more on On-One Midge

In the hands of an experience and old school xc rider, this bar is capable of going up and down mountains and carving technical single tracks.  I have ridden this bar for the last month on Burnaby Mountain and I can attest that this bar is staying on the Cannondale F4 and I have no intention to swap it out for a flat or riser bar at all. It is because On-One Midge offers 4 distinct positions while mountain biking and all of them are very helpful in conquering what the trails has to offer.

When attacking the gravel road climb, I start will my hands on the drops at the bottom of the hill.  Once I was settled into a rhythm and at the right gear,  my hands would be on top of the brake hoods and stretch out my bar and to get extra power to the pedals.  If I wanted to sit up and get more air, I could either ride on the ramp or on top of the handle bar.  Both are excellent position when  climbing up a steady incline.  The ramp, when set up properly, resembled the bar ends that were popular in the early 90's.  The position doesn't just help with seated climbing, it is helpful when standing as well.

Of course, not all climbs are steady as some parts are steeper than the others.   When approaching that parts, I could either shift to a lower gear or pedal out of the saddle.  I only have a very limited gearing with a 1x9 set up and Midge bar gave me an extra kick in that situation.  The Midge bar helps me with pedalling while standing.  I simple reach for the shallow drop and get out of the  saddle to force the bike up the steeper parts.  It worked every time and it will make me stronger but not using a lower gear. When Climbing, the bike will be on an angle and I didn't feel like I was lower when riding the drops.  Although this position can be had by using bar ends on flat/riser bars, but most riders choose not to do that because they are not popular and they rather spin in a lower gear.

I am not a downhill oriented rider and I could do no worse with the Midge Bar.  When going downhill, the drop is the place to be.  Because of my wrists and hands were angled, they are in a very comfortable position.  At no time, I wish my hands were in the palms down position like in the flat/riser bars.  I was able to be in a very comfortable attack position.  I was still able to move my weight over the rear tire, and I didn't feel like I was going to go over the bar and endo.  I had lots of fun going down single tracks with this set up. 

On the rolling/flat terrains, I ride on the drop or on the hood because I want to stay close to the brakes and be ready to shift gears when needed.  

I am thinking about getting a set of bar end shifters because of its ability to shift gear quickly.  It will be also a place head my palm.   

This is my 2009 Cannondale F4 and it took me 5 years to like this bike.  I always felt the fit was weird and that I was never able to fine a riding position that I like.  I always felt the cockpit was not long enough and it was way to high.  I have tried to use a longer stem with a flat handlebar, but it still didn't feel right.  I had given up on the bike and tried to sell it.   However people in Vancouver don't like and care much for cross country bikes at all.  the bike was on Craigslist and I only got a few email about her. 

 I was just going to use the bike as a winter bike because of the disc brakes and that I don't really care much about this bike.  Before the On One Midge, I tried the Salsa Woodchipper.  It kinda worked, but no cigar.  The bar felt so  big.

2 months ago, I found an On One Midge.  Once it was on the bike, I had a good feeling about it.  the position was right and I don't feel too crank or that it was too big.  I set it up over the winter holiday and started to spend time with the bike.  After a few weeks of testing and running different component.  I finally got her figured out.  She has a 30t chain ring in the front and mated with a 11-34 cassette.  I have no problem going up hills with this gearing.
The Handle bar was great going down the hill as well.  I am able to move over the rear tire.  Just because the  bar isn't a 740 mm riser bar, that doesn't mean I can't go down single tracks at Burnaby Mountain.