Hello All -
The reason for the use of bar ends in cyclocross is that in a tumble, integrated shifters/brake levers can break or bend. This can keep you from shifting, and ends your race early. Bar ends are harder to damage in a fall.
Cheers,
Skip Echert Renton, WA
At 11:55 AM 8/2/02 -0400, you wrote:
>My original response back was also that I saw barends most prevalent in
>cyclocross but let us not forget, now that I am thinking, about the bar end
>shifters on bullhorns used by many of the pros TT bicycles. I remember as
>recently as big Mig, who also rode continuously with downtubes as well til
>retirement(correct me if I am wrong, I remember seeing this somewhere.)
>
>Walter Skrzypek
>Falls Creek, Pa
>www.fallscreekoutdoorgear.com
>
>
>On Fri, 2 Aug 2002 08:40:05 -0700 Mark Petry <mpetry@bainbridgeisland.net>
>wrote:
>
>
>Rik Van Looy (or another Rik who raced as a pro, forget now) used
>barcons. I've seen many pictures of his bike so equipped. Barcons were
>more popular with cyclo cross however.
>
>=====================================================
> Mark Petry 206.618.9642
> Beautiful Bainbridge Island, WA
> mpetry@bainbridgeisland.net
>=====================================================
> "Most of American life consists of driving
> somewhere and then returning home, wondering
> why the hell you went."
>
> John Updike, "Rabbit at Rest"
>=====================================================
>
>From: PBridge130@aol.com
>Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 10:14:58 EDT
>Subject: Re: [CR]Bar end shifters
>To: eurocycle@hotmail.com
>Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>
><<I have bar-end shifters on 3 of my bikes & I was wondering if anyone
>knows
>this: Were there any racers during the late 70's or early 80's that used
>
>bar-end shifters? Since Shimano, Suntour, Simplex & Campagnolo all had
>them.
>I have only seen videos & pictures with downtube shifters. If not, what
>would the main reason be that they were not used?>>
>
>John,
>
>I knew Colorado racers in the 70's who used them -- Campy, and the
>excellent
>ratcheting Suntours. I'm sure you're aware that Euros used them, quite
>commonly I believe, on cyclocross bikes. Why they weren't more common
>in the
>peloton, I have no idea.
>
>I have a pair of Campys that would be appropriate for my Motobecane
>Grand
>Record... but I'd have to give up the Simplex retrofrictions, which I
>can't
>bring myself to do.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Peter Bridge
>Denver CO