Ergon grips for DH riding?

Would you ever recommend using Ergon grips for DH riding? I’ve been toying with the idea since my two end fingers get sooooo worn out after 8 runs down anything. I’m getting a softer spring for my Domain on Monday, and heading up for a last hoorah at WinterPark on Wednesday. Do you foresee the Ergon grips helping/hurting any part of “pinky/ring” finger muscle strain???

Thanks for all your help and all your help previously. You’re the best.

I would not recommend Ergon ergonimic grips for DH riding.

Why: They force you to maintain one hand position.

Your hand position should be dynamic. Basically, you always want to push and pull through a straight wrist. Roll your hands forward when you’re sprinting. Roll them back when you’re braking. That sort of thing.

Ergon grips force you to bend your wrist any time you do anything fun. How ergonomic is that?

World-class BMXer Bubba Harris with the straight wrists.

World-class nerd Lee McCormack with the straight wrists.

I used to have similar problems with my ring and pinkie fingers. Chances are your problems stem from some combo of:

Riding with two fingers on the brake levers. If you have decent brakes (and we all do these days), you only need your index finger on the lever. Hold on with the other three fingers. The middle finger is very strong, and it’ll take a lot of strain off your ring and pinkie fingers.

Related: Run your levers inward so your index finger is at the end of your lever. This gives you more leverage, and lets you pull the lever to the bar without hitting your knuckle. Yeah, I think of everything.

Riding stiff, gripping too often and gripping too tight. This will be carved into my headstone, which will be set into a public pump track:

Heavy feet, light hands!

When it’s time to brake, brake hard. Otherwise you should be a fairy princess on her way to a tea party.

Ergon GP1 – Made for comfort riding, and very nice for tooling around town.

Ergon GE1 – “Developed for riders who prefer technically demanding terrain … The slim cylindical form allows optimal rotation of the hand on the grip – for pulling up on jumps, or moving your weight back when riding drop-offs.” Much like a normal grip!

Sounds like you live in the Front Range. Take a clinic with me, and Feel the Force!

PS: Have fun Wednesday.

— Lee