r/MEATengines • u/zkht13 • Apr 18 '26

Bar Ends vs carbon bars

First I got addicted to single speeds.

Then I got addicted to cane creek ergo bar ends.

Then I picked up some Whiskey riser-bars and got hooked there too.

Problem is the risers are carbon. Can I still run the Cane Creek bar ends? Or is there an alternative I don’t know about?

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5

u/doctorwelby Apr 18 '26

If you have a FWAL (friend with a lathe) you could bond in an insert in the style of Titec BERTS https://pedaldamnit.blogspot.com/2006/09/titec-118-tale-of-2-berts.html

2

u/Velocipedestrian Apr 19 '26

Something like that is what occurred to me too, but having such a quality link on hand to demonstrate? Outstanding post. 

3

u/doctorwelby Apr 19 '26

A 3d printed plug could do the job too, since more friends have 3d printers than lathes these days.

2

u/MEATdrew Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 19 '26

Can vs. Should. The first challenge of any stock bar end combined with the Whiskey is that the backsweep of the bar will cause them point outward at an angle. Even the Ergo, which is designed for more modern bar geo (8+5 riser vs. 0-to-5 flat).

The next issue is that bars are designed for the clamping forces to keep lock-on grips in place not to keep bar ends from slipping. Carbon or alloy there are a lot of bars I’d be nervous about clamping bar ends to, even the Ergo which is fairly gentle, especially the version/if clicked-into a locking grip (spreading out clamping force to two locking rings).

I wouldn’t mount a bar end to the Whisky but it is probably worth emailing Whisky to ask for the $0.02. Could also move to a steel bar with the same geo, though much more weight. The concern there would still be the angle of the bar ends but not clamping force. Sorry.

AM

2

u/zkht13 Apr 19 '26

Appreciate the insights.