The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 13 letter word WEIGHTLIFTING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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More clues leading to the result WEIGHTLIFTING
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "setting bars up" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case setting bars up = weightlifting.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does WEIGHTLIFTING mean?
WEIGHTLIFTING noun- A form of exercise in which weights are lifted.
- A sport in which competitors lift heavy weights in two events: the snatch and the clean and jerk.