<story><title>Why did bar ends go away from mountain bikes?</title><url>https://brainybiker.com/why-did-bar-ends-go-away-from-mountain-bikes-the-nostalgia-is-real/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>brabel</author><text>&amp;gt; uphill has been de-emphasized over downhill&lt;p&gt;Why is that? I used to do mountain biking and I loved the challenge of climbing a large hill more than the adrenaline of descending it, which I found a bit too risky to my liking :D ...</text></item><item><author>nicpottier</author><text>Single front chainrings came about from having wider and wider ranges on the rear and suspension designs being made possible by ditching the front derailleur. Yes, there&amp;#x27;s some top end lost but the range is more the same than different than doubles or even triples.&lt;p&gt;As someone who has been mountain biking for over 25 years I would say the statement that uphill has been de-emphasized over downhill is absolutely correct. Enduro racing (where the uphills aren&amp;#x27;t even timed) is a nice example of that.</text></item><item><author>SavantIdiot</author><text>I think the claim about de-emphasizing climbing is BS. I just looked at Trek, Giant and Specialized websites and -all- of their mtn bikes ditched the front derailleur and use small-rings in the front. If climbing was passe, why the crazy low gearing?&lt;p&gt;Bar-ends were add-ons for at least a decade (late-80&amp;#x27;s early 90&amp;#x27;s) before they became standard. They provide better control and stability because the radius&amp;#x2F;ulna are not crossed like they are in the standard position. I think they disappeared because there was too much risk of hooking another rider (think packs of riders shoulder-to-shoulder grinding uphill), and not enough climbing or stability benefit.&lt;p&gt;Or perhaps aesthetics play more a part of mtnbike design than functionality?</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>dahart</author><text>Personally, I&amp;#x27;d say this is a point of view, or a framing, that is relative. IMO, it&amp;#x27;s not that climbing specifically has been de-emphasized, it&amp;#x27;s just that the downhill experience has been emphasized more. Glass half full, etc...&lt;p&gt;Downhill issues have gotten a ton of attention, because there were problems to solve. Suspensions and geometry are making bikes a lot more stable feeling on descent. Try renting a 29er with a longer wheel base and a six inch suspension, and go down one of those previously risky feeling hills, you&amp;#x27;ll be surprised how much less risky it seems now.&lt;p&gt;Uphill issues have gotten &lt;i&gt;relatively&lt;/i&gt; less attention, because, perhaps, a climb is a climb. There&amp;#x27;s little that can be done to improve climbs. Except suspensions are pretty good at firming up on the fly. And dropper post seats are amazing at being able to switch from descent to climb instantly.&lt;p&gt;In other words, climbing on today&amp;#x27;s mountain bikes is better - slightly better - than it used to be. Going downhill today is much better than before.</text></comment>
<story><title>Why did bar ends go away from mountain bikes?</title><url>https://brainybiker.com/why-did-bar-ends-go-away-from-mountain-bikes-the-nostalgia-is-real/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>brabel</author><text>&amp;gt; uphill has been de-emphasized over downhill&lt;p&gt;Why is that? I used to do mountain biking and I loved the challenge of climbing a large hill more than the adrenaline of descending it, which I found a bit too risky to my liking :D ...</text></item><item><author>nicpottier</author><text>Single front chainrings came about from having wider and wider ranges on the rear and suspension designs being made possible by ditching the front derailleur. Yes, there&amp;#x27;s some top end lost but the range is more the same than different than doubles or even triples.&lt;p&gt;As someone who has been mountain biking for over 25 years I would say the statement that uphill has been de-emphasized over downhill is absolutely correct. Enduro racing (where the uphills aren&amp;#x27;t even timed) is a nice example of that.</text></item><item><author>SavantIdiot</author><text>I think the claim about de-emphasizing climbing is BS. I just looked at Trek, Giant and Specialized websites and -all- of their mtn bikes ditched the front derailleur and use small-rings in the front. If climbing was passe, why the crazy low gearing?&lt;p&gt;Bar-ends were add-ons for at least a decade (late-80&amp;#x27;s early 90&amp;#x27;s) before they became standard. They provide better control and stability because the radius&amp;#x2F;ulna are not crossed like they are in the standard position. I think they disappeared because there was too much risk of hooking another rider (think packs of riders shoulder-to-shoulder grinding uphill), and not enough climbing or stability benefit.&lt;p&gt;Or perhaps aesthetics play more a part of mtnbike design than functionality?</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>bigfudge</author><text>I think it’s because bikes have got so much better that downhills are now fun, rather than just sketchy and dangerous. For me it’s just evened things out so I now love doing both.</text></comment>