Well, the bar ends allow you to crouch down for a more aerodynamic position and works rather well on straight sections. Since all my rides are door to door I have to ride on tarmac for a while before I get to the real stuff, so this position works well for that .
I took the bike out this weekend and found me some decent mud to play in. The bike works GREAT! Where my old bike would have been jammed, with a casette full of mud, my Catalyst just kept on going. The only problem was that these tyres (Panaracer FireXC Pro) aren't really meant for mud, or so it seems to me. I have a set of Hutchinson Spyders I will try the next time we get a break in the weather.
What impresses me most is how good the frame feels and the absolute beuty of the shifting! To be able to shift without pedaling is just so versatile. To be able to stand on the pedals, going over a difficult spot and shift up or down in anticipation of the terrain ahead is a revelation. To be able to shift down when you're getting stuck in the mud is almost a religious experience!
Guess I can't say enough good things about this bike, but it is great!
Magnus Thor
Iceland
