Any mountain bikers??

[Zootsuitbass]

Position is huge obviously.
Ill add that vibration, absorption is huge. That's one of the main reasons I'm focused on a modern fs and ill find a dampening carbon bar I believe in enough to trust.
Of corse training is huge,, you might be amazed at what 1000 sit ups would do for your wrists.

 

[bassteban]

I have vowed to do a few sit-ups every morning for years now, and it's done me no good. I now vow no more vows.
Seriously, that for me is an area w/vast room for improvement. My formative riding years were all Stingrays and early BMX, dirt jumps, wooden jumps, wheelies and bunny hops- most of these movements work the abdominal s and arms, but at 49, I think I can still do this stuff(jump, wheelie, etc as opposed to 1-2 hr XC-type rides 3-5x a week, which I have been doing for a few years steady now)out of the blue but really can't.

 

[bassteban]

Had a nice one earlier- caught and passed a very capable young lady, one of the group of younguns that hurt me a few days ago.. I even managed to keep her off me on the DH(I was on the SS- last time she passed me when I ran out of gear). All in good fun, she also works occasionally at the same shop I do.

 

[Mark Reccord]

Thanks, delta7fred- I am pretty happy w/my overall position and my hand issues are only a minor inconvenience so far; shifting position and/or shaking them out a bit has been sufficient to finish the ride. It's never persisted beyond the actual ride. I mentioned this to the fit specialist at the bike shop where I work part-time, and his first suggestion was bar-ends- which has me wondering about the specific orientation of my hands when riding. On-One Mary bars are pretty cheap- I think I'll try a set.

Those seem pretty extreme and I think they would adversely affect bike handling.

I assume you know all of this, but it's worth a mention anyway:

I choose and adjust bars, stems, stem stack height and shifter/brake lever position so that my wrists are properly aligned for most riding situations (i.e. on their natural axis). Obviously top tub length and seat position affect that as well. One thing I've found that makes a huge difference to how my wrists feel is seat angle. Even if it's pointed down 1/2 a degree from ideal it biases my weight towards my hands enough to make my wrists hurt. I've probably spent more time getting that adjustment right than on anything else.

I've found that wide bars (mine are 750mm) with a mild rise and about a 15 degree sweep work best for me. Chromag Fubars are the most comfortable ones I've ever encountered.

What bars are you using now?

Also, while bar ends look dumb, the ability to shift hand positions if your wrists are bothering you might be useful. They're great for steep climbs too.

 

[bassteban]

Mark, I'm running Race Face Next carbon- not sure of the width, but I did trim them a bit (I tend to like narrower bars). I am w/you on seat angle- I went w/a cheap, notched seatpost for budgetary reasons, but despite the lack of micro-adjustability, I think I'm good there. I do want a carbon post for flex/high-speed stutter bump dampening. Thanks for the input- I may be borrowing some flat or low bars w/more sweep than my RF's); will keep you all posted.

Edit: I don't think bar-ends look odd or w/e- dated perhaps, but Im more concerned w/function than aesthetics anyway.

 

[delta7fred]

Those seem pretty extreme and I think they would adversely affect bike handling.

I assume you know all of this, but it's worth a mention anyway:

I choose and adjust bars, stems, stem stack height and shifter/brake lever position so that my wrists are properly aligned for most riding situations (i.e. on their natural axis). Obviously top tub length and seat position affect that as well. One thing I've found that makes a huge difference to how my wrists feel is seat angle. Even if it's pointed down 1/2 a degree from ideal it biases my weight towards my hands enough to make my wrists hurt. I've probably spent more time getting that adjustment right than on anything else.

I've found that wide bars (mine are 750mm) with a mild rise and about a 15 degree sweep work best for me. Chromag Fubars are the most comfortable ones I've ever encountered.

What bars are you using now?

Also, while bar ends look dumb, the ability to shift hand positions if your wrists are bothering you might be useful. They're great for steep climbs too.

Mark

I appreciate that it affects handling but I don't do any technical stuff so it is not a problem. My usual riding is on paths and tracks on rolling hills, with a couple of old gits (70 and 74 y.o).

My hands never bother me while riding, only during the night.

 

[bassteban]

Hmm, well I do fairly technical stuff, love downhills and tiny jumpsrolleyesso maybe the Marys aren't the thing...
also, my hands only act up while riding, never afterwards(so far..).
Anyway, I'll see about bar ends today- doin my little *bike assembly/repair* dance

 

[delta7fred]

... my hands only act up while riding, never afterwards(so far..).

Best of luck with the bar ends.

I wasn't really expecting your problems to be identical to mine.

 

[hypapanuse]

.

 

[hypapanuse]

Post 1111. I win!

 

[DigthemLows]

Holy linkage on linkage Batman! Is that as BarcaLounger smooth as it looks or what? Now you got me dreaming of my old Nomad again.

The linkage is amazing, it's smooth and stiff when it needs to be. I haven't had a chance to truly put it to the test, but I will soon.......it's more bike than I'm worthy of, for sure, but I'll keep riding it till I can't..............

 

[chughes]

Another So. Cal rider here! Mission Trails is a great spot with tons of options. Riding a 2006 Giant Reign 3 passed down from my uncle, a member of the Laguna Rads.

 

[bassteban]

Best of luck with the bar ends.

I wasn't really expecting your problems to be identical to mine.

Thanks, and I only point out differences in case others might have use of this info. Happy trails!

 

[Mark Reccord]

Mark

I appreciate that it affects handling but I don't do any technical stuff so it is not a problem. My usual riding is on paths and tracks on rolling hills, with a couple of old gits (70 and 74 y.o).

My hands never bother me while riding, only during the night.

No worries, the intention of my post was just to highlight factors that can and do affect hands in terms of bike fit. And yes I was thinking in terms of technical riding, but the same fitment factors do apply. If you're not riding technical stuff you definitely have a lot more options in terms of overall comfort and a more upright position definitely helps there!

I wake up at night with numb hands but the issue for me is my elbows. Riding doesn't seem to have any effect on it, though.

Thanks, and I only point out differences in case others might have use of this info. Happy trails!

Exactly.

Edit: I don't think bar-ends look odd or w/e- dated perhaps, but Im more concerned w/function than aesthetics anyway.

Trust me, bar ends look dumb.

...But who cares as long they work for you.


I know that a lot of the modern trail/AM FS bikes do have a much more upright riding position than older bikes do and my back definitely appreciates that!


Oh, and Canada Post delivered this to me yesterday:

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Weighs ~1lb and fits in my camelback. Apparently almost as efficient as a chainsaw.

 

[bassteban]

So... I borrowed a set of flat bars w/more bend (12º I believe)& had less numbness/tingling. I'm thinking it was the bend that my hands like- my previous. *riser* bars were only 5mm. Not gonna keep these bars as they belong to a notorious bike/part breaker, who doesn't k ow how many miles or hours he's put on them. Also, they're carbon, so I'll buy dude lunch for the favor and not push my luck.

 

[bassteban]

Mark, tell us more about that saw.

 

[mtb777]

Mark, tell us more about that saw.

Nice! Now, if they only made a fold up McLoed!

 

[bassteban]

Nice! Now, if they only made a fold up McLoed!

I have actually dreamed of that exact item

 

[bassteban]

OK, just to keep the partay goin...
3-5 years ago, I went for a spin w/an old friend- I was out of shape, he was very much IN. I stayed w/him on a short-but-sweet(read BRUTAL)climb halfway up our local Alpe du OMG.. but I hurt for 3 days afterwards...
FF- went out yesterday, did a similar ride, w/the same bro- hung. Could've left him a few times. Feelin alright w/my lil self

Edit: Oh and BTW- I tried out some borrowed Bontrager flat carbon bars, w/12 degrees of backsweep- and had no hand issues! Bro that lent me the bars wanted to sell, but he couldn't tell me how long he'd had them, and is a notorious part(especially bars)-breaker, so I'll just watch for a deal on 12 degree flat bars. Suggestions are welcome.

 

[Mark Reccord]

So... I borrowed a set of flat bars w/more bend (12º I believe)& had less numbness/tingling. I'm thinking it was the bend that my hands like- my previous. *riser* bars were only 5mm. Not gonna keep these bars as they belong to a notorious bike/part breaker, who doesn't k ow how many miles or hours he's put on them. Also, they're carbon, so I'll buy dude lunch for the favor and not push my luck.

Cool! 12 degrees sounds a bit odd to me, 15 is much more common. Nothing wrong with Bontrager parts but you might look at Easton, they have just about every style of bar you can think of in carbon. I'm still nervous about carbon bars, though... I'm a big guy and an aggressive rider and I'm not sure I can think of anything worse than a handlebar failure on a tech DH... I love Chromag bars and will probably stick with them.

Mark, tell us more about that saw.

It's a Silky Big Boy 2000. 15" blade. Used it friday and yesterday and it's incredible for a hand saw. I was able to cut through a 6" diameter log in about 30s. It can go through a 1" diameter branch with one pull. A good saw is by far the most important trail tool around here. I have a Stihl MS211 chainsaw for trail days but I don't like using it by myself and I can't take it on a ride. The Silky requires a bit more sweat equity but I can carry it on every ride or if I'm working by myself and still have a pretty efficient saw.

Nice! Now, if they only made a fold up McLoed!

This is pretty close:

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I'm thinking about picking one up though I'm not sure how useful it will be in our super rocky terrain. The McLeod attachment would be good for grubbing moss off the tread, though.