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i'm a bit out of touch with mountain biking bits and bobs, i'm needing new bars and stem but i cant decide what, i like Thomson stems but there's so many bars out there i cant make my mind up, any recommendations ?
I have a freaky fancy for some titec J bars or H bars has any one used them?
Unless you want to go down in flames I would suggest you have about two and a half minutes to post what bike you own, what stem and bars you currently have on it and what you think is wrong with the riding position and handling of the bike..
Just a bit of friendly advise.
I currently run a hope sten and raceface xc risers (alloy) nothing really wrong with the riding position, just alot of creaking recently , there old and looking a bit tatty. I've had my moneys worth and would like something new. There for a Singular Hummingbird 69er.
Thomson stems are decent but overpriced , don't think they're £20 better than the Hope one you've got. I would look at something cheaper from Easton, Raceface etc and spend more on the bar. Never used the Titec bars, for normal shapes I like Eastons, either EC70 or EC90, or Havens if you want something stronger
Stem - whatever's forged, shot peened and light.
Bars - whatever's about 680mm wide, and light.
Seriously though. It all used to be about 110mm stems and flat bars. Then shorter stems and riser bars. Then taller riser bars. Then even shorter stems. And now we're going to "lo-rise" bars.
Give it another 6 months and we'll be back round to flat bars...
Interesting. I'm afraid I don't know much about 29ers but I have read lots of positive things about the chap who runs Singular. If I were you i'd email him at sam@singularcycles.com
A quick squint at the geometry diagrams for the Swift suggest that hey think flat bars and a shortish stem for the medium and large frames and a riser stem and riser bars for the XL are the way to go.
For what it's worth I don't think spending more than £40 each on a stem and bars is justified. As for bar shape, different brands tends to fit different people. I've been happiest with RaceFace bars as I've found they fit the natural resting position of my hands but your mileage may differ. Manufacturers tend to keep the same rise/sweep over their range so maybe buy the cheapest bar from a particular brand then trade up when you find the brand that fits?
I run the easton carbon haven bars and stem, great combo.
Answer protaper AM bars are going fairly cheap at the moment. I have a pair and they're nice but I'd prefer something a bit more sweepy though I do like the 25mm rise. 35 quid at CRC IIRC. I really rate the shape/comfort of v1s though they're a little bit pricier.