Riser bars - why? - discuss!

[jimihendrix]

And anyone makes a comment like "but it looks sh!te anyway, it's a GT" will be getting a visit :twisted:

Looks MUCH better with risers on IMO.

No, no, no

Right, so i'll fit flat bars and leave it sitting in the house because it'll do my back in :?

 

[xizang]

Hans Rey says Yes, Yes, Yes

I thought Hans was "No way" Rey!

 

[Neil]

Hmm not so sure I agree with that . As long as you aren't going silly low and long that's a better position to be in all day ( 3 hours isn't a day ) isn't that why roadies have had their bikes that way for years ?

Agreed - the more upright position might seem more comfortable for a small amount of time, but not if you're gonna spend hours or most of the day in the saddle.

I'd agree with your other comments, too - bikes from BITD seemed more about the applied skill of the rider. So gentle evolution of other bikes, to create a stronger bike, more suitable to offroad cycling.

Modern MTBs seem to be different, the bikes are almost totally adapted to almost an alien environment, and require nothing like the same skill (as a generalism) compared with the rigid bikes of old.

 

[Neil]

Let's face it, flat bars are an ergonomic nightmare. Don't believe me? Go to Tesco and find one of these trolleys:

Hold the 'flat bar' part of the handle and see how easily you can steer it. Then hold the 'bar end' part of the handle - with the insides of your wrists facing each other - and see how much easier it is to steer. Flat bars put your wrists at the wrong angle, it's that simple.

In a race, this may not matter, as you're not really riding for all that long. But if you're riding all day with a backpack, it makes a lot of difference. Flat bars are a racing fad which took off and infiltrated a large part of the MTB world. But in terms of ergonomics, they are a retrograde step.

That said, riser bars aren't that much better. Bar ends are a step in the right direction, but they can be dangerous in dismount situations if they are angled up too far.

I'm after trying a pair of these for long-distance riding...

...angled up pretty high a la the Tesco trolley handles. Definitely retro, I first saw them in Germany back in '92.

Dr. Matt...

Tri-bars are the answer, and I've used them for long rides (on road) on a MTB.

I'd agree with the palms facing being most egonomic, I just think that cycling in that position using bar ends or stubbies is a little too wide to be egronomic (for long rides).

 

[drcarlos]

As my favourite look was the early 90's I like long and low, but I can't forget the late 80's where risers were in too. However both my Retro rides are early 90's so are long and low.

Carl.

 

[DoctorRad]

Tri-bars are the answer, and I've used them for long rides (on road) on a MTB.

I'd agree with the palms facing being most egonomic, I just think that cycling in that position using bar ends or stubbies is a little too wide to be egronomic (for long rides).

I certainly agree that tri-bars are good for rides with lots of road or smooth sections... I realised this doing my one and only Trailquest back in '97. Also provides a very good map placement position.

The swoopy trekking bars I showed the photograph of are not actually all that wide, so you don't end up with your wrists too far apart. If your palms are facing each other, you get a similar amount of control with a narrower bar.

 

[Neil G]

I'll put whatever bars on my bike that don't kill my back!

I do think a lot depends on the bike though as to what parts suit it. I have a '94 Hei Hei hot-rodded with modern forks etc. (shame on me) but it seems to look sweet with risers on etc....maybe it's just the geometry and the Ti????

One thing that is a bit of a no-no is bar ends on risers lol

 

[legrandefromage]

Drops is where its at as this handsome chap here perfectly demonstrates:

 

[rosstheboss]

My back hurts just thinking of flat bars and long stems!!!

Were flat bars also perhaps a product of having a bike as light as possible bitd? I seem to remember bars getting down to the low 100gms, and being too narrow to be comfortable or comfortably control a bike! Nevermind the possibility of failure :shock: :shock: :shock:

Risers give much more control, even the early ones like Club Roost which were considerably narrower than ones you get today.

 

[Neil G]

My back hurts just thinking of flat bars and long stems!!!

Were flat bars also perhaps a product of having a bike as light as possible bitd? I seem to remember bars getting down to the low 100gms, and being too narrow to be comfortable or comfortably control a bike! Nevermind the possibility of failure :shock: :shock: :shock:

Risers give much more control, even the early ones like Club Roost which were considerably narrower than ones you get today.

Spot on

I do remember a trend of silly narrow flat bars which were f**k all use for controlling a bike but just for weight reduction.

Same thing has happened in BMX....bars are wide now and high for obvious reasons, control!