|   24" vs 26" bars | warmseth
Dec 31, 2003 7:40 PM | | what width is more condusive to agressive all mountain riding? i feel more inclined to go with the wider bars. coming from motorcross the wider grip seems to inspire more confidence in me. but is there a comprimise for this? am i sacrificing responsiveness for perceived stability or vice versa? thanks in advance. |
| It's not cut-and-dry... | belfrey
Jan 1, 2004 4:35 AM | | This is really a question of personal preference... you'll adjust your riding style to whatever bar width you choose, so ultimately it's just a question of what makes you comfortable. I'd say, if you're used to a wide grip from your moto machine, go with a wide bar on the bike. A lot of people are moving to wider bars these days, for things like better leverage in technical terrain.
One point to consider... if the trails you're riding involve a lot of tight squeezes between trees and such, a wider bar might tend to catch on the side. But again, in most cases you can adjust your riding technique to account for that. |
| re: 24" vs 26" bars | Zion Rasta
Jan 1, 2004 12:19 PM | | Use 26" if:
1. If you have a stron upperbody
2. If you are ridding technical stuff and have to climb
24" if:
1. tight singletrack
2. You don't lift weights
3. If you are new mountain biker
I currently ride a 26" 2.5 rise Azonic Double Wall on my single speed.....
Dish the trail bike go Uno - gear!!!
SS rasta |
| 24 less leverage requires more strength. | Danny
Jan 1, 2004 3:24 PM | | ...not less. But the difference isn't huge. The extra inch sticking out there can yield some nasty surprises on a tight singletrack. |
| re: 24" vs 26" bars | Logan
Jan 1, 2004 4:11 PM | | Wider is better. You get more leverage, more control, and especially since your coming from MX, it just feels better. The disadvantage i can think of is getting stuck on trees and stuff. But really, how many times do u go through trees only 25" apart. There is really no big disadvantage. Like i said, wider is better, go for the 26" or even wider. |
| Remember from mx racing | Not Duckman
Jan 1, 2004 7:31 PM | | ...which when i raced, it was 32-36" wide. Leverage is needed to control a powerful ride with heavy rotating wheels/tires/mud. A lightning fast steering and flyweight(compared to motocross bikes)mtn bike need not more the 24ish" of leverage, in my view. But, all are diff body sizes and shapes. I think of the steering area as "the box" for a given person...not unlike a whitewater kayaker. Extend out abit farther then whats comfortable(say a ww yaker that can dislocate a shoulder in a heartbeat regarding this)is usually sensed. 26" has more leverage. Less energy to use but the swing range the arms have to swing as grown X's square sorta for every inch gained that far out on the fulcrum of movement. Also steering is slower w/ the 26", just like a bigger ring in the back sorta, eh? I like 23-24" as an all around for fast in tight woods but still has decent lev. 26" works good(if it fits your body frame)out in the open stuff like the desert, S Ca, etc. Or for a larger framed rider regardless prob. Remember most risers come longer so you can cut them to your liking. I have prob 6 risers at the moment, and only 1 hasn't been cut shorter, cause it came shorter. Many many just blindly stick'm on there bikes and wonder why they are catching all the trees, at least comapred to the rest in their group. Ha! Or double worse is its too wide for them and all the bad things that does to comfort, effecetiveness of the rider, etc.
Short bars are good in mud when the steering is easier(and faster more exagerated inputs are the norm relative), and the need for skirting the edges of the trail for solid ground thru trees is a good thing with narrower bars then average. |
| 2 other points | Not Duckman
Jan 1, 2004 7:40 PM | | Forgot the wider 26" risers show their stuff when used with a singlespeed. Up outta the saddle is the rule going up, and the extra leverage is helpful.
The other is a constant sorta. A given bar will flex less and be stronger the shorter it is. This has good and bad things. Less flex kills some of the damping of a given material, so a slightly harsher ride might be experienced. Strongers a no brainer, which helps when its a carbon bar. |
| Inertia and cutting bars | Danny
Jan 2, 2004 5:20 AM | | Bike tires definitely have way less inertia than motorcycle tires. It isn't so much an issue with strength as with quickness. A shorter handlebar will be quicker....scary quick till you get used to it. But what is really scary is hooking the bar on a tree as you are flying along. If you are going to be riding on tight singletrack shorter is better.
As far as cutting bars, they definitely expect people to do that. Some bars even come with hash markings on the end so you can cut them evenly different lengths. |
| revisited | belfrey
Jan 2, 2004 11:50 AM | | As I was out riding this morning (Friday is a weekend day for me), I was thinking about your question some more. The trail I was on has several spots where it squeezes between two trees so close that I had to make a certain leap of faith, putting my trust in my brainstem's spatial calculations which told me I'd JUST fit through... I was very glad I still had my old Titec/Bontrager narrow, flat bar. Hitting the end of the bar and going down in that manner is no fun at all.
I think the others who responded make good points, especially Not Duckman. I hope it helps somewhat. |
| Ha! Yeah really | Not Duckman
Jan 2, 2004 3:19 PM | | ...here in the dense woods of the SE, i like most have that 1 or 2 tight sqeezes that anything wider then 24" usually makes said brainstems "warning arms" fling out not unlike the Robot on Lost in Space. ..."warning..warning"..
Oh sorry:)
Anyways, yes i never ever wish i had wider bars, but i can always think of times they "could" be a tad narrower here and there. That kinda lets me know also i'm in the good range. I'm 5'11.5" tall with along arms/legs short torso for what thats worth. Race xc in sport class.
duckout |
| re: 24" vs 26" bars | Dustin
Jan 19, 2004 7:59 PM | | I prefer wider bars because of more leverage and they seem to be more comfortable. The shorter the bar the closer your arms have to be together and could possibly restrict your chest and impede breathing. So you have to look at your own size and decide if the larger bar could benefit you in that way also. Going through narrow spots with larger bars is possible. Just have to lean the bike left and right to get through the obstacle. I currently have some Easton Monkeylite Carbon Riser Bars that are 26" wide. I also have bar ends on them so that shortens the width of my own grip. But it really all comes down to personal preference. |
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