Riser's or flat bars

[Gonzo]

What do you guys use for XC. I've been using the risers that came on my bike for a while but have been giving flats a go recently and really starting to like them. All the pro's use flat bars so im thinking that there must be something good about them.

[Cúl-Báire]

Risers are my prefered option, but it's a personal preference thing really... Flats, aid climbing and have a more low down riding position.

Risers give you more "leverage" to lift the bike, hop, more control on DH runs etc... I'd rather down hill control than climbing ability as I will never be that fast up hills anyways, but I always manage to put my head down and crank it :wink:

[Rik]

I'm trying to decide between the two now. I like bars with minimal sweep, but I need to bring my position up a bit higher (and don't want to change the stem/headset stack around). So right now I run flats because of the feel of the bar, but I may have to switch to riser to take weight off my wrists.

[LordNikon]

I recently switched from risers to flat... I've noticed I was a lot more comfortable with the risers. But... the flat bars give me a much more aggressive position on the bike, which is great for winding single track.

I've also noticed that my climbing has improved immensely. With the riser bars I had trouble keeping the front wheel on the ground on really steep stuff. All good with the flat bars.

Long term I think I'm going to get myself a set of weight weenie risers to match my flats and switch between the two for general riding and racing.

[struggles]

I run risers on my stinky and flats on my hardtail but the hardtail is fully setup now as a road going beast so the flats are good for getting some up on the road.

[Rik]

Yeh, if you're riding onroad, flats are the best. Gets you in a low position, keeps your elbows in so you don't smash them on cars, and makes fast climbing alot easier.

[Dhfactory]

Flats with bar ends for sure.

[LordNikon]

Unless you've got carbon bars... no bar ends.

:wink:

[Gonzo]

Yeah thats why im worrying about this cos i want some carbony goodness for my bike and so have to decide.

[singlespeeder]

If you like barends, run flats.

If not, go risers.

[Mommers]

risers all the way....for me riding with flats (or narrow bars in general) makes it feel like the bike is riding itself.....i dunno.....its weird.....:lol:....do you get me?

[matty_2004]

risers all the way....for me riding with flats (or narrow bars in general) makes it feel like the bike is riding itself.....i dunno.....its weird.....:lol:....do you get me?

Like... It's climbing a hell of alot better... or like you dont need to heave it up every little hill.. or?

For XC.. i choose flats, they provide heaps of controll, yet make climbing and quick reflex actions so much easier!

[LordNikon]

Mommers... I think that, "bike riding itself" feeling is probably due to the stem length more than the bars.

I get the same feeling if I'm too stretched out.

[N!CK]

I've got a set of risers AND bar ends. I find that with running the bar ends I don't notice much of a loss at all on climbs. My main reason for switching to risers (my bike came with flats) was to calm down the front end, it was feeling really twitchy. I much prefer the risers and can't say that I can see myself going back as the handling is so markedly improved.

[Rexy]

ive got flats but want to go to risers whats a decent cheap set i could get my hands on?

[Grover]

just a thing on the 'no bar ends on carbon bars thing', yeah it'll probably void your warrenty but my mate has always run carbon bars with bar ends and had no problems. he uses shorty length carbon bar ends made by woodman. another possibility is to use the cane creek ones that you push into the bar and it doesn't really clamp onto the bar.

http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_thumbnail.php?pic_id=4214 (http://www.farkin.net/forums/album_pic.php?pic_id=4214)

so yeah, it can be done but it's a risk

[Daver]

actually risers with bar ends were the best mix for me, even though it looks stupid it is the most comfortable for me

[DEVLIN]

I rode on flats for years but now run exlusively on risers. I have 1" on my full fast NRS racing rig, 1" on my Ritchey softail and 2" on my single speed. I prefer the sweep and have a long inseam so I need a bit of lift without going for an 'erection' stem.