Handlebars, pros and cons.
Mike U
from Sports Authority for $200. (I think it's a near $500 bike!) So far, I
love it, but am ready to do some upgrades. I prefer a straight handle bar
but the Mongoose came with a bent bar. What is the difference between a
straight bar and a bent one? What are the advantages and disadvantages of
both? I want to upgrade to a lighter weight straight bar but want to be
sure that I'm making the right decision. A straight bar seems more "direct"
to me. Correct me if I'm wrong.... Please!
Also, any recommendations for a good, light weight straight handle bar would
be appreciated.
As Always, Thanks in Advance.
Mike.
cart...@bellsouth.net
but can have the drawback of making you feel more removed from the controls
and steering. Give them a try and see how they keep your head up so you can
see the trail ahead of you. If you do decide to go with a straight bar, try
something from Easton. Try a Monkey Lite. They make carbon which will be
plenty light, but awesome alloys too.
Sean
"Mike U" <mi...@tricompictures.com> wrote in message
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veloracer
<cart...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
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It's a nonsense to buy a $100 handlebar for a $200 bike.
Is there a reason why you want a flat bar? If there is one, just say it and
you'll get a better opinion
Mike (and you too Sean) as you get more experience you'll learn that you
really don't want to spend money upgrading that bike.
Try to play with the spacers under the stem (if it is has any) to lower your
position, if that is what you want.
You bought a cheap bike and there's no shame on it, just save your money,
ride it untill it brakes down, and then try buying a better bike at a
bicycle shop, they'll give you a better bike/service.
Upgrading is almost allways a bad habit, some of us do it to improve the
riding experience and that's fine, but most of us do it for lust, which is
also fine but you end up paying a lot more, just like everything else.(i'll
get flames for this, you'll see)
Most probably your bike came with a bent bar because it's the trend now,
changing to a flat bar you'll get only a lower bar, and the posibility to
put bar ends on it without looking dorky or compromising the bar integrity.
That's it.
Bent bars are nice for DH and FR, you get more height ( improved posture
for DHilling) and also more leverage (cause they tend to be wider), but they
are on XC bikes mostly for the looks, as they carry variuos disadvantages
(can't put bar ends, heavier, higher, wider and easier to grab trees and
branches, less hand positions, less room to put gadgets), but we've embraced
them. All this doesn't mean you need a flat bar, if you dont have a real
reason to do it, keep the money in your pocket.
You won't get any benefit with the decrease of weight, it'll be negligible,
just a few grams makes nothing for a bike that's most probably over 30
pounds. Weight is not the most important issue right now if you are not an
elite xc racer or a millionaire, ( if not why everybody is getting tubeless
tires, disc brakes and rear suspension, got it?), and your bike is in no way
worth spending money for the sake of lowering its weight (no offense).
My word here is not a big deal, hopefully more dedicated and experienced
riders will reply and tell you their opinion, just don't rush to burn your
money.
good luck
Here is the space for Mrs. Fatgirlie to write about my errors.
Trentus
> Is there a reason why you want a flat bar? If there is one, just say it
and
> you'll get a better opinion
> Mike (and you too Sean) as you get more experience you'll learn that you
> really don't want to spend money upgrading that bike.
> Try to play with the spacers under the stem (if it is has any) to lower
your
> position, if that is what you want.
> You bought a cheap bike and there's no shame on it, just save your money,
Not everyone can afford expensive bikes. I paid $1000Aus for my Merida Matts
Striker,
The Zero G2 was around $700Aus. Both of these would be considered "cheap" by
your standards.
Insulting their choice of bike as "cheap" actually just makes *you* look
cheap.
He says he's happy with the bike, and simply asked about differences in
handle-bars.
If he's happy with the bike then that's what's really matters. How much he
paid isn't relevant.
I personally rode a Mongoose before the Merida (Mongoose Pro Rockadile SX)
and loved the bike.
It felt REALLY nice to ride. I prefer Mongoose to the Merida for the actual
ride, but the Merida is
WAY lighter than the old Mongoose (over 3Kgs less) which was a steel frame.
> ride it untill it brakes down, and then try buying a better bike at a
> bicycle shop, they'll give you a better bike/service.
The Mongoose Zero G2 in Australia IS SOLD IN BIKE SHOPS.
> Upgrading is almost allways a bad habit, some of us do it to improve the
> riding experience and that's fine, but most of us do it for lust, which is
> also fine but you end up paying a lot more, just like everything
else.(i'll
> get flames for this, you'll see)
> Most probably your bike came with a bent bar because it's the trend now,
> changing to a flat bar you'll get only a lower bar, and the posibility to
> put bar ends on it without looking dorky or compromising the bar
integrity.
> That's it.
> Bent bars are nice for DH and FR, you get more height ( improved posture
> for DHilling) and also more leverage (cause they tend to be wider), but
they
> are on XC bikes mostly for the looks, as they carry variuos disadvantages
> (can't put bar ends, heavier, higher, wider and easier to grab trees and
> branches, less hand positions, less room to put gadgets), but we've
embraced
> them. All this doesn't mean you need a flat bar, if you dont have a real
> reason to do it, keep the money in your pocket.
This is the sort of useful information he seemed to be after, and is more
useful than
making derogatory comments about the cheapness of his bike.
> You won't get any benefit with the decrease of weight, it'll be
negligible,
> just a few grams makes nothing for a bike that's most probably over 30
> pounds. Weight is not the most important issue right now if you are not an
> elite xc racer or a millionaire, ( if not why everybody is getting
tubeless
> tires, disc brakes and rear suspension, got it?), and your bike is in no
way
> worth spending money for the sake of lowering its weight (no offense).
> My word here is not a big deal, hopefully more dedicated and experienced
> riders will reply and tell you their opinion, just don't rush to burn your
> money.
> good luck
>
> Here is the space for Mrs. Fatgirlie to write about my errors.
Trentus (aka Fatgirlie)
Watimena
(The subject of your email was simply GAGGING for that response !!)
J-man
"Mike U" <mi...@tricompictures.com> wrote in message
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Stephen Baker
you're in right now, then buy an Uncle Jesse. It's the flat bar that rises,
and it's only about $20 US, so the upgrade cost is really low.
http://www.pricepoint.com/product4.html
Steve
Mike U
Mike.
"veloracer" <fty...@dbvd.com> wrote in message
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Mike U
Mike.
"Mike U" <mi...@tricompictures.com> wrote in message
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veloracer
"Trentus" <tn...@smallfoot.com> wrote in message
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> > ride it untill it brakes down, and then try buying a better bike at a
I too rode a cheap bike and i think there's no shame on doing so. I still
don't have the bike i want, and i just try to not upgrade until it's
necesary, just because it won't be cost effective and it's kind of dorky to
flash great, expensive components on a cheap ride, am i all wrong?
It's like wearing designer underwear under kmart clothes just because i
wanted to upgrade, out of the blue.
If you read what sean wrote, he was recomending him to buy a handlebar half
as expensive as the complete bike.
when i started riding i also wanted an xtr rd, and all sort of expensive
stuff, it is not after a while that you learn a few things about upgrading,
and i was just trying to help him.
Do you really think that he should put a monkey on that bike?, come on, and
for no reason? if he bought that bike i suppose that his butget is not huge,
do you think it is wise to spend US $100 on a handlebar rather than
investing it on armor, or a camelback or whatever he doesn't have yet?
what's worse, telling him what he already knows, and helping him to avoid a
mistake, or just telling him to buy one of the most expensive handlebars out
there just because you didn't read what bike was he riding?
Ahimsa
was more pushing the eastons, which I like. He was looking for a flat bar,
and I was thinking more along the lines of a ea50 or ea70. The monkeybar is
a riser. That was meant as a response to weight more than anything else.
Didn't mean to offend anyone, or ruffle any feathers.
Sean
veloracer
"Ahimsa" <s...@davetrain.com> wrote in message
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It's just fine Sean, but think twice about it, isn't it a mismatch in
prices?
think about the reason for buying that bike,
think about yourself when you were a new rider, all enthusiastic and misled
by so much hyped products out there
It isn't rocket science to try guess what's going on in his mind when he
says that he wants to upgrade out of the blue, without giving a real reason,
got it?
I was just trying to help him keep a few bucks in his pocket.
But then comes trenton to take ofense because i said t was cheap
I started riding a cheap bike too, and at the end of the road that is the
bike i'll love and remember the most, because it made me fall in love with
this sport, and i dont see shame on that.