Midge/dirt drop riders: Do you find riding on the brake hoods comfy or at least bearable for the odd climb? I might get a set soon and I would like to know if I'll really be giving up a hand position (even if I do ride in the drops most of the time).

Thanks!

I did not find the hood position comfortable at all on the Midge bars.

I climb using the hoods often, no problems for me.

*Edit - I use Midges

I like the midges better for riding on the hoods, the WTB's are a little to flared at that point for it to be comfortable.

Overall I'm more impressed with the Midges.

i have the cheapo version (origin8 gary) and i can only use the hoods on pavement. more of a cruising at speed sort of position

I used the WTB dirt drops for years and found it to be a great off-road bar. It was on my all-around bike (a 'crosser), and found the hoods very comfortable. My hands were basically on the sides of the hoods, which gives a nice broad surface. I rode all sorts of crazy mountain bike trails, commuted every day, 80 mile road rides, etc., and was happy with those bars.

I eventually took them off after like 5 years because they just aren't good in the drops on the pavement. I'm not sure if the new WTB bars are any different.

-Damon

I ride the hoods on my midge bars a lot. Cane Creek SCR-5's have a good sized tacky surface and the bars offer a wide spread, which I like for the climbs. I find them extremely comfortable.

What brakes are you pulling with the cane creek levers? Are they a long pull lever a la the 287v for mtn bike brakes?

I bought my midge thinking I was going to be in the drops most of the time, but I find the hoods extremely comfortable. When I ride my road bike (which has a conventional drop bar) after riding my CX bike ( with midge) for a while, the hoods feel weird. Like they are angled inward. I did the Iron Cross in PA a few weeks ago and it includes some technical singletrack. I went through all of it using the hoods.

I find the hoods comfortable enough for cross races or short rides. When I first built my cross bike and didn't have a proper road bike I took it on a long ride and found the hoods annoying.

All that said, I I rarely use the hoods when climbing with the Midge. If you set it up as intended (higher than a more conventional bar) short climbs are great in the drops.

anyone have pictures of their midge setup?

Well, these two probably won't help with set up, but here are two that I like! For set up help Dirt Rag had an article on setting up alternative bars a couple of issues ago that's a decent starting point, but for cross I run them a bit lower.

Mike

pictures here: http://images.google.com/images?q=midge+bars&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

nice review here:
http://www.63xc.com/mattc/midge.htm

And for the person wondering, I run the Cane Creek levers with their partner brakes, the SCX-5's.

midge set-up on my mountain bike (use Deda Newtons on my crosser)
http://www.feedthemachines.com/mtb/SamMerrill_bars.jpg
http://www.feedthemachines.com/mtb/midge.JPG

Don't believe in boring bikes do ya.

Very interesting beast and beautifully executed.

Ron