Bendy Bars – Mary, Mike, OG

Hi all
I am thinking about trying out some bendy bars (I get neck pain) and am thinking about the On-One Mary, Mike or OG.

What provides the best mix of back sweep and lift?

Does anyone have any real world experience?
Ta
Woody

I have used mary bars. I like them for touring / commuting but not really for MTBing. they are also a bit narrow by modern standards but I don’t like the stupidly wide bars that are fashionable now.

I have a set of mary bars spare you can have for much cheapness. PM me

Cool – will send message!

There’s not really a ‘best’ I’d say, very much down to personal preference.

The Mary feels most comfortable for me, but I find it too swept and narrow for technical riding so only use one on my skinny tyred single speed MTB. I had an OG on my main MTB which I found much better offroad and still comfortable over long distances, but I’ve settled on a Salsa Bend 23 now, which is a little wider.

It looks like the Mike is basically a Mary bar.

The Mary and Mike appear to have much more rise than the OG. Or you can flip a Mary to get something almost like a dirt drop bar…

I’ve used On-One Mary, Stooge Moto, Velo Orange Crazy Bars and Jones Loop bars. All have different rise and sweep so it’s a case of finding one that suits you.

As with @tjagain I found the Marys a bit narrow, I also couldn’t get them properly aligned for my hands, I suspect the rise was counteracting the sweep. Uncut the Moto bars are way too wide – I felt like I was doing wide open press-ups, cut down to around 700-720mm they are much better.

My favourite bars are the Jones Loops, I’ve got the carbon loops on my FS and the SG riser loops on my fat bike (I got this second hand and the steerer was cut too low for me so need the rise).

Oh, and this website’s brilliant!

http://whatbars.com/

I logged on to ask a very similar question, as the current trend of wide straight bars aren’t suiting me.

Coming from Ragley Carnegies – but needing just a little bit more width.

Those Salsa Bends look good, but where to buy from?

Any other options?

I bought some of the Salsa 17 deg bars recently from Slam69. They were a good price and they were even getting back to me on a Sunday afternoon when I was asking a question about them. Quick delivery too.

I bought an on one OG bar a few years ago as I was getting neck pain over longer rides with a normal riser bar. It has made a huge difference and still feels well controlled on technical descents. I won’t be going back to a straight bar on the mtb now.

I also have the new on one Geoff sat on my desk waiting to be fitted to the fat bike to see what they are like.

Slam69. I’d never heard of them.

Thanks very much avdave2

I’d not bonzodog till I’d Googled the bars. They were really helpful and it felt like I was talking to a person who works in a small bike shop and rides bikes, they have both the 17 and 23 deg bars. I asked about the width and they just stock the wider option as it can be cut down

Carbon OG bars are so good, perfect blend of flex and sweep.

I have OG bars on my road bike. comfy with foam grips.

The OG bars look a little too high rise for me. A bit too upright.

Those Bends look ace, so think Ill go for them.

Hhmmm 17 or 23’s though? My Carnegies were 25 degrees but a bit narrower (685mm?). Im naturally drawn to the 23’s but I’m unsure how this would feel with a wider (740mm) bar.

Thanks to all for help so far – this is very helpful

Aram

I ran Jones 720 bend bars on my Krampus.

I liked them.  720 with the enormo backsweep makes them feel like 760-780ish.

Not has hugely expensive as the Jones loop bars.