Good Life Cyclist

I found the greatest mountain bike grips in the world...

The Ergon GR2 grips:

I started to hear people talk about these new ergonomic grips a few months ago.

I was interested in them because my right hand gradually starts going numb on my mountain bike 15-20 minutes into a ride and gets continually worse until the numbness takes over and it becomes a dull throb.  However, I do not have the same issue on the road bike – go figure.

Before I took my trip to Montana I put a pair of the GR2’s on my Niner Air 9. Installation was easy and took about 15 minutes.  There is a shaped metal washer that fits between the bar end and the grip that takes some attention to line up right and get seated in position.

They are indeed the best $39 upgrade you can ever make to your mountain bike.  I'd love someone to show me something at this price point that makes such an incredible difference to your riding.  OK other then wheel skewers that actually hold your front tire in place.

The first thing I noticed was it felt like I had a platform for my hand to rest on rather than having to grip and hold tight to my bars.  Plus this “platform” had a give to it, allowing for flex and shock absorption in the palm area of my hand.

Steering was not affected at all; it felt very natural and unchanged. 

By looking at the girth of the grip, you might think it would be too big to grasp and hold on in the rough stuff.  On a recent ride over The Monarch Crest Trail I encountered some pretty rough conditions, especially on the Colorado Trail section, I did not have any problem holding onto the handlebars. In fact, it felt like I had more contact within the cockpit of my bike. I felt like I was in control the entire time, except for the wrong turn which added a good 4-5 miles to the day – but that’s another story. 

I also like the optional hand positions I get with the bar end.  On long trips this has made a huge difference in comfort level as well.  The bar end and the support platform on the grip can be independently adjusted for the correct angle to allow optimized fit for your size and riding style.

The grip comes in small and large sizes.  I would think if you got a size that was too big for your hand you might have trouble reaching your brake lever effectively. They also make grip shift compatible lengths for us SRAM lovers.

I've taken a few full day rides with them and my right hand has never been happier.  I would rate the discomfort level I endured before an 8 (on a scale of 10).  The first long ride on the Ergon GR2’s I'd say I experienced a 2.5 and on the most recent ride I noticed no discomfort whatsoever. 

Ergon also makes a cool looking ergonomic pack. 

I recommend getting a pair and start livin' the Good Life.