I think bar ends are best used on XC bikes intended for lots...
htims_nivek said:
ive heard mixed things about bar ends. do they really make a difference climbing? if so, are they really worth the 50 bucks for the good ones? I'd like to hear other peoples opinions and what kind of bar ends you use. thanks
Kevin
...of aggressive climbing on steep terrain. They offer a more forward reach to keep the front end down, and alternate hand positons, which can help you to utilize different muscles and relax more in doing so. If you want your saddle-to-bar reach to be short enough to easily drop your butt off the back of the saddle on steep descents, they actually blend in to still allow for good climbing, without sacrificing descending capabilities.
One of the best things about bar ends, which is quite often mistakenly refuted by non barend, riser bar users, is the wide, relaxed hand position, which also helps open your rib cage for more relaxed breathing. When a person stands relaxed, their arms hang to their sides, palms inward. This is the same hand and arm position used with barends. While some 24" riser bar users argue that their doing the same (wide, relaxed hand position) with a riser setup, the middle of the hands are only about 20-21" apart on a 24" riser, 23" on a 23" flat, with bar ends. Even on a 25" riser, the middle of your hands fall somewhere between 21-22" apart.
Of course the above statement only accounts for climbing, descending is quite another story. I've seen bar ends used on everything from 22" flat bars, to 25" riser bars, but you definately will be vulnerable to catastrophic encounters with trees, and brush, if you push the limits too wide.
I think a good rule of thumb, on bar compatability, is staying within 24" and 7 degree sweep, as well as using a bar with reinforcing of some kind. Also limiting the rise to 1", and the stem rise to 5 degree. You should also narrrow your choice of bar ends to ones with at least 15 mm of clamp width, and a reasonable amount of inward cant, so they don't stick out too wide. A good rule of thumb within this rule, at the risk of sounding all thumbs, is if the manufacturer says the bar shouldn't be cut down, don't use bar ends on it.
Bottom line for me personally though, is going with no more than a 23" width bar, if using bar ends, as well as a flat 5 degree configuration. Gripping a bar at it's very end via bar ends puts a lot of leverage on it, the wider the bar, the more chance of over steer. Even on my 22.5" bar that had bar ends, I found myself using a grip involving both bar and bar end, to minimize this on switchback climbs. Too much height at the front end (ie: riser bar) can also make the front end feel light when using bar ends.