Since we are already in NEPRT...
Concerning Garyahouse's bar ends: I always enjoy Gary's posts and his threads. He seems like a really nice guy and normally I have nothing bad to say about the man.
But NOW... I think Gary is misleading us on this. He keeps saying how he got this idea from his Mountain Bike. He says he rides his Mountain Bike a lot. Well, I have been to Florida and I can tell you for sure there ARE NO MOUNTAINS in Florida. I think Gary is playing with us. I just don't understand his motives yet.
In all honesty, those things do not look that safe to me but I am not going to criticize the man. I hope he never has to prove their safety in a crash.
You're wrong about that, Red. There is one mountain in Florida.
CLICKY Of course, Sugarloaf mountain is actually more like sugarloaf hill, and it's so far from my house that the mountain bike's never been there. I ride it on the nice safe bike trails around here. Anyway, concerning the FJR, there is one really big difference in the mounting position and danger factor that I didn't mention. I took an additional picture to show you what they look like on the bike when I'm actually riding.
As I said, they ROTATE. I rotate them back toward me when I wanna use them. My hands rest on them about 4 inches from the grips. Can you spell, A-H-H-H? Anyway, they would not BE on the bike if they didn't rotate easily. I set them loose on purpose. Only when I want to use them do I pull them back into the position that worry most of you fine fellers so much. But then, at that time, the time that I'm actually using them, I'm all alone out on the slab. That is not the time and place where "get off's" occur. The chances of some tragic "get off" at that place and point-- are about equal to getting struck by lightning. AT ALL OTHER TIMES, they're safely rotated up and out of the way. I got to use them yesterday while heading up to the Leesburg Bikefest. Took a ride up with Screwball Dave (from this forum) and his brother Jim. I was all alone, tooling along at about 65; I rotated them back (takes just a split second) and let's see.... how to you spell, "A-A-A-A-H-HH? After a brief stint of sitting Goldwing upright, I gave both a little push, up out of the way, and back to the normal riding position. Just that simple, and speaking of simple, they are (for me) simply wonderful. Besides, if I do indeed crash and burn someday, it will probably be because of the dastardly CT on the back. Everybody knows how dangerous those things are. Do you know how many close calls I've had on that thing since I put it on 23k miles ago?
Zero. Unless you want to count the nail and subsequent plug it's worn for 90% of that time.
Gary
darksider #44
Guess I should pass along my thank-you's to all you wonderful mothers who have attempted to keep an eye on this wayward son. I"ll be careful, mom, I promise.
