Bicycle grips: description, purpose and choice

Bicycle grips are called rubber, silicone or foam pads for the handlebars. Hardly anyone will argue that it is much more pleasant to ride a bike if your palms hold the steering wheel firmly while driving, and its surface is pleasant to the touch.

From a technical point of view, grips are familiar bicycle handles that the athlete holds during the ride.

The use of grips can significantly reduce the discomfort in the back during a long ride, and also contribute to unloading the hands.

The main purpose of the grips is to securely hold your hands on the steering wheel in a wide variety of weather and travel conditions. Hands sweat during active riding, moisture often leads to significant discomfort, while high-quality bicycle handles have pronounced water-repellent characteristics and facilitate handling of the bike. Grips do not cool or overheat like metal, which makes movement more comfortable.

Another additional feature of bicycle handles is decrease in vibration amplitude when driving.

The linings can differ in the materials used, the manufacturers, as well as in the degree of rigidity, wear resistance and dimensions.

Bicycle handles are considered a universal solution, made made of rubber of medium hardness - such products do not rub your palms during a trip and at the same time provide the most firm grip. These models are the most in demand on the market, they are great for both professional athletes and beginner cyclists.

For active use it is worth taking a closer look at products made of hard rubber. They are distinguished by a longer service life and increased wear resistance. Moreover, they are quite inexpensive.

Such models also have their drawbacks - during long trips, the skin of the hands is irritated. In order to avoid such unpleasant consequences, it is recommended to use cycling gloves with locking rings on both sides.

Please be aware that with frequent use of the bike for 10-12 months, such grips wear out and become completely unusable... If they are not replaced in time, the chamfer on the hex may curl up, and this often leads to the need to cut the ring.

Stand apart ergonomic grips. These handles fully correspond to the physiological shape of the palm, they have recesses for the fingers, and there are bulges in the places of contact with the hands. With careful use, such products serve for quite a long time.

They are very popular with cycling enthusiasts. soft models for cycling. They are chosen by professionals in order to provide the best possible grip on the steering wheel. However, they can be operated no more than 3-5 months.

Anatomical grips are chosen for a certain size of the hand, hand and fingers, they are more effective, since they are located at the right angle, the area on the back of the hand is filled, therefore, unnecessary bends of the fingers are completely excluded.

Today on sale you can find grips made of a wide variety of materials and designs. Each model has its own advantages and disadvantages that you need to be aware of before making a purchasing decision.

The classic option is rubber products.

Pros:

• low cost;
• consistently wide assortment;
• light weight;
• can be produced for supply to stock bikes.

Minuses:

• weak adhesion during rain or any other interaction with water;
• If we talk about bicycle linings with a diameter of 32 mm, then their cushioning seems weak to the vast majority of users;
• from snow and rain, they scroll.

Rubber pads are recognized as the best working option, however, they will not be enough for professional active use.

Foam grips soft and comfortable to use.

Pros:

• light weight;
• good shock absorption on uneven ground;
• wide selection in retail outlets;
• reliable adhesion in high humidity.

Minuses:

• products are unsuitable for shock absorption in hard collisions, since the handles are too soft;
• less resistant to wear and tear and mechanical damage;
• tend to scroll.

Most often they have leather coverings. This grip variation is the standard XC grip.

Silicone grips are of high quality.

Pros:

• high shock absorption for hard shocks and when driving on uneven terrain;
• perfect stability;
• lack of scrolling and slipping;
• reliable adhesion when interacting with water;
• light weight.

Minuses:

• small selection;
• rather high cost;
• low resistance to mechanical damage.

Silicone grips better than others they are mounted on the steering wheel, they are distinguished by high quality and practicality. For protection, it is recommended to use plugs that press the handles at the top and sides.

• Grips Acor ASG-2303 made of Kraton material, their width corresponds to 13 cm. The pads have a physiological structure, due to which even a long ride on the bike remains comfortable.

• Bontrager Race Lite Plus - here Kraton is also used as a base material, but only on a much harder basis. These grips are durable, will not twist or slip. Product width - 13 cm

• ODI X-Treme. These bike handles come with black aluminum inserts. Typical width - 13 cm, approximate weight - 90 grams. The kit includes plastic plugs.

• Pedro's Dice Vice. The diameter of these handles is 3 cm, and the width is 12 cm, there are various options for clamps, blocks and plugs.

• PRO Ergonomic. The width of the grips of this brand is standard - 13 cm, the handles are physiological, created taking into account the anatomy of the human palm. They are distinguished by a double compound, supplemented by clips on the steering wheel itself. Plugs are included in the kit. The total weight is 160 g. This is one of the most expensive models, but experienced cyclists assure that the price is more than compensated for by the quality, comfort of movement and a long period of operation.

• Prologo Feather Foam. The width of these models is 13 cm. High density expanded polystyrene foam is used as the basic raw material for production. These pens are quite lightweight; in a pair, their weight is only 11 grams. The colors are black.

In order to find the optimal grip model, you first need to figure out why the grips that are in your bike at the moment are not suitable for you.

If you consider their technical condition unsatisfactory, but at the same time have never experienced discomfort during operation - you should get the same grips that are on your bike now, only of a higher quality.

Are very popular anatomical grips. These models are optimal for tourists and are created specifically for them. However, it should be noted right away that the installation of such handles greatly improves ride comfort, but at the same time you will not be able to grip the steering wheel quite reliably. These models are not suitable for mountain bikes and professional bikes.

You can always find on sale anatomical grips with horns. These handles are either solid, made of dense rubber, or plastic - in this case, they can be used in several positions. Such models are stylish, comfortable, although models with metal horns are considered more practical and durable. It is unlikely that you will be able to rest your whole body on plastic supports without fear of their reliability, many inexperienced cyclists often break them in the first kilometers.

The most budgetary option will be soft grips, however they will need to be changed much more often. In addition, the foam rubber absorbs water - if the hard pads remain tight even during a trip in the rain, the foam rubber will become soft and unpleasant to the touch.

Once you've decided which bike handles will be the most comfortable and convenient for you, you should consider how to install them on your bike.

There are several options.

1. The grips are moistened with warm water and put on the steering wheel. Please note that they will dry for about a day, if you do not wait until it is completely dry, during operation the handles will simply fly off.
2. Grips are moistened abundantly with alcohol and put on. Instead of alcohol, you can use the most common deodorant spray. Such a pen dries much faster.

Removing the handles is not easy at all, usually one of the methods is used.

1. Using a soapy solution and a syringe. In this case, the grips need to be pierced with a needle, a weak soapy solution is injected inside, as a result, the handle quickly slides off. If there is no syringe at hand, then the cover can be carefully bend off with a thin screwdriver and liquid can also be poured under it.
2. The second method involves unscrewing the hexagon located on the cuff. When the mechanism is unscrewed, the grips themselves are also loosened, therefore they can be easily removed. This method is often used by sellers in sports stores, it requires the application of certain physical efforts, it is best to perform all the necessary manipulations together with an assistant who will support the steering wheel from the opposite side.

For a video overview of the Grips Mountain Bike Grips, see below.