Mountain bike handle bar recommendations?

[ibaldwin]

@Stringwise

Light hands heavy feet? Given your suspension experience I’m sure you’ve come across that one before and have probably even said that to a new rider at some point along the way. I would focus on proper technique before spending money on new bars as you are blaming your bars but it could be so many things leading to that stiffness being transferred into your hands. Do you run with your suspension locked out a lot? Kidding. But the 31.8’s will be fine for XC and would definitely soften things up.

You also say you will be racing but you don’t say what you will be racing. XC? Enduro? Downhill?

Yeah, my comment reads like something I’ve heard before and rolled my own eyes at! I do think this bar is stiff but it’s my death grip that was causing most of the hand pain I think. I seemed to have cleared most of the discomfort up by riding my mountain bike more often on tough terrain, softening grip whenever possible, and just toughening up a little. I’ve also been stretching out my hands a lot.

I race XC and endurance.

[ibaldwin]

Faserwerk Announces 'Rockstock' Carbon Bars with Viscoelastic Damping - Pinkbike

[DocSavage]

I put the SQ labs bars on my Santa Cruz Hightower on the recommendation of Lee McCormack from Lee Likes Bikes. Improved my fit and comfort along with more responsive feel. And I haven’t had a crash since putting them on ! Don’t fear the bigger sweep. I started with the 12degree and changed to 16. SQLab 30X Mountain Bike Handlebars – Lee Likes Bikes online mountain bike school

[HumpDiesel]

I’ve seen it stated that the stem is a 90, -35 stem. Which would make the actual reach pretty short.

I think he’s just getting the front lower over the 29” wheel and still keeping his reach to the bars fairly standard. If you look at him in pics, it’s not like he’s ass over elbows. What it looks like is that he could possibly ride a smaller frame with a shorter head tube and run and standard stem.

Maybe he’s getting the longer wheelbase stability?

Hump

[HumpDiesel]

@Jonathan
Just re-hashing this Nino bar deal.
I’d like to see what the straight line dimension is from center of bars back to where that same center axis would intersect the headtube. To keep it looks a lot shorter than 90.

Hump

[HumpDiesel]

I wonder what ole Lee and RAD would think about this setup?

Maybe Nino is actually close to his RAD.

I reached out to Lee about XC setup and he said the angle at which you measure gets lower, so Nino could be RAD….

Hump

[mailman]

I’m pretty sure the geometry details for those bars are available online.

It’s essentially the same as a bar/stem combo of the measurements listed.

I’ll see if I can find it.

I think the biggest difference is weight. They might not engineer flex into it like other brands, but that would be more specific to design choice than the fact it’s a stem/bar integrated together.