Find the Ergonomically Compatible Grip for Your Riding Style

Along with the saddle and pedals, your bike’s grips are one of the three points of contact between the cyclist and the bike. Depending on your riding style, discipline and intended use, you can choose from a wide range of products. Ergonomic aspects are the decisive factor here. You truly have experienced it yourself: sometimes, even on short distances, your hands go numb or fingers fall asleep – and your performance starts to stutter. For greater strength and endurance on your tours, finding the appropriate grips can help.

The best material for handlebar grips: rubber, silicone or cork?

Most bicycle grips consist of a rubber upper material with a plastic core. The material is durable and has high vibration damping properties, such as the Death Grip from DMR Bikes. Depending on the material blend (and there are plenty) and personal feeling, the grip may also feel harder. Manufacturer Renthal offers its Lock On-Grip in five different rubber compounds – so you can choose according to your needs, whether you prefer more grip or longer durability. You can also opt for silicone-based grips from ESI without external clamps. They are lightweight and inexpensive, the material has good vibration damping properties with direct power transmission, and also adapts to your hand. In addition, the handles can be shortened to the desired length. Cork, a natural material, is also enjoying growing popularity. Special cork grips from Ergon are made up of about 40 percent organic cork. Leather grips such as the Slender from Brooks impress with their high breathability and durability. However, they are not without limitations and are more suited for city riding than for MTB use.

Hand size and grip diameter have to go together

Some grips are offered in different diameters, usually between 30 and 35 millimetres, sometimes denoted in sizes such as S, M or L. The choice depends on hand size and your personal preferences. Heavily-padded gloves and thick grips are often a bad combination because they require a lot of gripping force, which can lead to fatigue and hand cramping. Small hands and thick handles are also not ideal for the same reasons. However, too small of a grip can also lead to cramps. To address this issue, manufacturer SQlab offers a measuring template for determining the grip width, i.e. the distance between the tip of the middle finger and the crook of the thumb. You can also measure your hand length yourself at home with a piece of paper and a pen. Another way to determine grip size is to follow the size of your gloves. Some manufacturers go one step further and design their grips not round, but with different diameters to optimally reproduce the shape of the hand around the handlebar. Examples include Ergon’s GA2 and GE1, SQlab’s 711 Tech & Trail or the PRO Ergo Lock On Sport.

Wing grips: help with numb hands

A common problem with travelling long distances is the high amount of pressure put on the sensitive ulnar nerve. This runs along the ball of the little finger, just below the surface of the skin. Too much stress on the outside of the hand causes numbing on the ring or pinky finger. One solution is to replace a conventional grip with a wing grip with palm rest, like what Ergon, SQlab or Contec have in their range. The contact area and thus the contact surface of the hand is increased, and pressure is better distributed as a result. If, on the other hand, pain occurs in your index and middle fingers or even your thumb, too much pressure on the exit of the carpal tunnel may be the cause. Your wrist is bent too much, which compresses the nerves. In particular, when you grow tired on longer rides, it becomes difficult to keep your hand in the ergonomically correct position. The wrist bends downwards, and the hand becomes numb. This results in carpal tunnel syndrome. Again, a wing grip can provide support and keep the wrist in the correct ergonomic position. Grips like the GS1 from Ergon are specially-designed for long distance mountain biking. For mountain bikers, it is also true that if the wing is too big, the off-road capability suffers. This is why there are different available wing sizes, which can be found on the Ergo Lock-On from 3min19sec or the GA3 from Ergon.

Bar ends: variety on the handlebars

Bar ends help take the pressure off your wrist. They are either included directly on the handle or you can retrofit them if needed. They are mounted on the outside of the handlebar and come in different sizes and shapes. This way, you can easily change your grip position while riding. This is especially interesting when driving uphill, because muscles and nerves are relaxed. For hand relief and more pressure on the front wheel, SQlab offers Inner Bar Ends. These are mounted between the handle and the gear shift at about shoulder width. Another way to take the strain off your wrists is to swap handlebars. comfort handlebars with a backsweep from approx. 12 degrees allow for an ergonomically-optimized sitting position.