I always do either straight bar curls or ez bar curls every bicep workout. I have to admit I wonder if I'm wrong not to do the straight bar cable curl. Whenever I do them I really feel them more than barbell curls. With barbell curls the resistance disappears toward the end. It's a really incomplete movement. Using a low pulley connection the movement is working the bicep through a more complete range of motion.
not true- even with cable curls the end point is limited because of the way the arc is. The cable moves gradually closer to your elbow, which reduces the force felt at the bicep.
the only thing you need to determine the stress on the muscle is the distance that the load is away from the pivot. Force = mass x distance. with cable curls, if you keep moving your elbow's position relative to the weight, you can control where the force is. you dont have that choice with a bar if your elbows are held in one position. Arnold got it right with cheat curls. He worked out that by getting the bar to a point where the bicep was exposed to maximum stress, he could skip the exposure to the mechanically disadvantageous first third of the rep.
the wrist position is the real difference. Bar bells give you no choice, so unless you are particularly suited to having your palm pronated the way the bar is, you wont feel as comfortable or in control.
