togs look interesting, I might give them a wirl.

Thanks fatmax for the offer, I'll hold off for now whilst I have a look about at what is out there, I like the look Cane Creek ones.

And surely no one would admit to having bar ends and riser bars, this has to be attention seeking nonsense! Without pictures I don't believe it 😉

yea I have them on my 29er high latitude which I keep with semi slicks on for longer rides with virtually no tech and I have a soul for tech with longer bars without bar ends. I do find them useful when climbing.

use them on all of mine except for the one with actual wide bars and even that has Ergot ones with minibar ends

I even have a set that included a multi tool in each bar end

I have some of the Giant Contact SL composite bar ends on the commuter, useful to move the hands a bit on a longer trip in the absence of drop bars.

[img] [/img]

I used to swear by them...in the 90s.

I think they still have their place if you're rocking narrow bars. Otherwise they feel pretty redundant IMO.

I'd have OnZa Ti L-bends if I could find some cheap enough. And that's with 780mm bars.

I like having my handlebar grips parallel.

I do it by using a shallow dropbar. It's great for when you're grunting up a hill on a single speed because your wrists are flexing at a more comfortable angle.

It also gives me another higher riding position which is nice on a long day.

I do. Get bad pains in my hands if I am unable to change position every now and then.

[img] [/img]

Not anymore, but only because they look a bit naf. Function wise they are brilliant on an xc bike.

Nice set of ritchey wrs available in white if anyone wants them!

Another fan of the Specialized Overendz here - currently on my (occasional) bikepacking bike with ergonomic grips and wide riser bars (I have never been accused of being trendy, so don't care what other people think)

My 29er also has wide riser bars and Ergon G2 grips, which are only marginally less comfortable.

My 26 inch singlespeed, however, has stock width bars and normal grips.

The bar ends really do make for a good choice of positions, to relieve hand strain (Oooer!)

Don't they get hooked up on undergrowth?
I specifically use bars with lots of back sweep to get me through the foliage like an ice breaker.

I seem to remember bar ends being reported as a source of injuries in crashes.
Never seen it myself but I guess having a hook on the end of your bars if going out the front door could cause some nasty ones.

Yep, been running a pair of [url= https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebars/sjsc-ergo-control-bar-end-grip-black/ ]these[/url] since just before dioig the TPT last year on my BFe. Never felt the need to take them off and as others have said, it's nice to have a different hand position sometimes.

I love them for long distance but have managed to wean myself off them for XC and 12hrs where despite the comfort they are a liability.

Crashing with bar ends on lightweight carbon bars generally wrecks the bars.

For long distance they are so much more comfortable.

@wildc4rd - looks like Meldon viaduct.

I seem to remember bar ends being reported as a source of injuries in crashes.

Mine have saved my little fingers a few times when brushing trees/rockface/walls.

Also great for stopping damage to brakes/GPS/lights when upturning the bike.

I use Tioga short ones on risers on my Kaffenback which is used for on road and off road biking

[img] [/img]

@snaps - Certainly is, did the bimble from Okehampton across to the pub in Lydford on Sunday, was lovely. The old commuter doesn't get much action these days...

Fitted some with narrow bars to my Salsa when I built it. The narrow bars were awful with 29" wheels, so ended up with a Fleegle Pro bar at something like 660mm and 17 deg sweep. Variation in hand position provided by Ergon grips. I'd try something along those lines if I were you.

Slightly OT, but does anyone have a recommendation for bar ends with a completely split clamp like a brake lever has? (so I could fit them inside of the grips, without taking the grips off?) I have a bike that spends half its time on the turbo, it'd be nice to be able to add some there quickly

I cant be without my Cane Creek Ergo's...
Couldnt figure out why I just couldnt get comfy on my new Yeti FS. Kept going back to my Scott Scale then realised it was the bar ends I was missing.
Really makes a chore into a pleasure for me on the uphills.

Slightly OT, but does anyone have a recommendation for bar ends with a completely split clamp like a brake lever has?

Would something like the Cinelli Spinaci work?

I always used them in the days of 580-600mm bars, they opened your chest up for better breathing and gave better leverage for grunting up climbs, now though 700-800mm bars do the same thing with out them and personally I think they look stupid on wide (not just riser) bars. Each to their own though, if they work for you go ahead. 😀

I use these on my 29er XC bike.
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/xlc-comfort-locking-grips-bar-ends.html
Very comfy great position for hands. If you come off they don't hurt so much.

Yep, love mine for an extra hand position on long rides. I have got my bars cut down though....

[img] [/img]