Bar Ends

[Proofer]

Have just fitted some bar ends to my Raleigh Strada Hybrid, they are really good for changing hand positions and pulling on going up hills. However I've never seen them fitted on new bikes, is there a problem with them I should know about?

[Si]

New bikes used to come with them when 'straight'* flat bars were popular. Now most flat bar bikes have 'riser' bars that sweep up and back a bit. IMHO, these tend to be a smidge more comfy than 'straight' bars and so bar ends are not needed for shorter rides, but more importantly, it's a fashion thing - people think bar ends on riser bars are a bit like wearing socks under sandals.....nothing technically wrong but it's just not the done thing if you want to follow fashion.

I've done around 70mile rides on my Rayleigh strada without bar ends and without much discomfort. It would be more comfie with bar ends but then that brings the added problem that because of the bend in the bars I can't move my controls inboard any further....I prefer cutting as much off the ends of the bars as poss to make them narrower (for getting through all the stupid narrow gates we have on our local paths, and for squeezing through traffic, not to mention comfort), having bar ends would mean having to have them wider.

* they weren't actually straight but much straighter than riser bars.


BTW, not from Birmingham are you? City with the most Rayleigh stradas in the UK I believe.

[Proofer]

Thanks for that, they do feel like they'd "Catch On" something given half a chance.
Bought the bike in Shotton (Flintshire) near where I live.

[nirakaro]

There's a lot to be said for the bar ends that are a shaped piece of plastic, not a bent metal tube. Much comfier, much more elegant.

[Mick F]

I have a single bar end on the left of my drops.
On the right, I have a mirror.
Both get knocked by my knees occasionally, but the bar end hurts.

[ratherbeintobago]

There's a lot to be said for the bar ends that are a shaped piece of plastic, not a bent metal tube. Much comfier, much more elegant.

When I had flat bars on the MTB I had Ergons with stubby bar ends. They were great.

Don’t miss them with wide risers though.

[Sweep]

My dale fast city bike came with bar ends. My ridgeback expedition came with stubby ergo type bar ends. All my flat bar bikes have bar ends, wouldn't ride without them. Oh the speed pro folder came with nice cane creek ergo type rubberised bar ends. Even fitted a stubby pair to my brommie. They are all great for an alternative resting hand position, and, as you say OP, for pulling up hills.

[MikeF]

I have a single bar end on the left of my drops.
On the right, I have a mirror.
Both get knocked by my knees occasionally, but the bar end hurts.

What sort of bar end on drops?

[cyclop]

After an old elbow injury started giving a few problems,I tried a recumbent(not for me),various heath robinson fixes but have settled for some 25yr old barends with a 45degree bend,fixed inboard next to the brakes on a riser bar.With foam grips and angled back towards the rider,this gives the possibility of riding bolt upright ,a very comfortable and "liberating" feeling.Alternately,I can ride normally and simply rest my right arm.Works for me.

[ratherbeintobago]

There are lots of bars with additional hand positions about now too, like these or these

[Sweep]

Must admit to finding the front hoop on the first of those a bit doubtful as an extra hand position, as they suggest. Your hands would be somewhat central. In particular wouldn't want my hands there with any sort of load on the bike. I note that it suggests they might be handy for bikepacking.

[ratherbeintobago]

I think it is more intended for hanging bikepacking bags etc off.

Someone used to do inboard ‘bar ends’ and certainly some of the people doing the TD etc have used tri bars on a riser.

[Sweep]

Yes that was one of its other selling points. Being a bit doubtful about the mass (as opposed to niche) promotion of bikepacking I must admit to finding that a tad amusing _ adding more metal to the bike somehow seems to be against bikepac!ing's supposedly minimalist/lightweight philosophy.

I stress that I am not having a go at you.

[Proofer]

The bar ends seem to be more comfortable, was getting neck/shoulder ache which seems to have eased off (early days only been on for a week), have lost some neck mobility over the years which may be a factor.
Riding in "Normal" position uses one set of muscles, riding with bar ends uses another.

[Littgull]

After an old elbow injury started giving a few problems,I tried a recumbent(not for me),various heath robinson fixes but have settled for some 25yr old barends with a 45degree bend,fixed inboard next to the brakes on a riser bar.With foam grips and angled back towards the rider,this gives the possibility of riding bolt upright ,a very comfortable and "liberating" feeling.Alternately,I can ride normally and simply rest my right arm.Works for me.

Yes, I have my bar end angled in this way too and derive the same benefits. However, last week I got knocked off my bike by an idiot taxi driver. Landing on the bar end as I fell resulted in a minor but painful chest injury.