It's been over a year since I bought these and they've changed the way I ride that bike completely. I almost never use the grips anymore, just the bar inners. It just became second nature. As for that 500 mile Empire State Trail trip, it never happened. I tore my meniscus in June last year, and needed surgery which I had at the end of August after a painful summer. Unfortunately that knee problem took all the wind out of my cycling even though I'm fine now with it, but I then had a rotator cuff tear to keep me off even more. I got on the bike yesterday and it felt OK, but then my shoulder hurt afterwards. I'll keep trying though, I don't want this to be the end of cycling for me. I'm 68 and even just a couple of years ago thought I could go on forever with it.