dgaddis - Ergon grips

[azdrawdy]

Which model of Ergon grips are you running? SO and I are considering giving them a shot. Are you still sold on them? Thoughts?

Anyone else using them?

MD

[ted]

If you don't want bar ends then get the GP1 in large for you and small if SO wants small.
I've got em and love em!
I've got the GX1, but personally don't like the surface area or feel and hate the clamp. It's made from plastic that uses a coarse thread screw that doesn't hold schlitz beer. They're not that much lighter anyway. I now prefer the aluminum clamp as it holds much tighter.
If you don't like how they look then you don't deserve them. These are function over fashion.
How about this...buy some and if you don't like them I'll take them.

[azdrawdy]

Are those in stock, at the shop?

MD

[dgaddis1]

I can't recall which ones I have....they're cheapest ones with the little bar ends. Love 'em. Wont have another mtn bike without them.

[ted]

Dec 28, 2008 19:44:37 GMT -5 azdrawdy said:

Are those in stock, at the shop?

MD

Should be.
I'd call first.
I'm going there today and I'll let you know later via IM.

[dgaddis1]

Oh yeah...about sizing. They say they have Small and Large. But they should change it to Large and HUGE. Shouldn't be a problem for you, but the wifey might want to take a hold of 'em at the shop before buying them.

IIRC it use to be Men and Women's. But most men buy the smaller ones, so they changed it to Small and Large. I use hte Small's myself.

[seenvic]

I think I have the enduro model.

I thought I was getting the ones that have the large palm platform, but mine don't. I put them on anyway and like them just fine.

[azdrawdy]

Thanks to al who responded. I got a pair of GX-1 for me and a pair of GP-1 (size small) for YetiChick. Our initial ride on them was today. We rode Wine, Turkey and then gravel/paved to Modoc for right at 27 miles. I have to tell you that both of us are dutifully impressed. These things actually rock.

The first couple of miles we stopped and made minor adjustments. Then we would go ten or twelve miles and marvel at how well they worked. At the end of the ride, we did not have aches/pains in areas that were issues before.

Happy campers here.

MD

[azdrawdy]

Oh yeah, ted: I replaced the waaaay too short screws with two that were maybe 2mm longer. They grab better. I noticed upon initial installation that the ones provided were actually too short to grab without crushing.

MD

[Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill)]

Based on this thread and talking to Bill Victor, I just bought a pair of GP1-L and a pair of GC2-L Ergon grips on close-out at Performancebike.com. Before I send them back, I would appreciate any thoughts anyone might have on the following three issues:

1. My Rush has carbon fiber handlebars that are rated for a clamp tightened to no more than 3.9 Nm pressure and these grips are rated at 5 Nm. Anyone using these on carbon fiber bars? Will they crack the ends of my handlebars leading to an "unsafe riding condition?"

2. My 29er has metal handlebars. Since I started riding in 1998, grab-on grips are the only ones I have found that my hands don't slip on during the summer when heat and humidity combine with my extremely high sweat factor. Can anyone opine if you have experienced sweating/slipping during the summer? I would hate to put these on and then have to throw them out in June - just like I have done with every other pair of grips I have owned other than grab-ons.

3. I have been "testing" them in the recliner and like the feel but cannot understand the utility of the "mini barend" on the GC2's. I thought these were supposed to be for a better grip during climbing but I cannot "get it." How do the GP1's do in climbing and what is the use/benefit of the "mini barends" on the CC2?

Thanks in advance for anyone who might be able to help.

Bill from Jacksonville

[dgaddis1]

Bill, I have the ones with the little stubby bar ends. I didn't think I would like the bar ends at first, but they turned out okay. You have to grab them with only a few fingers, thumb, index and middle for me. Let the other two fingers go wherever they want. It'll feel funny till you actually use them on the bike...I don't even notice mine anymore, which is what you want really.

The shouldn't damage the carbon bars as long as you don't tighten past 3.9Nm. I'd be more concerned with them slipping...but you wont know until you try it.

Exactly what do you mean by grab on grips? Lock-on grips you mean? The Ergon's lock on too...either way, I couldn't advise one way or the other with the "slippery when wet" question. I wear gloves all the time.

Try 'em. I bet you'll like them. At the last explore the trails ride everyone there either already had some installed or had them on order.

[azdrawdy]

Lotsa questions, BH, but they are all good'uns. Let me give them a try:

- I use Ergon GX1 grips. Absolutely continue to be ecstatic about them. At last weekend's EtTS ride, I was touting their virtues to anyone that would listen, and I sent links out to six people when I got back home. I am that sold on them. I have hands that easily grip a basketball, and these fit perfectly.

- My wife uses the GP1 (S) grips. She is as happy as I am with them.

- I have FSA K-Force carbon fiber bars on my Stumpjumper, had always used ODI Lock-ons without an issue before, and use the Ergons now (with their single lock-on). No problems.

- I elected to not get the mini-barends. I have run barends since, oh, probably 1988, but a nasty crash last fall on the Big Rock found me on the ground about 30 feet away from my bike when a dangling vine around a corner took the end of my handlebar and wouldn't let go. It felt weird going "barendless" the first month, but now, especially with the Ergons, it feels very normal.

- I sweat in the winter. Come summertime, I pour. Enough that I use a Gut'r. It works. So do the lock-on grips. In the days before lock-ons, I used to use safety wire to keep my grips from twisting. The lock-on systems work better.

- I have already ordered a set of Ergon GX1 for my new 29er. It's not here yet, but the Ergons will be waiting on it, along with a new carbon fiber handlebar.

FYI: I do use a torque wrench for 99.9% of the bolts on my bike. I use them for the Ergons. No issues.

MD

[brianW]

MD, What size grips do you have? I plan on ordering a pair soon. I wear a xxl glove. thanks- brianW

[azdrawdy]

Feb 13, 2009 19:58:41 GMT -5 brianW said:

MD, What size grips do you have? I plan on ordering a pair soon. I wear a xxl glove. thanks- brianW

I have a pair of brand new, still-connected-to-the-plastic GP-1 Large grips in my garage cabinet right now. Twenty-five bucks if you want them. This may sound a little different, but I am missing the tip of my index finger on my right hand and need the GX-1, (which is one size only) and is between a large and a small.

You can swing by the house, or we'll be riding HKSP tomorrow, the SMC Sunday and FATS Monday. Let me know if you are interested.

MD

[brianW]

Just looking for size info. I want to get the version with bar ends.

[azdrawdy]

Feb 13, 2009 20:42:26 GMT -5 brianW said:

Just looking for size info. I want to get the version with bar ends.

Gotcha. I wear XL gloves and found the GP-1 large to fit pretty darn good. No issues. Just decided to do with the slightly smaller and lighter GX-1.

[Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill)]

Dustin and Michael,
Thanks for your insight/responses.

I think I am going to keep the two grips I have and put the ones without barends on the 29er and the ones with barends on the Rush because the 29er bars are much wider and I am concerned similar to MD about catching something with the ends and crashing - I nearly had my head pulled off by a vine on the Croom trail in Brooksville, FL several years ago when a vine got caught in my helmet strap - pretty scary - it pulled both me and the bike off the trail due to clipless pedals. Plus my intent is to ride the 29er on smooth trails for shorter rides 25 miles or less so shouldn't need the ends for climbing. The Rush has narrower handlebars and should be safer with the ends plus the package says you can adjust them to any angle - Dustin I have not seen yours but I assume I can adjust them to a "vine-friendly" angle unless I think I am going to be climbing. I think I will have Drew at the bike shop put them on with a wrench that measures the force - if he will - he has discouraged me thus far from putting anything that clamps on my carbon fiber bars. Then will just have to monitor the handlebars for cracks.....

Anyone have any insight/comment on my logic feel free to respond!

"Grab-ons" are the name of a grip that has been around since the 70's that is flexible and absorbs a lot of water while still maintaining a firm connection between skin and grip/handlebar. No matter how much I sweat I have never lost tracktion between hand and grip. The problem is they are not very durable - crashes often are the end of them requiring replacement. At least they are cheap - only $10-$15.

Michael, what kind of 29er did you end up getting?

[dparrott]

Ergon sells bar inserts that go in the ends of handlebars to avoid crushing the end.

[Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill)]

I looked on the website and saw those - thanks. I can't wait to try these out.

[dgaddis1]

Feb 14, 2009 12:35:33 GMT -5 Virginia Bill (fka Jax Bill) said:

Dustin I have not seen yours but I assume I can adjust them to a "vine-friendly" angle unless I think I am going to be climbing.

Not sure there is a "vine-friendly" angle....you can only adjust them vertically, the horizontal angle is set. Just go ahead and put them where they're comfortable for climbing and as an extra hand position, and try not to clip them on things.

I'll attest for their toughness...at the GA State SS Champ. TT this summer I clipped a tree with my left grip at speed at the bottom of a hill. The bars yanked left, and I kept going straight. Rotated and landed on my back, still clipped in and holding on with my right hand haha. If the barends weren't there I'd have smashed my fingers between the tree and bars...probably would have broken them too. Go ergon.