The big story from WTB this Eurobike was their new grip system, but as well as that they were launching new plus tyres too.
WTB’s new Padloc grip system does two things: prevents grips from rotating at all, and softens the ends. The story goes that one of their team riders had a nasty crash after his grips rotated, and started wondering what might prevent that. That’s not a crash I’ve had myself, but I know plenty of riders who hate the hard ends of lock on grips and would love to run something much softer.
WTB had a selection of production grips and 3D printed prototypes on the stand.Here’s the end one of WTB’s carbon bars, produced to work with the grips.
The wedge shape locks the grip rotationally, eliminates the need for a clamp at the end of the bar, and also means the only work the inner clamp has to do is stop the grip from sliding along the bars. Much kinder and more foolproof for carbon bars – some riders massively overtorque standard lock on clamps to try and stop them from turning.
SQUISH. It’s decidedly moreish, but I’m here to report it doesn’t smell like those rubbers you used to get at school, sadly.Cutaway grip.As well as various bright colours, the wedge bits also come in an understated grey.I spent ages trying to remember what this pattern is – it’s a Voronoi tessellation! Infinite geek points to me!
You don’t need to run WTB grips, either. As well as WTB’s own bars, you’ll be able to cut angles into your own with a Park saw guide and a special block, available this November.
Neat.Fits in the end of the SG-7.2, giving you a straight edge to cut down.Unobstructed block. Don’t put your finger in here, tempting as it may be.WTB’s bars will be available in carbon and alloy; they showed us 750mm and 780mm lengths.
Last year WTB launched the 2.8 Trailblazer tyre, this year they had new plus tyres to show: The Bridger and the Trail Boss. Both 27.5 x 3.0, images below.
David started mountain biking in the 90’s, by which he means “Ineptly jumping a Saracen Kili Racer off anything available in a nearby industrial estate”. After growing up and living in some extremely flat places, David moved to Yorkshire specifically for the mountain biking. This felt like a horrible mistake at first, because the hills are so steep, but you get used to them pretty quickly.
Previously, David trifled with road and BMX, but mountain bikes always won. He’s most at peace battering down a rough trail, quietly fixing everything that does to a bike, or trying to figure out if that one click of compression damping has made things marginally better or worse. The inept jumping continues to this day.
That answers the how to fit new grips question.