1-2-3 … that is how many contact points you have on a bike. We buy new seats, new pedal and shoe combos, but why do people not worry about the grips? There are a 100 different saddles out there, custom foot beds, moldable shoes and the list could go on. I know when I bought my last bike; the saddle was the first thing to go right on Ebay, then I did a bike fit, and put in moldable insoles.

Thankfully the folks at Ergon think a little bit differently for mountain bikers and commuters.

What makes Ergon grips so special? Ergon grips are designed to prevent numb fingers, painful hands and forearms and other problems many riders face. The cause of this is high pressure on the particularly sensitive areas of the palm and an incorrect hand position and pinching of the Ulnar nerve. Ergon is not concerned about saving a few grams, but saving energy and preventing fatigue.

Due to their design, Ergon grips provide a larger surface to distribute the pressure more evenly via “a flat wing” which helps support the wrist and eliminate any awkward hand positions. Standard grips result in a larger angle between your hand and wrist. Ergon grips help decrease that to provide a more comfortable ride, less fatigue and better bike handling.

Regular grips only provide a contact surface of approximately 60%. With increased contact surface, pressure is reduced in the palm of the hand, thus decreasing the likelihood of numbness. Furthermore, the anatomic form of the Ergon Performance and Race Series grips corrects your hand position. An incorrect hand position and overloading of the median nerve (a leading cause of carpal tunnel syndrome) are impossible as long as the grip is mounted correctly.

The Performance Comfort Line for the casual cyclist comes in at a lower price point and provides the same technology as the upper end models with a little extra weight. This grip is available in small and large sizes, and with or without bar ends. Your best bet is to visit www.ergon-bike.com.

The Pro Racing Line which is the choice of many top 24 hour cross country racers, Team Ergon Topeak, and previous World Champion Irina Kalentieva comes in on average about 50 grams lighter then the Performance Comfort Line.

The Enduro line differs from the top two as it is designed for more free ride bikes. We did not get our hands on the Enduro Line, but look for something in that line coming soon hopefully.

Now we move onto the good stuff, installation, riding, and more. As mentioned above Ergon grips come in a long version for single speeds or trigger style shifters, or a trimmed down version for twist style shifters. So right off the bat you better know what shifter you have or want to use before ordering. Trust me you do not want to have to cut one of these grips, it could be a costly screw up.

After deciding on your grips, installation is pretty straightforward. The grips are secured via a clamp and 4mm allen screw at the end of the bar. On models with bar ends, the bar end acts as the clamp and secures the grip to the bar. Carbon bar users, you are safe, Ergon grips are compatible, and actually do an excellent job of preventing over tightening of the bar ends, and help prevent damage when (or if) you crash.

Before heading out onto the trail you might want to put in a few miles on the trainer or around the neighborhood to get them positioned perfectly. With the flat “wing” portion, it is important to get them perfect. Once you hit the “sweet spot” you will know it.

I really dug these grips a lot. During the review I actually switched from SRAM twist shifters to SRAM trigger shifters so I had the luxury of using a few pairs of grips and enjoyed both setups. With the twist shifters it took a little time to get use to in the beginning.

The additional material deadens some of the feedback and response that thin grip provides (I call that stress on my body personally), it also mostly feels like rolling along in a big Caddy -but all that rubber invariably adds more weight to the scale. A pair of small diameter GP1 grips weighs 208g while a set of GR2s with integrated magnesium bar ends roll in at 268g.

Weight: 128g/pair (GX1); 208g/pair (GP1); 268g (GR2 with magnesium bar ends)
Price: US$39.99 (GX1); US$29.99 (GP1 and GR2)
Pros: Absolutely superb long-term comfort, virtually eliminates hand numbness and hot spots
Cons: Somewhat heavy compared to conventional grips

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