I noticed that for Worlds, Kolb dropped the bar ends and was running Goldstone grips instead. He was running the ends for a few races earlier.
Goldstone grips have a pretty large flange on them. I haven’t used them but I imagine it’s pretty similar feeling to the bar end in practice though less extreme. Never have ridden one though.
My meatypaws have a small flange. Other than having to move the grips inward to attach the bar ends. My hands sit on my grips the same with my actual outside bone sitting on the flange. I really am only feeling the bar ends in a few situations.
A) when my hands press into the grips hard enough that my skin expands to what would normally be slightly off the edge of the bar. This is what gives that “locked in” feeling. But for me it’s not really something I’m noticing except in situations my front wheel is deflecting and I’m holding it on line or my hands are pushing off the bars and only my grip strength is holding me on.
b) any actual mtb climbing where you need to drive the front wheel and pick it up over things. And are putting regular pressure pulling on the on the bars to increase efficiency. I can see why these would be much less popular with enduro racers despite longer days and some insanely long stages. And have no place in xc except to make your hands hurt more.
c) in situations where the bars are turning. This is probably where the most learning curve is. You can kind of catch them if say your front wheel is deflecting or you are really driving the front of your bike thru a corner. Some pros and cons but mostly just a learning curve where for me otherwise they have been pretty much a seamless transition.
I imagine if you were to set your bone more aggressively into the bar end then both the “clipped in” feeling as well as any discomfort become far more intense. Essentially a large increase in both the pros and the cons. I imagine for most riders there will be a preference in both where they ultimately hold their hand on their grip in regards to the bar end as well as how that grip Transitions into the bar end. The flange on the meaty paws makes a pretty nice transition to the grip end. However I imagine some people are experiencing their skin binding where the grip, their hand, and the bar end meet.
Goldstone grips have a pretty large flange on them. I haven’t used them but I imagine it’s pretty similar feeling to the bar end in practice...
Goldstone grips have a pretty large flange on them. I haven’t used them but I imagine it’s pretty similar feeling to the bar end in practice though less extreme. Never have ridden one though.
My meatypaws have a small flange. Other than having to move the grips inward to attach the bar ends. My hands sit on my grips the same with my actual outside bone sitting on the flange. I really am only feeling the bar ends in a few situations.
A) when my hands press into the grips hard enough that my skin expands to what would normally be slightly off the edge of the bar. This is what gives that “locked in” feeling. But for me it’s not really something I’m noticing except in situations my front wheel is deflecting and I’m holding it on line or my hands are pushing off the bars and only my grip strength is holding me on.
b) any actual mtb climbing where you need to drive the front wheel and pick it up over things. And are putting regular pressure pulling on the on the bars to increase efficiency. I can see why these would be much less popular with enduro racers despite longer days and some insanely long stages. And have no place in xc except to make your hands hurt more.
c) in situations where the bars are turning. This is probably where the most learning curve is. You can kind of catch them if say your front wheel is deflecting or you are really driving the front of your bike thru a corner. Some pros and cons but mostly just a learning curve where for me otherwise they have been pretty much a seamless transition.
I imagine if you were to set your bone more aggressively into the bar end then both the “clipped in” feeling as well as any discomfort become far more intense. Essentially a large increase in both the pros and the cons. I imagine for most riders there will be a preference in both where they ultimately hold their hand on their grip in regards to the bar end as well as how that grip Transitions into the bar end. The flange on the meaty paws makes a pretty nice transition to the grip end. However I imagine some people are experiencing their skin binding where the grip, their hand, and the bar end meet.
Yeah, I've ridden both Goldstones and the Wolf Tooth, and the big flange on the end of the Goldstone does as you said feel like a similar effect, just less extreme. Ergon GDH has a smaller, softer flange yet.
I've been doodling around with my own design for a few months now...I quite like the surface to be harder*, flatter, smoother so it has less...
I've been doodling around with my own design for a few months now...
I quite like the surface to be harder*, flatter, smoother so it has less friction and doesn't grip the glove/hand, as long as the flange is at the same angle as the edge of the hand... I can then push my hand against it without pinching or friction
All selfishly optimised around my hand, my bars, my grips (sensus EMJ). It's a work in progress, but thought I'd share the variant currently on my bike if anyone else wants a try/meddle:
*that in turn leads to problems with hard/brittle materials, but don't want to thread derail into 3d printing nerdery... (Although I would thoroughly enjoy it!)
Just printed a set in ASA. Got a trip next weekend to snowshoe. Gonna try them on the downhill bike, seems the best place for bar ends.
Thread revival : TPU test report for the 3D print nerds amongst us.
Bambu's 'TPU for AMS' is really good. 68d, shiny and slippery like PLA but with some 'squish', you can control that with walls and infill too. I like 5 walls, 40% infill.
But don't use that earlier model I shared for TPU, New version distributes the loads better on the softer material. I'll share v3 on makerworld when I remember to take some photos.
I've had a set on for a month and a bit now and can't figure out if I like them or hate them. Sometimes they feel great and other times very constructing. I did move my levers outwards a bit as it felt like it needed it but I've been gradually moving them back inwards overtime and they seem more tolerable. Did anyone else adjust controls when putting them on?
I’ve had them on the enduro bike and e bike, and I like em! It’s not life changing, and I’m not sure if I’ve ever slipped a grip and crashed prior - but they’ve been a nice $35 upgrade that feels pretty solid for the bike park - and they’ve protected my hands from a few branches!
I've been doodling around with my own design for a few months now...I quite like the surface to be harder*, flatter, smoother so it has less...
I've been doodling around with my own design for a few months now...
I quite like the surface to be harder*, flatter, smoother so it has less friction and doesn't grip the glove/hand, as long as the flange is at the same angle as the edge of the hand... I can then push my hand against it without pinching or friction
All selfishly optimised around my hand, my bars, my grips (sensus EMJ). It's a work in progress, but thought I'd share the variant currently on my bike if anyone else wants a try/meddle:
*that in turn leads to problems with hard/brittle materials, but don't want to thread derail into 3d printing nerdery... (Although I would thoroughly enjoy it!)
Care to share a model that can be edited maybe? Or if you're willing to provide a STEP/STL with a modified plug geometry to fit a carbon handlebar. I guess I could provide the ID that the plug would fit into. Plus an option to just use a hex nut instead of an insert would make sense.
We tried the printables one: https://www.printables.com/model/1626756-mtb-bar-end-plate-v1 Didn't fit and in the end the friend of mine just reused the plate and did his own handmade solution for the plug (don't ask me how), but apparently it shattered when he clipped a tree...
Goldstone grips have a pretty large flange on them. I haven’t used them but I imagine it’s pretty similar feeling to the bar end in practice...
Goldstone grips have a pretty large flange on them. I haven’t used them but I imagine it’s pretty similar feeling to the bar end in practice though less extreme. Never have ridden one though.
My meatypaws have a small flange. Other than having to move the grips inward to attach the bar ends. My hands sit on my grips the same with my actual outside bone sitting on the flange. I really am only feeling the bar ends in a few situations.
A) when my hands press into the grips hard enough that my skin expands to what would normally be slightly off the edge of the bar. This is what gives that “locked in” feeling. But for me it’s not really something I’m noticing except in situations my front wheel is deflecting and I’m holding it on line or my hands are pushing off the bars and only my grip strength is holding me on.
b) any actual mtb climbing where you need to drive the front wheel and pick it up over things. And are putting regular pressure pulling on the on the bars to increase efficiency. I can see why these would be much less popular with enduro racers despite longer days and some insanely long stages. And have no place in xc except to make your hands hurt more.
c) in situations where the bars are turning. This is probably where the most learning curve is. You can kind of catch them if say your front wheel is deflecting or you are really driving the front of your bike thru a corner. Some pros and cons but mostly just a learning curve where for me otherwise they have been pretty much a seamless transition.
I imagine if you were to set your bone more aggressively into the bar end then both the “clipped in” feeling as well as any discomfort become far more intense. Essentially a large increase in both the pros and the cons. I imagine for most riders there will be a preference in both where they ultimately hold their hand on their grip in regards to the bar end as well as how that grip Transitions into the bar end. The flange on the meaty paws makes a pretty nice transition to the grip end. However I imagine some people are experiencing their skin binding where the grip, their hand, and the bar end meet.
Yeah, I've ridden both Goldstones and the Wolf Tooth, and the big flange on the end of the Goldstone does as you said feel like a...
Yeah, I've ridden both Goldstones and the Wolf Tooth, and the big flange on the end of the Goldstone does as you said feel like a similar effect, just less extreme. Ergon GDH has a smaller, softer flange yet.
I was thinking of trying a set of flanged BMX grips, run in the reverse configuration, to put the flange on the outside and simulate these new "bar ends". It seems like it could have some advantages in terms of the rubber being continuous, with no weird gaps or seams, and perhaps be a little more comfortable. I was thinking of something like the BMX version of the Longnecks: https://www.odigrips.com/products/longneck-st-bmx-grips
Having said that, the separate bar ends being made of a harder material seems like it would deflect tree grazes, and also work better as a sort of skid plate if you wash the front wheel and go down with the ship. I know I've trashed my pinkies on several occaisions laying it down in a loose corner, and having a hard plastic skid plate between my pinky and the sharp rocks should would have been nice. My BMX grip hack would probably grab the ground more, rather than skidding across it, which seems sub-optimal.
Goldstone grips have a pretty large flange on them. I haven’t used them but I imagine it’s pretty similar feeling to the bar end in practice...
Goldstone grips have a pretty large flange on them. I haven’t used them but I imagine it’s pretty similar feeling to the bar end in practice though less extreme. Never have ridden one though.
My meatypaws have a small flange. Other than having to move the grips inward to attach the bar ends. My hands sit on my grips the same with my actual outside bone sitting on the flange. I really am only feeling the bar ends in a few situations.
A) when my hands press into the grips hard enough that my skin expands to what would normally be slightly off the edge of the bar. This is what gives that “locked in” feeling. But for me it’s not really something I’m noticing except in situations my front wheel is deflecting and I’m holding it on line or my hands are pushing off the bars and only my grip strength is holding me on.
b) any actual mtb climbing where you need to drive the front wheel and pick it up over things. And are putting regular pressure pulling on the on the bars to increase efficiency. I can see why these would be much less popular with enduro racers despite longer days and some insanely long stages. And have no place in xc except to make your hands hurt more.
c) in situations where the bars are turning. This is probably where the most learning curve is. You can kind of catch them if say your front wheel is deflecting or you are really driving the front of your bike thru a corner. Some pros and cons but mostly just a learning curve where for me otherwise they have been pretty much a seamless transition.
I imagine if you were to set your bone more aggressively into the bar end then both the “clipped in” feeling as well as any discomfort become far more intense. Essentially a large increase in both the pros and the cons. I imagine for most riders there will be a preference in both where they ultimately hold their hand on their grip in regards to the bar end as well as how that grip Transitions into the bar end. The flange on the meaty paws makes a pretty nice transition to the grip end. However I imagine some people are experiencing their skin binding where the grip, their hand, and the bar end meet.
Yeah, I've ridden both Goldstones and the Wolf Tooth, and the big flange on the end of the Goldstone does as you said feel like a...
Yeah, I've ridden both Goldstones and the Wolf Tooth, and the big flange on the end of the Goldstone does as you said feel like a similar effect, just less extreme. Ergon GDH has a smaller, softer flange yet.
I was thinking of trying a set of flanged BMX grips, run in the reverse configuration, to put the flange on the outside and simulate these...
I was thinking of trying a set of flanged BMX grips, run in the reverse configuration, to put the flange on the outside and simulate these new "bar ends". It seems like it could have some advantages in terms of the rubber being continuous, with no weird gaps or seams, and perhaps be a little more comfortable. I was thinking of something like the BMX version of the Longnecks: https://www.odigrips.com/products/longneck-st-bmx-grips
Having said that, the separate bar ends being made of a harder material seems like it would deflect tree grazes, and also work better as a sort of skid plate if you wash the front wheel and go down with the ship. I know I've trashed my pinkies on several occaisions laying it down in a loose corner, and having a hard plastic skid plate between my pinky and the sharp rocks should would have been nice. My BMX grip hack would probably grab the ground more, rather than skidding across it, which seems sub-optimal.
I highly recommend getting the Wolftooth ones instead of BMX grips. Slip on grips will run you about half the price, lock ons will be the same price as the bar ends. They are a rubberized plastic and don't feel too hard against your hands, and you don't feel a seam between the grips. Flanged grips cannot withstand the level of force and provide the level of stiffness that the proper barends have, and will give you a false impression of how real ones behave. I think it's worth the $35, and if you don't like it, it's only $35.
One ride review of the Wolftooth version, I quite like them! I bought them for the DH bike at the end of the season after some spooky moments (perfect storm: forgot my gloves, hot enough for sweaty hands but cold enough to chill hands in the shade, many park laps ending with a long trail ride back to the car) when I almost lost my grip several times. I figured they would help with a few things: keep the hands on the bars in dicey moments, give something to push down against for counter-steering, look pro.
So I got them and installed with Ergon GDH slim (used a reamer to shave down the slight ring of hard plastic at the end of the grip,) and then park season was promptly over. BUT yesterday I was getting ready to go for a trail ride and realized I have the same grips on my Bronson and can give them a go for enduro riding, a quick switcheroo later and went for a night ride. I adjusted my levers outboard slightly to get hands in contact with the bar ends and that was it.
Climbing, they're apparent but not intrusive. Unless you hang your hands off the ends of the bars you probably won't feel much there, and when you have to stand up and really swing the bike it immediately gives you a nice solid wall to push against. I've never thought about gripping too hard while climbing, but it was obvious I could have a looser grip even when climbing loose techy stuff. Descending, now that's the business. I've been practicing consciously counter-steering through corners and having a wall to press the inside hand against takes that to the next level- it really felt like I could lean/counter the bike further than before and still be relaxed. Hitting some rougher/loose trails was nice to have a hard stop to press out to- I could keep elbows out and grip loose but felt locked in (much like hitting rock gardens clipped in instead of on flats- you don't have to compensate and stabilize constantly, you just trust that you aren't going to get bounced off and ride lighter- which I find lets me be more aggressive.)
I wore 100% Celium gloves (quite thin) but never felt irritation where I was pressing against the ends.
I'll be ordering another set for the DH bike and these are staying on the enduro bike. This is all.
Sorry, slow getting back to this… finally remembered to take some photos, and it’s somehow become V4 in the meantime. I’ve stuck with Bambu’s TPU for AMS. Still quite a hard, smooth surface, but with a little squish. It’s been a much better material for this than the earlier rigid versions. Added another angle on the front of the flange for the little finger, and some rigid ASA inserts/separators so the wedge can tighten properly against the softer TPU. A few more little printed bits, but functionally this is my favourite version so far, although I am still iterating...
Still very much shaped around my hands and Sensus EMJ grips. I doubt that 2nd angle will work for everyone, selfishly designed around my hand!
@Primoz sorry, missed your question about the editable mode. This version still uses a heat-set insert, it's because I've been swapping the wedge and bolt between various flanges so I can try different flange shapes. When I settle on something I'll probably redesign around a longer bolt and have a rethink on wedge. It works well though, so it's hasn't been a priority... until I run out of bolts and wedges!
Also available in chinesium 🤔 The category search bar doesn't lie because watching those hold up on an actual downhill trail really would be a magic trick
Quick update: I ended up trimming off the flange at the end of the GDH as it felt like I had to wrap my pinky around it to keep my hands in contact with the bar ends and it got tiring.
Five minutes later, problem solved and two rides in I love it.
Quick update: I ended up trimming off the flange at the end of the GDH as it felt like I had to wrap my pinky around...
Quick update: I ended up trimming off the flange at the end of the GDH as it felt like I had to wrap my pinky around it to keep my hands in contact with the bar ends and it got tiring.
Five minutes later, problem solved and two rides in I love it.
Can you share a photo of this? Just looking for clarification on if you have accomplished this by shaving the flange or trimming the entire grip down (length). This is something that I noticed when I used these bar ends with the GDH fat and not something I noticed with these bar ends and the GDH slim.
I noticed that for Worlds, Kolb dropped the bar ends and was running Goldstone grips instead. He was running the ends for a few races earlier.
Goldstone grips have a pretty large flange on them. I haven’t used them but I imagine it’s pretty similar feeling to the bar end in practice though less extreme. Never have ridden one though.
My meatypaws have a small flange. Other than having to move the grips inward to attach the bar ends. My hands sit on my grips the same with my actual outside bone sitting on the flange. I really am only feeling the bar ends in a few situations.
A) when my hands press into the grips hard enough that my skin expands to what would normally be slightly off the edge of the bar. This is what gives that “locked in” feeling. But for me it’s not really something I’m noticing except in situations my front wheel is deflecting and I’m holding it on line or my hands are pushing off the bars and only my grip strength is holding me on.
b) any actual mtb climbing where you need to drive the front wheel and pick it up over things. And are putting regular pressure pulling on the on the bars to increase efficiency. I can see why these would be much less popular with enduro racers despite longer days and some insanely long stages. And have no place in xc except to make your hands hurt more.
c) in situations where the bars are turning. This is probably where the most learning curve is. You can kind of catch them if say your front wheel is deflecting or you are really driving the front of your bike thru a corner. Some pros and cons but mostly just a learning curve where for me otherwise they have been pretty much a seamless transition.
I imagine if you were to set your bone more aggressively into the bar end then both the “clipped in” feeling as well as any discomfort become far more intense. Essentially a large increase in both the pros and the cons. I imagine for most riders there will be a preference in both where they ultimately hold their hand on their grip in regards to the bar end as well as how that grip Transitions into the bar end. The flange on the meaty paws makes a pretty nice transition to the grip end. However I imagine some people are experiencing their skin binding where the grip, their hand, and the bar end meet.
Yeah, I've ridden both Goldstones and the Wolf Tooth, and the big flange on the end of the Goldstone does as you said feel like a similar effect, just less extreme. Ergon GDH has a smaller, softer flange yet.
Just printed a set in ASA. Got a trip next weekend to snowshoe. Gonna try them on the downhill bike, seems the best place for bar ends.
I've had a set of the wolftooth ones on my dh bike for a few months now.
Did absolutely nothing for hand fatigue, but did save my pinky finger from getting squashed by a tree at sunpeaks.
Thread revival : TPU test report for the 3D print nerds amongst us.
Bambu's 'TPU for AMS' is really good. 68d, shiny and slippery like PLA but with some 'squish', you can control that with walls and infill too. I like 5 walls, 40% infill.
But don't use that earlier model I shared for TPU, New version distributes the loads better on the softer material.
I'll share v3 on makerworld when I remember to take some photos.
I've had a set on for a month and a bit now and can't figure out if I like them or hate them. Sometimes they feel great and other times very constructing. I did move my levers outwards a bit as it felt like it needed it but I've been gradually moving them back inwards overtime and they seem more tolerable. Did anyone else adjust controls when putting them on?
I’ve had them on the enduro bike and e bike, and I like em! It’s not life changing, and I’m not sure if I’ve ever slipped a grip and crashed prior - but they’ve been a nice $35 upgrade that feels pretty solid for the bike park - and they’ve protected my hands from a few branches!
Care to share a model that can be edited maybe? Or if you're willing to provide a STEP/STL with a modified plug geometry to fit a carbon handlebar. I guess I could provide the ID that the plug would fit into. Plus an option to just use a hex nut instead of an insert would make sense.
We tried the printables one: https://www.printables.com/model/1626756-mtb-bar-end-plate-v1
Didn't fit and in the end the friend of mine just reused the plate and did his own handmade solution for the plug (don't ask me how), but apparently it shattered when he clipped a tree...
I was thinking of trying a set of flanged BMX grips, run in the reverse configuration, to put the flange on the outside and simulate these new "bar ends". It seems like it could have some advantages in terms of the rubber being continuous, with no weird gaps or seams, and perhaps be a little more comfortable. I was thinking of something like the BMX version of the Longnecks: https://www.odigrips.com/products/longneck-st-bmx-grips
Having said that, the separate bar ends being made of a harder material seems like it would deflect tree grazes, and also work better as a sort of skid plate if you wash the front wheel and go down with the ship. I know I've trashed my pinkies on several occaisions laying it down in a loose corner, and having a hard plastic skid plate between my pinky and the sharp rocks should would have been nice. My BMX grip hack would probably grab the ground more, rather than skidding across it, which seems sub-optimal.
I highly recommend getting the Wolftooth ones instead of BMX grips. Slip on grips will run you about half the price, lock ons will be the same price as the bar ends. They are a rubberized plastic and don't feel too hard against your hands, and you don't feel a seam between the grips. Flanged grips cannot withstand the level of force and provide the level of stiffness that the proper barends have, and will give you a false impression of how real ones behave. I think it's worth the $35, and if you don't like it, it's only $35.
One ride review of the Wolftooth version, I quite like them! I bought them for the DH bike at the end of the season after some spooky moments (perfect storm: forgot my gloves, hot enough for sweaty hands but cold enough to chill hands in the shade, many park laps ending with a long trail ride back to the car) when I almost lost my grip several times. I figured they would help with a few things: keep the hands on the bars in dicey moments, give something to push down against for counter-steering, look pro.
So I got them and installed with Ergon GDH slim (used a reamer to shave down the slight ring of hard plastic at the end of the grip,) and then park season was promptly over. BUT yesterday I was getting ready to go for a trail ride and realized I have the same grips on my Bronson and can give them a go for enduro riding, a quick switcheroo later and went for a night ride. I adjusted my levers outboard slightly to get hands in contact with the bar ends and that was it.
Climbing, they're apparent but not intrusive. Unless you hang your hands off the ends of the bars you probably won't feel much there, and when you have to stand up and really swing the bike it immediately gives you a nice solid wall to push against. I've never thought about gripping too hard while climbing, but it was obvious I could have a looser grip even when climbing loose techy stuff. Descending, now that's the business. I've been practicing consciously counter-steering through corners and having a wall to press the inside hand against takes that to the next level- it really felt like I could lean/counter the bike further than before and still be relaxed. Hitting some rougher/loose trails was nice to have a hard stop to press out to- I could keep elbows out and grip loose but felt locked in (much like hitting rock gardens clipped in instead of on flats- you don't have to compensate and stabilize constantly, you just trust that you aren't going to get bounced off and ride lighter- which I find lets me be more aggressive.)
I wore 100% Celium gloves (quite thin) but never felt irritation where I was pressing against the ends.
I'll be ordering another set for the DH bike and these are staying on the enduro bike. This is all.
Sorry, slow getting back to this… finally remembered to take some photos, and it’s somehow become V4 in the meantime.
I’ve stuck with Bambu’s TPU for AMS. Still quite a hard, smooth surface, but with a little squish. It’s been a much better material for this than the earlier rigid versions.
Added another angle on the front of the flange for the little finger, and some rigid ASA inserts/separators so the wedge can tighten properly against the softer TPU. A few more little printed bits, but functionally this is my favourite version so far, although I am still iterating...
Updated files, hardware list and exploded diagrams here:
https://makerworld.com/en/models/3433015-mtb-bar-ends-wc-inspired-lock-in-tpu-v4#profileId-3914186
Still very much shaped around my hands and Sensus EMJ grips. I doubt that 2nd angle will work for everyone, selfishly designed around my hand!
@Primoz sorry, missed your question about the editable mode. This version still uses a heat-set insert, it's because I've been swapping the wedge and bolt between various flanges so I can try different flange shapes. When I settle on something I'll probably redesign around a longer bolt and have a rethink on wedge. It works well though, so it's hasn't been a priority... until I run out of bolts and wedges!
Also available in chinesium 🤔 The category search bar doesn't lie because watching those hold up on an actual downhill trail really would be a magic trick
Quick update: I ended up trimming off the flange at the end of the GDH as it felt like I had to wrap my pinky around it to keep my hands in contact with the bar ends and it got tiring.
Five minutes later, problem solved and two rides in I love it.
Can you share a photo of this? Just looking for clarification on if you have accomplished this by shaving the flange or trimming the entire grip down (length). This is something that I noticed when I used these bar ends with the GDH fat and not something I noticed with these bar ends and the GDH slim.
Post a reply to: Bar ends ... so hot right now