Which do more riders prefer these or the more bent bars? and why?
69360
I've used this style for a while now, about a year, and they work great. I also use the set by Profile Design. They're able to be modified into using bar end shifters in the future. This is the style I've seen on most bikes. I've seen people use the other bent around closed loop version but these seem to be more popular. Lastly, just like the answer before this, the pads are not as comfortable as you may like. Those are easy to change and affordable.
69361
The flat, the S and the F style bars can be uncomfortable to start with but you get use to it. I got these and changed out the elbow pads for profile design ones. These are nice if your not looking to spend a lot but profile design make better sets that cost a little more.
69362
Personally bent bars are more comfortable to hold onto for long durations of a bike ride
69363
These are ideal for those of us with shorter forearms - you can hold onto them wherever you like. There are a ton of products out there for big, tall, long-forearmed people, but not many that work so well for us smaller-framed riders.
996847
The handlebars are swept back slightly, maybe about 1/2". Not as bad as a beach cruiser. Between the width and the bend, they do give more of a cruiser feel opposed to a mountain bike feel.
798073
I had 35 on each bar and it was fine until I set it down. The bars bend very easily because they are cheap. If you don't slam your weights you should be ok. Would put them over your head though, look for a threaded handle for that.
481174
I prefer the curled bar because that is what I was used to when I went to the gym. The straight bars I used to use to bench press but for curling I think these are better. I don't know as far as effectiveness if there is much of a difference.
1094746
To the cross bar, for a girls bike the bar that's connected to your seat works better. For male bikes, the cross bar would be best.
1837286
Either would be fine, the clear one does have more flexability and bends under weight though.
1791240
I have these bars and while riding there is almost no pressure on your wrists at all.. It's all in the forearm, and the wrists are only resting on the bars themselves. I suggest you buy some sort of tape before putting them on your bars because the metal clamps will scratch your handlebars, and in my opinion aren't quite tight enough by themselves. However, for the price these cant be beat.
2128127
I bent mine in various directions and adjusted them to what my needs where. Great flexability and no need to worry about their breakage.GOOD LUCK! :)
1490132
I had that issue as well but I bought some Profile Design Boxer Bar Ends which can be easily installed and give you an upright position when riding the bike. They're available through Amazon as well.
2021261
Mine bent the frist time I rode. Returned them and spent the extra to get spank spikes.
530505
It isn't just a matter of gearing as some are suggesting here...Fixed gear bikes often have a narrower rear dropout (like 110 or 120 mm vs. 130 or 135mm).
613257
I have had no problems with the plastic bars that you refer to. I prefer that they do have some flexibility in the wind as opposed to more rigid bars. Charley Engelking
893788
As I recall, bars angled back about 20 deg. My bike was stolen shortly after bar instalation.
1211725
They probably don't give as soft a ride, but I prefer these because they can't get a flat!
1232552
I have experience with both systems you're asking about. Which is better depends on how you intend to ride. If you are going to go hard on some trails then a front suspension will suit you fine as you will rarely be seated. However if you plan on riding cross country, or even causally, then a dual suspension is for you as it will allow a more comfortable seated ride. BUT, as with all things in life it all comes down to personal preference. Hope this helped a little. Ride safe.
2282893
Not inside, but right alongside it. If you want you can wrap the handlebar tape over the top of it or carefully cut the end off of your grips and route it under those too. This is very tricky and you might have difficulty doing that. Or you can have it move away from the bar rather quickly which works well with drop bars. You can do a google image search for "bar end shifters" and see a bunch of pictures of how people have them set up. If you want to move these shifters to the handlebars there is a mount sold by Velo Orange that will allow them to be turned into "thumbie" type shifters seen on mountain bikes but they are $58 http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/vo-thumb-shifter-mounts-22-2-23-8.html It would be cheaper to find some 8-speed MTB trigger shifters but the issue there is that often the indexing of the front trigger shifting would be MTB indexing and not road indexing. It depends on what you have on your 'bent. Personally I would probably go with the VO mounts myself. These bar-ends are such a good deal for HIGH quality shifters that even having to pay more for the mounts you still get a deal IMHO. Quality bar-ends used to run $140+ a few years back.
1901380
I've owned both, used for MTB. Like someone said before, different design on tire gauge, and frankly the MTB version is easier to read. both are great, but the road morph broke on me. MTB version is beefier and def more appropriate for MTB, probably because of the volume required for the significantly fatter tires. You're just pumping a lot more. It's a bit heavier...but it's awesome. you'll *almost* be stoked for a flat!