Commuting - A quick review of the GC3 Ergon grips, in a word: awesome!

I've just rode with these for the first time today:

http://www.ergon-bike.com/us/en/product/gc3

They have full size bar-ends as opposed to the previous/other models :thumb:

Amazing difference in comfort: almost no pressure on the palms soft tissue. Probably the best bike accessory I have bought in a long time. My aluminum rigid commuter feels smooth like my steel touring bike with Schwalbe tires.

They really must have done some research here because these feel amazingly natural and comfortable. My palms had no problems adjusting to the new shape, they felt perfect right away. The bar ends look weird at first but they have all the curves in the right places.

Riding with these grips feels almost as good as with my Modolo Yuma touring handlebar with thick layer of gel padding and Salsa cork tape :D

A bit pricey at $50 but definitely worth it. They have a model with no bar ends as well, for half the price.

Expect to do some position tweaking on the first ride. The bar ends are adjustable independently from the grips and lock the whole thing in position so you can't get rid of the ends in case you don't like them.

They come in small and large sizes and either full length or short for grip shifters.

They look a bit thick and bulky, some people may not like that.

The bar ends look weird at first but they have all the curves in the right places.

Wait ... what are we talking about again? :D

Wait ... what are we talking about again? :D

I kind of expected a comment like that when typing that sentence :D

The first time I saw a pic of those grips, I thought they looked great. I still haven't found an application on any of my bikes though. I do have GC2s on my 7.3 FX (it came with them, used) and they are great. I also got a set of GP1s today at Performance for 19.99, and put them on a newly acquired (and already much loved) 1995 Trek 850. Those are really nice too.

One of these days I'm going to get GC3s on something though. They really look like nice grips. Honestly, I can't imagine getting anything other than Ergons.

They do look nice, but I don't think it's possible to use a bar mounted mirror with them.

I've been very happy with my Bontrager Satellite Plus for about half the price

They do look nice, but I don't think it's possible to use a bar mounted mirror with them.

I don't know about the others, with bar ends, but you can do it with the GP1s.

I cut an inch off of the bars an each end then installed these. I really like the change up.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsGui_slXHE/TAZyEoxsMMI/AAAAAAAAEgI/rbZlDEG-DrU/s400/31247_108503485861601_100001058506060_60050_253702_n.jpg

I cut an inch off of the bars an each end then installed these. I really like the change up.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vsGui_slXHE/TAZyEoxsMMI/AAAAAAAAEgI/rbZlDEG-DrU/s400/31247_108503485861601_100001058506060_60050_253702_n.jpg

Nice looking bike, but there's something different about how your rack is mounted - is that some sort of custom rack thing that moved the rack back?

I tried the Ergons, but went with the Cane Creek bar ends, which lock into Lizard Skin grips. The hand position was more comfortable and better for climbing out of the saddle.

Nice looking bike, but there's something different about how your rack is mounted - is that some sort of custom rack thing that moved the rack back?

I just moved the extension rods out to almost the end. I usually carry at saddle bag under the seat. That gives me a little more space. Also gave me room for when the panier's are down I have heel clearance.

I have the Ergon GC3 grip/barend combo also. I love them, I am 61 and ridding with a regular round grip was causing numbness and pain in my wrists and palms.
Without the GC3's I wouldn't be able to ride. They are the best fairly new product that really makes a difference to come along in a long time........

I just moved the extension rods out to almost the end. I usually carry at saddle bag under the seat. That gives me a little more space. Also gave me room for when the panier's are down I have heel clearance.

It looks like you have some special metal thingy down by where the rack attaches near the back wheel, so the rack can attach back farther...I ask because it looks neat. :-D ...

The picture isn't quite high resolution enough for me to tell for sure...

Aw, just ask for a link to the rack already, 'cuz I know I am :thumb:.

I have the GR2's (if i remember correctly) on my hardtail. They are a few years old now with short magnesium bar ends. Enjoy them Adam, I know I enjoy mine.

Aw, just ask for a link to the rack already, 'cuz I know I am :thumb:.

Oh, there's no doubt he has a topeak rack, because that's a big topeak bag on the back and it won't go on a non-Topeak rack! (At least not the latest models)

But Topeak doesn't sell a rack that sits farther back like that...to be honest, it looks custom, but I'm really really curious... :-D

I just moved the extension rods out to almost the end. I usually carry at saddle bag under the seat. That gives me a little more space. Also gave me room for when the panier's are down I have heel clearance.

My MTX rack and bag looks the same way on my Marin, and my rods are all the way out as well. If not, the rack would have a really sharp angle to it and just look way weird.

They do look nice, but I don't think it's possible to use a bar mounted mirror with them.

I use GC3s with a Zefal "Spy" mirror. This mirror uses just a stretchy rubber piece for attachment. With careful positioning and a zip-tie it can be installed on the GC3s with no sacrifice to hand positions. I agree with the original poster's comments -- the GC3s are a well engineered product and the ergonomics are fully worth the price.

I've been quite happy with the GP1 on my flat bar commuter for a while now... they feel great.

They do look nice, but I don't think it's possible to use a bar mounted mirror with them.


I don't know about the others, with bar ends, but you can do it with the GP1s.
The GC2's will accept bar-mounted mirrors as well.

Not sure about the mirror, when I do use a mirror I use a sunglasses mounted mirror. On my commute I don't use one.

After riding with these grips for a few days I wish I bought them sooner! They're really that much more comfy that regular, round gel grips.

It looks like you have some special metal thingy down by where the rack attaches near the back wheel, so the rack can attach back farther...I ask because it looks neat. :-D ...

The picture isn't quite high resolution enough for me to tell for sure...

thats just the back of the SOHO wheel bracket for the Belt drive.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsGui_slXHE/TEW8drwuW9I/AAAAAAAAEwU/Gz50rlicOrk/s800/IMAG0071.jpg

Here is the Rack it has the built in U-Lock
http://topeak.com/products/Racks/OSTubularRack_w_U-Lock
http://topeak.com/mediafiles/products/658/

Here is the Bag
http://topeak.com/mediafiles/products/62/thumbnail
http://topeak.com/mediafiles/products/61/
http://topeak.com/products/Bags/MTXTrunkBagDXP

thats just the back of the SOHO wheel bracket for the Belt drive.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vsGui_slXHE/TEW8drwuW9I/AAAAAAAAEwU/Gz50rlicOrk/s800/IMAG0071.jpg

Here is the Rack it has the built in U-Lock
http://topeak.com/products/Racks/OSTubularRack_w_U-Lock
http://topeak.com/mediafiles/products/658/

Wow, thanks! Looks like they moved the rack mount back an inch, which is nice.

Thanks for the info, OP. I need more/better hand positions, and I've been waffling between bar ends/grips and just springing for new handlebars. Might give the GC3s a try.

+1 on Ergon grips generally; been using them for all my cycling for going on five years now/wouldn't consider anything else. They do (for me, at least) exactly what Ergon 'says on the tin.'

My LBS finally received my pair of GC3s today and I installed them right away. Ergon grips are far and away the best I've ever used.

I bought the ergons without bar ends for the m. bike and really didn't care for them. I did not like not being able to shift my grip around as a round grip allows. I found my wrists talking to me even with multiple adjustment sessions. I have heard many rave reviews and for me I am quite happy with a round grip.

I bought the ergons without bar ends for the m. bike and really didn't care for them. I did not like not being able to shift my grip around as a round grip allows. I found my wrists talking to me even with multiple adjustment sessions. I have heard many rave reviews and for me I am quite happy with a round grip.

The very-shaped Ergon grips are generally used on bikes that stay fairly horizontal on a fairly flat road. If you're commuting on streets, using a bike path, riding down a dirt road - that's stuff the really shaped Ergon grips are designed for.

If you're genuinely mountain biking, plowing over a pile of logs on your bike, Ergon also more "more round" grips for that as well, for the kind of biking where your bike may regularly end up at a 30 degree angle from your body.

I went on a 19 km ride today with the new grips mounted. I must still need some adjustments because my right hand became very numb - so numb that I could barely feel the controls under my fingertips as I geared down while entering my driveway. I never experienced that with my GC2s, nor did I with the bike's OE grips. Hopefully a simple angle adjustment will cure the problem - perhaps my wrist was cocked at the wrong angle. BTW the left hand seemed okay... after the ride I eyeballed the grips and determined the right grip was angled slightly different than the left.

As for the bar ends - awesome! The extra hand positions were welcome and the ride felt very controlled, even at 50 kph cruising downhill with my hands in the forward position and my elbows tucked.

I use GC3s with a Zefal "Spy" mirror. This mirror uses just a stretchy rubber piece for attachment. With careful positioning and a zip-tie it can be installed on the GC3s with no sacrifice to hand positions. I agree with the original poster's comments -- the GC3s are a well engineered product and the ergonomics are fully worth the price.

A couple of months late asking, I know, but any chance of further explanation or picture of how you've installed it so as not to compromise the multiple hand positions? I'm loving my GC3s but thinking I really need a mirror after a recent near-miss which a mirror would have averted.

Thanks,
Graham

Sorry I don't have a picture but I can describe the arrangement --

The mirror is at the corner of the handlebar, just where it would be if it were a bar-end plug mirror, with the stretchy rubber angled across the 90-degree turn in the GC3s. In use, it won't stay in this position by itself, so I used 2 heavy-duty zip-ties in a criss-cross fashion to hold the rubber mount in place. Took me a couple tries and a few wasted zip-ties to get a set-up that is (a) stable and (b) not an issue for any hand positions I use. Not especially pretty but it works. I'm in an area with many electric scooters that can sneak up silently, so I'm very glad to have it.

Hope this helps!