My recent hardtails all had Esi chunky grips which were great for 1-1 1/2 hours riding. Currently building up a Salsa El Mariachi which I intend to ride for a good bit longer. Google searches suggest Ergon. Anyone with experience of Ergon grips
I used to get tingley hands with regular grips - riding rigid for 24 hours - swapped to Ergon grips as it allows you to relax your grip / pressure over a bigger area and it helped.
Was thinking that as when I ride my drop bar gravel bike I don’t suffer as much , I think due to the ability to chang hand positions.
Which ergons are you using, looked at gp2 and gp3?
I use Ergon grips and they certainly help but I have found swept bars really make a big difference. Stooge moto bars are good but have quite a rise which may not suite some. Richey do a few different ones or try On one ogee bars. Of course if you're feeling flush there are Jones h bars.
Do you know why you get numbness? Have you been to a physio or anything?
I like Ergons - they help me for sure - and they are on most of my bikes.
But as above - sweep (and rotation) make more difference to me. Possibly reach too.
I have hand numbness due to carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome. Sqlab 30x bars, properly padded gloves and meaty paws grip (I have spades for hznds) have helped for me. Sweep helped more than grips and gloves tbh.
I've used ergon grips in the past but found them too narrow (see hand size above) while the ones with wings restricted hand position. Good for one pose but then awkward in others. Good for sat down mile munching though.
Thumbs up for the Ergon GS1 from me. Ideal for all-day comfort. They appear to alter the wrist angle vs. standard grips, so I get the comments above regarding bar-sweep as an alternative solution, but haven't tried that option myself.
I found ESi chunky far better than Ergon GA's for 12 & 24hr racing.
I found the ergons, especially in hot conditions got seriously uncomfortable and edging on causing blisters.
I found that after too long riding drop bar bikes NOTHING cures the numbness and tingling, it's like you just need to keep doing a certain number of hours a week on the flat bars or lose the ability to endure any time on them...
It's a very individual thing. I was looking for bars with a wee bit more sweep (like the 30X) but I found that the Ergon GE1s add just enough sweep and comfort that it cure all my numb-hand woes. I've now fitted them to all my MTBs.
What are the benefits of the bar ends, I’ve never used them before. Are they a help or a hindrance?
I've posted replies to this topic a tonne of times, and the simple answer is no!
Ive had some ergon style grips, and they didn't help with hand numbness.
So I changed my bikes contact points to 'shopping-bike' style and that helped considerably.
Before you get carpal tunnel syndrome, you will need;
A 'delta' brand stem riser.
Handlebars with considerable rise and back-sweep. I got mine from rose bikes (Germany). You might find something on eBay, under 'trekking handlebars'.
Some spacers to go under/ over your stem.
Longer gear/ brake cables.
It's not going to look very 'aero', but you've always got the option to lower the handlebar height.
As for bar-ends, you're still trying to support too much weight on your hands, albeit on different nerves.
Saying that, years back I had an Mtb with a high front end and straight bars as standard.
I also had some joe Murray bar-ends fitted. I found that the bar-ends were great for working on my aero position whilst hammering along the cycle track.
Currently building up a Salsa El Mariachi which I intend to ride for a good bit longer. Google searches suggest Ergon. Anyone with experience of Ergon grips
A major reason I love that bike so much is I have narrow high sweep bars and Ergon grips. The perfect combination for endless miles. I've got Fleegle Pros at 680mm which are IIRC 15 degree sweep but you could go for Salsa Bend 2.
Ergons didn't work for me on a standard riser bar but are amazing on a high sweep bar.
Following on from my previous comment and others could it be that Ergon grips just mask the underlying problem which is that most bars put your hands at an unnatural angle.
Cheer much to think about, especially a change of bar choice. I have a Selcof flat carbon bar new in the box for it but that’ll probably change now
Following on from my previous comment and others could it be that Ergon grips just mask the underlying problem which is that most bars put your hands at an unnatural angle.
What's unnatural for you might be just fine for someone else. Choice is great.
I found Spank vibrocore bars helped a lot
Bike fit.
Only after that look at changing grips or other components.
I would be able to ride for 8-10 hours but a 12hr ride would get numbness in little and ring fingers. That would take 4-6 weeks to subside. Then it was make an adjustment and repeat. In the end it took eighteen months to get the bike set up such that I could ride it for long periods. Main takeaways were:
1. lift the bars, slammed stems are not good for longer rides.
2. tilt the saddle nose down by a few degrees, five or so at most.
Use a saddle with some texture to help avoid "slipping" but mainly you need a strong core to prevent this.
Bar: let your arms hang loosely by your side and form a loose fist (as if you were holding a bar), now lift your arms up. Your hands will naturally rotate, try and find bars that mimic the resulting angle which will reduce nerve pressure at the wrist.
I get cramp in a couple of fingers after a long ride. Carbon bars and Ergon GS have helped a bit.
I use Ergons on all my bikes, and they certainly help.
Raising the bars is key for me though, more than any grip.
I can't fathom how folk can ride such low front ends on bikes set up for long rides. I get that there's the aero thing, but it's hardly applicable on an offroad tourer.
If you hold your arms out in front of you with all the joints in a neutral position and your hands in a loose fist a pencil in your fist will point up and forwards to the inside
Bars that put your joints in a neutral position will have significant down and backsweep
Looking at the back sweep bars, I’m a Salsa fan but not sure on the looks of this Salsa bend ones, stooge Moto bars a bit bmx looking not sure they’ll look right on my el Mariachi?
Any others I should consider?
Looking at the back sweep bars, I’m a Salsa fan but not sure on the looks of this Salsa bend ones
Looks how? Asethetics or function? I've been looking for 15 degree sweep bars for ages, there aren't many around - Fleegle Pro, Salsa Bend 2 and SQ labs are all I've seen. SQ labs being possibly the only carbon option.
I'd also keep them narrow for distance/adventure riding, as I think this is a major factor in positive feeling and power-putting-down on climbs. My El Mar is rigid so 680mm is plenty of control for the speeds I'm travelling on technical descents.
I was going to suggest getting a Fleegle Pro just to try out the sweep cos they are like £5 but they aren't available currently. But there are still a variety of super cheap alt options e.g. OG, Geoff etc.
I’m a Salsa fan but not sure on the looks
Best just get something pretty, slam the stem and suffer the pain 😉
Look around at bikes which get ridden a lot, long disctance. Utilitarian bikes are rarely pretty. Mudguards, racks, handlebar appendages, taped on bits 'n' bobs - they don't make for a looker.
Start with Jenny Grahams' round the world bike and it's hideous saddle for instance. Looks crap in pictures on the internet, but was comfy for 18000 miles...
I'm saving up for a Bend 2 btw as my Fleegle is showing a bit of corrosion under the grips.
EDIT sorry - Bend Deluxe has superseded the Bend 2
Like the sq labs cheers molegrips, not too speedy either.
not too speedy either
Assume you mean spendy - they look spendy after you've been hanging around on Planet X so it's all relative 🙂
PS my El Mar should be back assembled today.. updates to the thread later.
Hijack alert - I have some SQlab 30X bars for sale - 780 wide, 12 degree sweep, 45mm rise (although they are more like 38 from what I remember)
What’s unnatural for you might be just fine for someone else. Choice is great.
Exactly. I prefer very straight bars as find them more comfortable than bars with a sweep and I also have a noticeable saddle to bar drop.. I also find my titanium flat bars best for removing any finger numbness. I also have the saddle with the nose very slight up which is the opposite of the suggestion above. A nose down saddle is a no go for me.
Yeah I always thought nose down put you onto your arms. Nose up Shirley?
I've been experimenting as I get really bad numb and painful hands. Not found any significant change yet though.
davosaurusrex Pm me about the sq lab bars you have for sale
Yeah I always thought nose down put you onto your arms.
No it doesn't, at least not with a small degree of nose down. A strong core helps but I don't think mine's particularly strong.
Putting the saddle nose up means that when you lean forward the saddle nose then pushes on your perineum and genitals. Hit a few bumps, even small ones, and you'll know about it. That then means you subconsciously shift your weight ever so subtly forward and on to your hands in order to prevent further hits.
Once I figured out the nose down on the bike I'd been experimenting on, I set the saddles on my other bikes the same and saw the same results so ruling out the other changes. I don't have a slammed stem on any of the bikes, the stem is level with the saddle. Also I can switch between swept bars and straight/riser bars and still get the same effect.
I agree with the consensus of opinion that I need a bar with a sweep, am I ok with chunky ESI grips or would I be better with ergons?
Just try changing one thing at a time as otherwise you won't be able to pin down what helps or hinders.
Ergon grips are cheap right now from Blacks online store.
Cheers paceman
For me it's the combination of sweep and ergon
Molegrips which ergons are you using. BTW looking forward to pics of the El Mariachi
I'm not sure which model. Started with an old set of the ones without stubbie bar ends, recently fitted a set with. Not sure which I prefer.
I was looking at gp2 or gp3’s purely from the stand point that I like the variety of hand positions I get when on my gravel drop bar Vaya , and these although not fashionable might suit me.
I won’t go into too much detail as I’m the importer and shouldn’t use this forum to advertise.
But look up Revgrips and search STW reviews on this site for the Revgrips review from 2019. No grips or bars minimise vibrations in the same way.
Certainly an interested read and concept, but I think I’ll try the ergons based on price alone.
I've just been diagnosed with carpal tunnel so have been adjusting the contact points. I needed new grips anyway so have gone with Ergon GA2 Fats
on my other bike I have gone with the SQ Labs.
I think I prefer the Ergon.... but has also been said above, just look at the amount of pressure on your hands from bar position. Grips are a very small part of the equation.
Cher been looking at bars with more sweep to take pressure off and put hands in a more natural position.
I found swapping to push on renthal grips was a huge huge improvement in hand comfort for me.
Grips are a very small part of the equation.
Round ones are. Flat top grips like Ergon support your hand in a completely different way.
@molegrips funny you say that was following the atlas mountain race and noticed that the competitors on flat bar bikes were nearly all running Ergon grips. Not that I will ever cover that sort of distance but there must be a comfort element to using them.
Ergon and fleegle pro fan here. When fitting the Ergons, I half tightened them and rode about, rotating them up/down until the flat part followed the natural line of my wrist/hand to provide maximum support. They are terrific on longer rides due to significantly improved support to the heel of the hand. On bumpy terrain, the stubby bar end keeps hands on bars without the need for a death grip. No more cramp or numbness.
Yes to long rides. My longest ride was 18.5 hours and I finished with no pain except tendons in my ankles. My hands were completely fine.
As advised earlier I’m going to change one thing at a time, so will go with Ergon grips first then if still issues a Salsa bend bar or similar
I tried ergon ge grips they exacerbated the problem
I went for Renthal push ons, they are softer and narrower diameter than most
Now I don't get numb hands
Will look at the Renthal ones. Cheers
What downshep said. I liked the Ergon GP2 so much I also bought a pair of GC1 in Biokork flavour and they made the loop bars a very nice place to be all day long. Note: GP2 give alternate hold with the stubby barends, and GC1 are on bar-taped loop bar so I get to rest elsewhere on the bars when feeling ‘locked’ into same position over time. No numbness from grips though, I just like to change positions frequently usually on long climbs or long flat sections.
Specialized Contour XC Body Geometry grips are good i find.
Has anyone actually managed to buy any Ergon grips from Blacks in their sale? I tried and then got the "we don't have any stock" email. Now the cheeky buggers keep emailing me about them trying to sell me more, when they couldn't even fulfil the original order!
I got some Ergon GD1 Factory grips for £15 in the Black's Sale ...well chuffed with them 🙂
Maybe I'll have to try again.
Depending which ones your buying plus £4.95 postage they’re not that cheap