Tuesday, November 28, 2017

No Holds Barred

Okay, so further to yesterday's post, let's talk about handlebars now:


Back in November 2015--so two years ago now, time sure does fly like a motorized Cancellara, doesn't it?--I took delivery of a Marin Pine Mountain 1 (now just the "Pine Mountan"):


I wanted to try the Renovo because it isn't often you get to ride a $10,000 wooden bike with push-button shifting, but I jumped at the opportunity to test the Marin because it was very much in line with my sensibilities.  Specifically:

--It was metal;
--It was cheap;
--It was rigid (or, in Craigslist speak, "ridged");
--It had "standard" dropout spacing and quick release hubs;

Moreover, it had those plus-sized tires I'd been curious about, as well as a single-ring, wide-range drivetrain.  (I'd been riding a self-curated artisanal 1x9 on my geared mountain bike for quite awhile, but doing away with jump-stops and chainstays wrapped in inner tubes seemed like an attractive proposition.)

Unsurprisingly, the Marin won me over in short order, and not only did I proceed to purchase it with actual money but I also retired my geared mountain bike.  In fact I liked it so much I became inclined towards using it for longer rides, because there's just something about those chubby tires that makes you want to ramble.  However, this revealed one shortcoming, which was a lack of hand positions.

See, picking your way through rocky terrain is one thing, but when you're putting in miles getting to and from that terrain you want to be able to move your hands around.  Also, it's much more comfortable to keep your hands and wrists at an angle, which is why you spend a lot of time on your hoods when you ride a road bike, and also why bars like this are awesome:


So, thinking about where I wished I could rest my hands on these longer rides, it became increasingly clear that what I needed was this:


I must have mentioned this in a post at some point, then I wrote my controversial (and of course correct) Outside column about suspension, and as a result of both Jones reached out to me and now Ol' Piney looks like this:


I've still got some work to do on these bars.  For example, Jones recommends going even shorter on the stem in order to attain the upright position he espouses:



So I've got a stubby stem on order and as soon as it arrives I'll give it a try.  I also intend to tape the lower inner portion of the bars, since I really do find myself using all those hand positions.

Speaking of hand positions, those pending tweaks notwithstanding, the bars immediately did what I hoped they would.  Specifically, they turned the Marin from a mountain bike that was also okay to ride to and from the trails into--well, into an actual bike.  You know, something you'd want to ride even if you weren't planning on doing any "technical" riding that day.  In fact, if I wasn't a total bike weenie I could probably use Ol' Piney for pretty much all of my riding and not miss a thing, especially if I set up some 29er wheels with narrower, slick tires for more pavement-oriented rides.  (However, I am a total bike weenie, so obviously only having one is never going to happen.)

Indeed, the worst thing I can say about the Jones bars is that they're clearly a gateway drug to getting a Jones bicycle.  Sure, the Marin is quite capable, but somehow with the Jones bar on there the pointlessness of that jacked-up suspension-corrected fork really bugs me in a way it didn't before.  Certainly as someone who prefers rigid bicycles I can't help wanting a go-anywhere bike that's designed to be rigid.  I mean as far as riding goes this is pretty much where I'm at right now:



Then again, I should probably come to terms with the fact that as busy as I am parenting and running a one-Fred media empire the Marin serves my current sub-epic approach to cycling just fine.  Speaking of which, a reader had this to say yesterday:

Anonymous said...

"...there are people in this world who like to buy expensive bicycles and that's ultimately a good thing for the rest of us so long may they spend."

I disagree. The fact that there are people out there willing to drop a shit ton of money on bicycles is why we're sold all sorts of pointless new upgrades and component standards, and why people think they need hydraulic disc brakes and carbon frames, etc.

Also, being self-aware and self-deprecating about the fact that you're riding and reviewing a $10,000 wooden road bike doesn't change the fact that you're riding and reviewing a $10,000 wooden road bike.

November 27, 2017 at 10:58 AM

Firstly, I have no compunctions about leveraging my status as a world-renowned bike blogger to play around with bits of cycling exotica.  Secondly, for all my carping about the excesses of the bike industry the fact is we live in an age of unprecedented accessibility when it comes to cycling equipment, and I think Ol' Piney is rolling proof.  It's a cheap bike that will accept pretty much any part in my antiquated parts bin, and all it takes is a handlebar or tire swap to make it your own.  And it's by no means an isolated example: the current Surly lineup alone probably represents more versatility and bang for your buck than the entire retail bicycle landscape did 20 years ago.  But yes, my funky Marin with the kooky bars is objectively a better bike than the Renovo, that's for sure.

In any case, the point of all this is that I really like this handlebar, so there you go.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

yay

Anonymous said...

yay

Anonymous said...

No Bars Held

What the fuck is up with the trick candle “keep selecting the new images with street signs rotating In not a robot maze of death?

Anonymous said...

Doesn't the Marin use some goofy 141x9 spacing that's basically a quick release version of "Boost" that nobody else is using?

Stump said...

Had a Jones, it was good, but ultimately I got back to wanting front suspension - but dang those frames hold their value well. I basically rented the framset for $100/year.

Joe said...

The best way to fight against stupid "improvements" in the bike industry is just stop buying their latest sh*t if it doesn't make sense. I don't like Boost hubs, so fine, I won't buy them. Square taper is plenty rigid for me, so Press Fit no thanks.

Maybe that's why my bikes are a 25y mtb and a 16y commuter hybrid. I have another bike which is already 5y old and is currently in sale, doesn't bring me anything the other bikes can't provide.

Rather than complaining online about the forced obsolescence on many standards and components, I suggest something crazy. Keep using what you have and are happy with, and let "the industry" deal with their never ending novelties totally incompatible with next year's models...

Local Bike Shops are already struggling to survive, left just to provide mechanical support. With the ever changing standards and incompatibilities, they won't be able to catch up on stocking spares and learning the new tools needed...

ricochet said...

DONGS

Anonymous said...

The Jones handlebar looks intriguing, but all my bikes have quill stems and I like them that way.

Old Timer said...

Huh? What?

BikeSnobNYC said...

Anonymous 11:54am,

Mine uses old-timey 135mm spacing. Different model maybe?

--Wildcat Etc.

Schisthead said...

141 QR is not 'standard spacing'.

Then again, been out for two years now.
I suppose everything else is obsolete? XD

HDEB said...

What is the right number of bicycles to have?

Schisthead said...

No way, someone else already made the snarky comment that hasn't been approved.

I guess I approve of your prototype, but their production model is fucked up.

BikeSnobNYC said...

Schisthead,

It's not a prototype. Maybe spacing changed on later models.

--Wildcat Etc.

BikeSnobNYC said...

...ah, I see now, Marin went to 141 quick release hubs in the rear on newer models. My chain does hit the rear tire sometimes so maybe that's why. (Though it's a non-issue as far as I'm concerned.) Guess as these tires get fatter there's no way around it. Glad to have a 135mm though.

--Wildcat Etc.

f2f said...

Anonymous at 12:13

Velo Orange (and probably other places too) makes a quill stem with a removable face plate that you could use if you ever did want to try Jones or other alt bars.

Cycling Disciple said...

HDEB at 12:17 - “What is the right number of bicycles to have?”

Velominati RULE #12: ”While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. This equation may also be rewritten as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.”

Anonymous said...

Appropriate that you should mention Surly. I set up my rigid Karate Monkey with a Shimano Alfine hub and some 38c WTB All-Terrains. I can comfortably ride the road to the mountains, all over the carraige road network, hit up some mildly technical singletrack, and then back home again. All on one bike and my personal opinion of an all day all-rounder. No Jones bars for me though, my wrists do just fine with a Surly Cheater bar.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Google bikes have Jones bars!

http://drive.google.com/file/d/1bUClPZKBdIbmG6RsLmy8Lc96Dxhx6WtnpQ/view?usp=sharing&ts=5a1da012

But grips, not tape.

(and baskets attached to the bike frame, not to the handlebars. Results in a weird optical illusion when you turn the wheel.)

(and thanks for the best captcha ever: "Select an image with bicycles.")
Can you ask them to always use that one?

N/A said...

As a retrogrouchey bikecyclist, I can confirm that there are ways to get pretty much any handlebars onto a quill set-up. Some look better than others.



Thanks for the review, Wildcat. And an action shot, too! I like a lot of hand positions when I'm riding, and have used a variety of the Nitto or Wald mustache/Alba/etc. bars and like them well enough but the Jones bars have caught my attention. Guess I'll have to cave in to peer pressure and get myself a set instead of the dorky old-fashioned bars I'm runnin' now.

hellbelly said...

I've often wondered about the potential downsides of the Jones bars specifically in reducing one's ability to negotiate treacherous terrain (the gnar as the kids say) and/or for getting airborne? This has not been a problem for old man Jones himself if there is any truth to the many pictures of him riding stuff that most would avoid, but what has been your take on this? At least for your neck of the woods, have you found any reduction in your confidence for these sort of shenanigans?

BikeSnobNYC said...

Cycling Disciple,

Please don't quote the from Velominati here.

hellbelly,

There have been one or two moments on rocks where I've wondered if maybe straight bars would have a smidge more control but it could just as easily be because I'm still getting used to the Jones bars. Then again in other tricky situations I've wondered if maybe they've been helpful. They're certainly not reducing my modest abilities, and for overall comfort are a huge net gain. Looking forward to seeing how a shorter stem/more upright position effects how they ride, I think I'm still a bit forward for the way he designed them.

--Wildcat Etc.

Freddy Murcks said...

It's true, there is something about a chubby that makes you want.

[[I said it so Babble doesn't have to. It does seem to be the sort of vaguely disguised sexual innuendo that is her stock in trade, eh? And she's been somewhat unreliable in her commentating lately, so it may not be wise to rely on her to say it herself.]]

McFly said...

So no Ergon's on Ol' Piney? Those bars must be good. I can't mountain bicycle without Ergon's.

Bryan said...

Ridged, for your pleasure

Anonymous said...

Been diggin on ESI grips lately. Super comfy, if that's what you're into.

leroy said...

I don't mean to brag, but over the weekend I uncovered the unicycle I rode when I was 12.

I might have to restore it now that I'm flush with cash from my dog who inadvisedly put his money where his muzzle was, insisting there was no way I ever rode something with a fixed gear.

hellbelly said...

Excellent Snob! I have found the that convergence of longer top tubes, shorter stems and wider bars over the years have made me extraordinarily comfortable on my mountain bikes. In addition, my control and handling skills have improved as well. The longest stem I've had on any bike in the last six years was a 70mm and that was on my CX bike. Look forward to hearing more when you get your set up dialed.

Anonymous said...

Leroy, where is the gear on a unicycle (unless it's one of those tall ones)? Give him his cash back.

Anonymous said...

I get as much use from my $300 commuter as my $8000 road bike, both serve distinct purposes. traded up from a '77 road bike, worth the upgrade. Hopefully it will also last 40 years (titanium).

N/A said...

Leroy runs a recumbent unicycle.

1904 Cadardi said...

Leroy is probably using one of those two-speed Schulmpf unicycle hubs. They have gears.

Andy said...

My favorite bike right now is a single speed that I won, for free, from a beer display at a grocery store. It's a Solé with Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale branding. I put nicer tires, a basket, and lower gearing on it, and seem to ride it more than my other bikes except when I need fenders, fat tires, or folding capability.

Coline said...

Look at your wrists, grip is 19 degrees off being at right angles so of course new bars are comfy.

Making fancy crapon frames is more polluting than an oil slick. Got any woodworm or dry rot on the new bike yet?

leroy said...

Dear Anon @ 3:38 pm - Don't give my dog any ideas. The gear on the unicycle is so fixed, the pedals are threaded directly to the wheel. The road and I were one. It's very fixed gear Zen.

Dear N/A @ 4:02 pm - Don't give my dog any ideas. Recumbent is how many of my unicycle rides concluded. The road and I were one. It's very fixed gear Zen.

Hee Haw the barista said...

Those forks made me throw up in my mouth.

leroy said...

Dear Mr. 1904 Cadardi - Don't give my dog ideas. He already opined I'm more Schlub than Schulmpf. And, according to him, my Schlubosity has attained the level of a Zen thing.

He's kind of hard to follow when he starts spouting technical terms.

Skidmark said...

With the Jones-bar properly positioned and adjuststed with the right stem, the rider should be able to press up into a handstand, or alternately, place head upon the loop-bar for a headstand.

Anonymous said...

No holds barred? Even the Full Monty!

Cycling Disciple said...

Snob, apologies, didn’t know that you had rules too: “SNOB Rule #?: “Please don’t quote from Velominati here.” It was just a matter of: question asked, question answered. Won’t happen again. Curious though, that you disallow Velominati quotes, but were ok with those endless Ted Kaczynski quotes? Anyhow, again, apologies. It’s your BLOG - and a great BLOG it is!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm sold. Put that Jones bar on my unicycle. (I like to coast downhill doing handstands)

Anonymous said...

Why is the suspension-correction bugging you? Sheesh, you are really pin-holing yourself as a real bike-... idk... downer, not a snob. Get on a bmx for a day and have some fun! Do a f*#!n wheelie already.

Anonymous said...

Ben Stiller in the Jones vid?!!!

BikeSnobNYC said...

Anonymous 1:32am,

Um...

--Wildcat Etc.