Bar Measures...

[Boon 51]

On my bars it has the measurements of.

Upsweep... 4 percent..
Backrise... 9 percent..

So whats this in old money and what doe's it mean...

 

[black'n'yellow]

Dunno, but are they comfortable? that's all that matters...

 

[Boon 51]

Dunno, but are they comfortable? that's all that matters...

No not really I'm stretching a bit and my palms are aching on my mtb and I was thinking along the lines of some bars with a 2 inch rise to bring them closer.. so I wanted to know how these measurements work..

 

[Rob3rt]

I would GUESS! That Upsweep is essentially rise, however measured as a percentage (of the bar width maybe?) rather than a height. Backrise, I imagine is a measure of how much closer the grip region is to you than the clamp area.

Example:

A 4% Upsweep on a 40cm bar would be a 1.6cm rise?
A 9% Backrise on a 40cm bar would have the grips 3.6cm closer to you at the grip than at the bar clamp?

The above is GUESSWORK!

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

On my bars it has the measurements of.

Upsweep... 4 percent..
Backrise... 9 percent..

So whats this in old money and what doe's it mean...

Sweep is referring to the angle that your bar grips are at, for example a set of bars with a 4 degree backrise (also known as backsweep) and 4 degree upsweep would position the handlebar grips angled slightly upwards and back towards the rider.

 

[Boon 51]

Sweep is referring to the angle that your bar grips are at, for example a set of bars with a 4 degree backrise (also known as backsweep) and 4 degree upsweep would position the handlebar grips angled slightly upwards and back towards the rider.

Thats a good discription of what I have on my bike...

 

[Pale Rider]

No not really I'm stretching a bit and my palms are aching on my mtb and I was thinking along the lines of some bars with a 2 inch rise to bring them closer.. so I wanted to know how these measurements work..

An adjustable stem would bring the bars back and up - easier solution than changing them.

 

[Cubist]

An adjustable stem would bring the bars back and up - easier solution than changing them.

An adjustable stem is a dentist's dream on a MTB I'm afraid.

@Boon 51 , it's degrees, not percentage. Most MTB bars are measured in mm or inches of rise, but the curve backwards from the bend to the tips is the backsweep. You can tinker with the way your hands hit the bars by loosening the clamp and rotating them. Some/most bars have graduation marks so you can reference any changes you make. Rotate forwards and you'll have more rise, less sweep, and backwards, more sweep less rise. Higher rise bars may be comfier, but you'll have to make adjustments/compromises on front end feel.

 

[Boon 51]

Went to Trek Malaga yesterday where I got my mtb from and in my best Spanish told him the problem and he said an adjustable stem would be his first choice option followed by bars with more rise second option.... so good advice from you guys...

Cheers

 

[Drago]

The trouble with adjustable stems is that its not possible to alter height without affecting reach. Spacers and Ahead type steps are a pain but he only way to adjust height without altering reach, and vice versa. Plays adjustable stems are flexi, nasty pieces of kit.

 

[Cubist]

Went to Trek Malaga yesterday where I got my mtb from and in my best Spanish told him the problem and he said an adjustable stem would be his first choice option followed by bars with more rise second option.... so good advice from you guys...

Cheers

Don't fit adjustable stems to any bike that is likely to be ridden over anything other than smooth and jump free trails. The adjuster mechanism relies on friction plates which have, in my opinion, every likelihood of loosening and wearing, hence my description as a dentist's dream.... you'll lose teeth. Buy a used adjustable stem, use it to find the anlge and reach you want, then sell it/bin it and get a fixed stem. My guess is that you could do with a shorter stem, around the 70mm mark, and a wide mid-rise bar, 700mmm or more. There are loads around secondhand, or try Superstar Components, much cheapness.

 

[lulubel]

Went to Trek Malaga yesterday where I got my mtb from and in my best Spanish told him the problem and he said an adjustable stem would be his first choice option followed by bars with more rise second option.... so good advice from you guys...

This is why I avoid going to Spanish bike shops for advice.

I went in one in town a couple of weeks back and asked for some chain lube. He tried to sell me a tin of GT85, and when I said I didn't want that, told me it was perfect, and they use it all the time

 

[Pale Rider]

I have a Ritchey adjustable stem which is sturdy and well-made.

The adjustable part can be tightened if it comes loose, which it doesn't tend to.

I think it would need very extreme bike use for it to explode - something else would probably break first.

 

[Boon 51]

Don't fit adjustable stems to any bike that is likely to be ridden over anything other than smooth and jump free trails. The adjuster mechanism relies on friction plates which have, in my opinion, every likelihood of loosening and wearing, hence my description as a dentist's dream.... you'll lose teeth. Buy a used adjustable stem, use it to find the anlge and reach you want, then sell it/bin it and get a fixed stem. My guess is that you could do with a shorter stem, around the 70mm mark, and a wide mid-rise bar, 700mmm or more. There are loads around secondhand, or try Superstar Components, much cheapness.

I did read your post but never read it properly in a case of too much haste and less speed.. so sorry for that mate.

 

[Boon 51]

Ok the adjustable stem has been fitted and all it seems to have done is raise the bars which has helped a little but I'm still thinking the stem should still be shorter..
I'll take a photo if I can and show to what I mean..