The GDH Team grips are the latest offering from ergonomics maestros, Ergon. It’s a grip with a design that revolves around one thing – improving ergonomics for speed. It’s built up with a range of zones that, the brand claims, are 100% purpose-built for the demands of downhill riding. In theory, this is one fantastic set of grips and they will be loved by many, however, they’re tailored towards a certain hand position on the bar, which we will get into later.
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Ergon GDH Team grips - Technical details
Like a handful of others, Ergon prides itself on developing products that provide some of the best ergonomics on the scene and that’s exactly what the GDH Team grips provide. Designed with racers and downhill performance in mind, the grip has been developed with talents such as Fabien Barel, Troy Brosnan and two-time Downhill World Champ Vali Höll.
This grip is built with several zones, all of which use a knurled diamond pattern as a base. The top of the grip uses a multi-level and multi-directional texture to provide cushioning and vibration damping. This section is designed to bend and conform under pressure to provide a soft feel but without completely flattening under heavy loads. It’s asymmetrical, too, so this portion of the grip is curved to best suit the natural curve of the palm.
What Ergon calls the finger zone is then crafted for grip. It’s similar to the classic waffle design that we’ve seen on tonnes of grips but it’s angled to match the hand and arm position of a rider in the attack position.
There’s a partial inner flange that’s included to offer a locked-in feel or so Ergon says. It can be used as a reference should you lose grip and need to regain it quickly. However, it’s shaped so that it doesn’t interfere with shifters or dropper post levers.
All of that is cut into Ergon’s Gravity Control rubber which claims to be free of lead, mercury, Cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBBs, and PBDEs – and that’s been proven by the SGS certification.
On top of all that, the grips feature a single locking collar and there are replaceable end plugs included, too.
Ergon GDH Team grips - Performance
I’m a big fan of contoured, asymmetric and tapered grips, and having got on swimmingly with Ergon’s GD1 grips, I had high expectations of the GDH.
The top zone is squishy but supported. There’s a clear level of give in its bendy texture but it’s not floppy. Because of this, it works similarly to Revgrips but not to such an extreme degree. On the trail, this smidgeon of movement improves control over the bike and staves off arm pump.
This portion is contoured, too, so it hugs the palm and helps the grip blend a full and thick feel with excellent bar feel owing to its minimal excess material. That feel is accentuated throughout the grip, where the knurled diamond pattern provides great traction (the finger zone improves grip even further). Generally, it wasn’t noticeable unless I was pulling up the front wheel or getting over the back of the bike where the finger zone delivered monumental grip.
That also comes as a credit to the incredibly soft compound that Ergon has chosen for the GDH. With or without gloves, the grip is consistent even in wet weather. It’s durable, too, despite what you would expect.
However, where there’s an awful lot to like about this grip, it’s not one that I’ve got on with. Because the grip is so meticulously designed and contoured, it only works at its very best if your hand sits on the grip where Ergon has intended and that’s in a central position.
I ride with my hands as far to the end of the bar as possible and often have a part of my palm hanging over the ends. Admittedly, this is probably quite a weird position but with my peculiar grip, the contour of the upper palm zone becomes more of a taper that widens from outboard to inboard. Because of that, arm pump is an inevitability and it can come fairly soon into a descent as I’ve gripped the outer of the grip with more force than the inner. It’s a shame as it’s a grip that shows real promise but if you grip the bar as intended, I’m certain that the GDH Team will be a winner.
Something that is a point of contention is its bar end plugs. Where we’re increasingly seeing completely closed grips with built-in bar end plugs, the choice to use non-built-in bar end plugs is both a positive and a negative. For the racer, it’s great as the rider can replace them quickly and easily without much of an additional cost. However, for the weekend warrior, you’ll need to buy new plugs each time you remove them or choose one of the clever things you can store in the ends of your handlebar.
Ergon GDH Team grips - Verdict
Another negative of the GDH grips is that they’re expensive. At £35, they are quite an outlay for a set of grips, especially considering there are several awesome options for a good chunk less. One pair that springs to mind is ODI’s Reflex grips. They’re designed to provide a similar effect but are fatter and generally softer through the design of their texture. Importantly, they’re £28 and they come in two sizes.
If ergonomics is what you’re after, check out SQlab’s 70X grips. These go around the whole ergonomics thing a little differently being crafted with a different style of contouring but it works much better by helping the wrist sit at a more appropriate angle and helping fingers wrap around the bar more comfortably. It’s not as aggressively treaded or squishy but a solid option if you’re looking for an ergonomically shaped grip. Oh, and a pair will set you back £30.
Ergon’s new GDH Team grips combine interesting technology, a soft rubber compound and considerably thought-out patterns to deliver improved ergonomics and less fatigue when riding at full chat. While they do an excellent job of providing impressive grip and reducing vibrations, they work at their best with particular hand placement. On top of that, the price is quite the ask, too.
