The Lab – Ergon GDH Team – As sticky as glue
The Ergon GDH Team grips are the latest addition to the German brand’s range of ergonomic products. Developed for all gravity-based disciplines, they are designed to offer maximum grip and comfort with their three-part design and single clamps. Can they deliver?
With Ergon, ergonomics is in the name, so it’s no wonder that the German brand have made a name for themselves with ergonomic contact points. When it comes to the connection between the bike and rider, Ergon have got you covered from saddles to grips, pedals, gloves, and insoles. The GDH Team grips are the latest addition to the line-up and are aimed primarily at gravity-oriented mountain bikers. They are made in Germany – from development to design and production, it all takes place in Germany. We were able to test a production version, but the grips aren’t available to customers yet, though that’s set to change soon, according to Ergon. Once on the market, the grips will go for € 39.95.
The surface structure is divided into three different sections with different textures. The largest section is made up of a diamond pattern, which you’ll see on many other grips. The top side of the grips, on which your palms rest, relies on a slightly different structure and is intended to provide cushioning with its soft material. A ridge on the underside of the grips provides grip for your fingers, which is divided into four “finger boxes”. The grips have flanges on the insides that protrude upwards, so they don’t get in the way of the brake levers and controls at the bottom. The single inside clamps feature a nice oil-slick finish, that won’t be available on the production grips though, which will feature the colour Sley Grey. Ergon have opted against outside clamps, using sturdy bar end plugs made of plastic instead, which protect the grips in the event of a crash, and can be easily replaced. In general, fitting them is very easy: Push them on, tighten the clamps, and you’re done! We also like the fact that the clamp requires a 3 mm Allen key. This can be found on significantly more multitools than the 2.5 mm versions required by many other lock-on grips, which could save the day if your grips come loose on the trail.
Touching them for the first time, the material of the grips feels soft, almost sticky. It’s immediately evident that you won’t be lacking grip here. Riders who dislike gloves will be particularly happy about the level of grip offered, allowing you to keep a secure hold of the handlebar even when your hands get sweaty. And you can see that after a long day on the bike as the tacky compound rubs off on our hands. However, this doesn’t affect the grips negatively in terms of service life, as we couldn’t detect excessive wear during the test period of 2 months. The grips offer a pleasant level cushioning, doing a great job of filtering out small vibrations and keeping your hands feeling fresh. Riders with wide hands will be happy about the single inside clamps. As a result, there are no outside clamps for your hands to rub against.
Above all, the new Ergon GDH Team grips deliver in terms of grip. Even without gloves and with sweaty hands, your hands will remain stuck to the handlebar. Added to that is the clever design consisting of different textures and materials, which provides grip for your fingers, and cushioning for your palms. The single inside clamps reliably keep the grips in place and avoid unpleasant rubbing on the outsides of your hands.
Tops
- lots of grip even if you go gloveless
- ergonomic design with three-part structure
- no annoying clamps on the outside
Flops
- none
You can find more information at ergonbike.com
