Ergon grip users?
 

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Ergon grip users?

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Inspired by weeksy's thread and wondering about trying the ergons to aleviate wrist problems.

How secure does your hand feel when riding the rough stuff with them? The reason I ask is that on two occasions using normal round grips, when landing nose heavy my hand has slipped forward off the grip. Spraining my thumb in the process. On the first occasion I somehow managed to get back on the bars and save it but on the second I lost control and crashed busting some ribs.

The Ergons seem to put your hand in a more horizontal position which looks like it could encourage the slide forward. Anyone found this with them?


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 8:38 am
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You really need to specify the model name/number as Ergon make all sorts of grips. I use GE1s as they effectively add a degree or two to bar sweep. I don't think these would change the effect of the landings you are talking about


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 9:10 am
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I meant the ones with wings that keep your wrist at a straighter angle.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 9:18 am
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They're more designed for touring and 'resting' your hands on them over long distances.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 9:32 am
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They don't really keep your wrist at a given angle as such.
That implies you normally might ride with your wrists bent and dipped low like revving a motorcycle full throttle.

It sounds like you're going otb anyway if you're far enough gone for that to be the deciding factor in a crash or not.

More that they allow you to spread the support across a greater area where your wrist and hand naturally rest.
If you fit them so twisted forward that they are pushing the hands into an unnatural position, you won't last long on a ride.
It's a case of finding the natural resting angle of your hand and setting them to there.

They(I use GA3 which are perhaps the most subtle) are absolutely fine in rough and steep trails. They took some getting used to for sure but that was very quick and I now find them good for anything. Especially the grind back to the top!


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 9:35 am
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You might want to play around with the angle of the brake levers?

If you rotate them forwards then that forces you to rotate your hand so that you can still pull the brake lever. Now it's just your thumb between you and disaster.

Rotate them up and it will alter your hand position to something a bit more secure. At least that's what I do.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 9:44 am
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Slightly off topic here but I used to use the Ergons with the flat palm bits on my long distance MTB and never had that issue but then I don't throw myself down gnarr as I ride long distance stuff 🙂

However I recently went over to the SqLab grips, bit more like the round shape but have a really interesting profile and compound that you can adjust to get comfortable.

Like you I suffer with wrist pain and these have really helped me, just a thought for you.

James


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 10:13 am
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@oldnpastit you probably have a good point re: brake levers.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 10:33 am
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Second the brake lever point. Mine are pretty much horizontal, I've never noticed my hand getting thrown forward off an Ergon grip, admittedly no massive hucks though.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 10:36 am
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I use GA3's at the moment and never have any issue with them on rough stuff, and I'm crap at jumping/landing! I've also used GD1's which are nice grips but don't have the extra support bit and GP1 types with the bigger platform, but don't like them for proper MTBing.

As above though play with the angle of your brake levers, either first or as well as trying new grips.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 10:43 am
 Alex
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GA3s on all my MTBs. Definitely only work for me in one position. I set brake lever angle based on a straight-ish arm/wrist/finger when stood up.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 11:27 am
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@Alex so do I and have found in the past that having them more horizontal makes braking a bit awkward when stood up.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 11:36 am
 Alex
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Yeah @Jordan that was my experience as well. I'd always run fairly horizontal levers after being coached by Tony Doyle a few years ago. Gradually I've been moving them down since moving to GA3s.

I tried the GA3 after getting really bad wrist ache/arm pump at BPW a few years back. I'm not sure the grips were the root of the problem, but I certainly wouldn't go back to non winged grips now. Not had an issue since (except on the Basque trip but that was more 15-20 mins of steep descents!)


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 11:40 am
 PJay
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I regularly get numbness in my hands and I'm interested in sorting it out. I'm not a skilled rider, just a keen pootler and I've always set my levers angled down so the back of the hands are in line with my forearms (this seemed to be the recommended approach when I started cycling).
[img] [/img]

It also means that, in the event of a crash, the levers impact right in the middle of the top tube. Should I be looking at a more horizontal setting with more of a bend in the wrists?


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 12:32 pm
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It became fashionable a few years ago to have the levers almost vertical. I never understood why and it seems to be reverting back again.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 1:21 pm
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Back on topic i’ve used various models of the ergon grips across xc and enduro bikes.

Would never use anything else. Tried, hands ached, went straight back to them and never ached again.

I dont ride trail centres though. I ride uphill, down hills, across the country, up the country and even down the country. Never had issues where the grips have put me in the wrong riding position. Plenty of other bad habits, but not the grips!


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 1:44 pm
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https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/ergon/gd1-evo-factory-grips-712518#colcode=71251841

Round ones on sale at Evans


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 2:36 pm
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I don't think grips will make a difference, sounds more like brake lever angle needs to be a little higher. I have wrist issues from past injuries but have never had my hand blow off the front of the grip. I've tried grips with the "wings", I don't think they're good for aggressive riding as you need to move your hands quite a bit depending on if you're climbing or hanging off the back on a tech/gnarly descent.

I think the grips don't make a huge difference outside of palm comfort. More important things are bar height, stem length, bar backsweep, roll etc


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 2:40 pm
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My mate broke his wrist and swears by the Ergon grips with the flaps
Helps loads with the after pain of the ride


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 3:18 pm
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OK, so I raised the angle of my brake levers to 25degrees below level which sounds a lot but actually looks and feel fairly horizontal. I went for a quick ride and really couldn't get conmfortable covering the brakes. I had to roll my hands back into the reving motorbike position as mentioned above. In fact it was the exact position that Ergon shows on it's website as being bad for wrists. The only way I could get comfortable was to really drop my elbows to get a stright arm/wrist and this put all my weight bearing into my lower back ouch! Another unwanted effect was I had to reach under the bars to shift up the gears. Sram shifters on Hope brakes don't seem to offer any roll adjustment.

I think maybe I just need to make shure I have a good grip when landing drops, I do tend to ride with a light relaxed grip most of the time.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 3:23 pm
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Have used Ergons for years on my FS and HT, they give no grief and I don't even notice they're there.


 
Posted : 08/07/2022 3:25 pm
 PJay
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I'm running GA2 Fats, which are nice grips but I still get finger numbness after a few hours.

I've been looking on the [url= https://www.ergonbike.com/en/article-ge1-evo.html ]GE1s on the Ergon website[/url]. The grip surface appears to be set at 8° to the grip core. This is meant to put the elbows in the 'correct' position but I can't decide if they're some sort of 'problem solvers' device for folk with the wrong bar sweep, or are meant for everyone.

The website says "Elbows up
The grip surface is aligned at 8° to the handlebar axis and against the backsweep. This position allows you as the rider to “automatically” take the correct position of the elbows."

Are the grips adding to the bar sweep or reducing it (which I suppose might stick the elbows out a bit but possibly at the expense of the wrists).

I'm possibly best just sticking with what I've got.


 
Posted : 10/07/2022 10:14 am