https://cyclingtips.com/2020/04/new-202 ... re-sphere/

It does look lovely but i just dont understand what is the point is in making a MTB and then putting drop bars on it

Andy that looks great.

Have you tried it John? A monster cross is tremendously good fun.

Looks lovely that does. I'd love to own a Ritchey...

I like the look of that a lot!

Over the decades there have been changes in standards, wheel sizes, geometries and technology but the one thing that always remains constant is the beauty of a nicely put together steel frame.

Considering I said on the full sus thread that not many bikes are taking my fancy, it’s like buses, two come along at once.

This looks ace, change of bar tape though

That’s proper lovely, good on Tom sticking with the straight steerer :)

If I didn’t already has a swiss cross disc I’d buy one however never getting rid of that and getting this too is hard to justify!

Yum.
I now have three options to sate my desires:
1) That bike
2) That fork for my current bike
3) A tub of guacamole

Kind of looks nice, but still head down arse up isnt it

I like that but the bars need to be higher - I appreciate they 'need' setting like that to make it look appealing in pictures

Lazarus wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2020 10:47 pm It does look lovely but i just dont understand what is the point is in making a MTB and then putting drop bars on it

You need to try my Fargo with 700mm wide curve walmer bars, for a long way. Then you’d understand

Here's my own green steel

^^ aye that is what i would do with one of those and still looks lovely

Have you tried it John? A monster cross is tremendously good fun

Should i put some drop bars on my hardtail my short travel bike or my big bouncer to get the full experience
I just dont see what problem it solves- what is the terrain or route where this is the best choice bike , even fat bikes get beaches and snow - genuine question that as i dont see what "problem" it solves.
YMMV obvs but i wont be buying one anytime soon

YMMV=

I like it, but then I am a bit biased....



http://www.askebikes.co.uk/bike-frame-g ... rousel-389

Si

YMMV = written abbreviation for your mileage may vary: used, for example on social media and in text messages and emails, to mean that you understand people may have a different opinion or experience to your own.

FLV wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2020 9:00 am Kind of looks nice, but still head down arse up isnt it

It's not for cycling to the shops!
Bars a fugly though, they'd have to go...

It's not for cycling to the shops!

No but it is for riding long distances on mixed terrain, something a head down, arse up position limits. Drops off road are brilliant fun but it's a different game to having drops on road. However, even on the road many riders seldom use the drops due to an overly 'racey' position. Off road, wide, shallow drops set high is the way foward.

BigdummySteve wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2020 9:01 am

Lazarus wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2020 10:47 pm It does look lovely but i just dont understand what is the point is in making a MTB and then putting drop bars on it

You need to try my Fargo with 700mm wide curve walmer bars, for a long way. Then you’d understand

Interested to hear that they're still good for you. Further down in the Pond Beaver (arf!) article they mention Ritchey's take on wider drops - Venture Max XL (https://eu.ritcheylogic.com/eu_en/wcs-v ... -handlebar):



Look a bit more affordable / available than the Walmers, e.g.

https://www.thewoodscyclery.co.uk/shop/ ... drop-bars/

Might try some as, whilst I am convinced I have f*** up with the size of the Camino I'm also broad shouldered and dislike the feel of narrow bars, curly or straight. So, wider bars will be good and can just be swapped onto whatever bike fills the garage next ;-)

Anyone know what the story is with the "bio-bend"?

Anyone know what the story is with the "bio-bend"?

Is it summat to do with getting your whites whiter?

Are you here all week Stu

Cheeky Monkey wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2020 11:33 am Anyone know what the story is with the "bio-bend"?

Is the bio-bend the wiggly bit on the hooks? I've got some normal width venturemax bars. The bump on the hook sits nicely in the palm of your hand and feels more comfy to me than a normal drop.

Lazarus wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2020 9:50 amI just dont see what problem it solves- what is the terrain or route where this is the best choice bike ,

The problem it solves is mainly comfort, off-road drops have multiple hand positions which really helps prevent hand numbness on multiple day trips.
I’ve suffered permanent nerve damage from when I did my Jogle, now my hands loose feeling after 10miles if I’m using flat bars, with drops I can move between the hoods, flats and drops. My bars are setup high, the hooks are at seat height. Holding the top of the bar I’m in a very upright comfortable cruising position, on the hoods it’s lower and more stretched out, good for gentle off-road and faster road work. On the drops I’m much lower with a wider grip, perfect for descending and rougher stuff. One of the downsides of drops used to be their lack of width, for instance woodchippers max out at 46cm at the hoods, now several firms are making REALLY wide dropbars, my walmer bars are 55cm at the hoods and they are available in a huge 60cm version which measure 750mm wide on the flared drops!
As you might be able to guess I’m a big fan , but you need the right bike with the short top tube and enough steerer to get them at a sensible height.

Its a fargo innit and they do have a place - touring bike that can bag some double track and easy single track. Put some loop bars on it and it will be a comfy rigid mountainbike. It all depends on what other bikes you have. I ditched the Fargo as the Jones could do most of what it did plus a lot of other stuff. I then bought a gravel bike to do the stuff the Jones was less able for

It just needs an ergotec high charisma stem and it'll be reet.

Bio-bend, apparently:

An interesting feature of the handlebar’s drop shaping are Ritchey’s bio-bends, which provide a short straight platform for your hands to settle onto.