Photo from pinkbike.com
From pinkbike.com
Ergon has been making innovative grips for years that are designed to offer improved comfort when compared with traditional cylindrical grips. For their new GE1, which is aimed at enduro racers and all-mountain riders, the German company had two major goals. First, like other Ergon grips, the grips are intended to prevent problems like numbness in the fingers and aching forearms.
The second goal…was to create a grip that helps promote proper riding technique. The outer portion of the grip is angled to the outside, a shape that’s meant to work well with the elbows out riding style that comes with running wider bars, providing support for the whole hand.
Pinkbike’s take:
The quality of the Ergon GE1 was immediately noticed upon installation. As a chronic over-tightener of bolts, the single clamp with a 3 mm bolt prevented stripping as compared to the 2.5 mm bolt I had just removed with a hacksaw from my old grips. The grips include installation directions printed on them to assure they are on the correct side and as well as correctly positioned to guarantee the rider receives the benefit of their ergonomic design. I’d encourage taking the grips on a test spin after installation, since a slight change in their orientation on the bar has a noticeable effect on the level of comfort. I found that the sweet spot of the grips had the outside of my palms resting all the way at the ends of the handlebar, which was enough of a change that I found myself adjusting my shift and brake levers slightly to better match my new hand position.
On the trail, the slim profile of the GE1 allowed for a loose but secure grip, and proved to be dependable in hot conditions with sweaty palms as well as in the rain. It’s difficult to verify Ergon’s claim on improved technique, since I conscientiously attempt to ride with my elbows out, but I can guarantee that the GE1 grips will not prevent the elbows out form. After multiple rides with the GE1 grips, I decided for the sake of comparison to replace them with a pair of thicker, more traditionally shaped grips that I had sitting around. That switch had me squeezing the bars tighter, less confident, and focusing on my hands as opposed to the trail, a testament to the effectiveness of the GE1’s unique design. Overall, I found the Ergon GE1 grips to be very comfortable, and I never experienced any hand fatigue or numbness while riding. These would make an excellent choice for the rider who prefers their hands placed at the very end of their handlebars, as well as for the rider who will take any help they can get to remember to keep their elbows out and their head up while descending the trail ahead. – Jeremy Muskat
The GE1 (and GE1 Slim) retails for $48 CAD – available from your local Live to Play Sports dealer along with Ergon’s range of grips, saddles, and packs.