ethet 

I use cork grips on my Steamroller and have a spare pair laying around... Though I'm not sure I'd like them on this bike. I suppose I could try them out.

SquidPuppet

The '70s Disco Pimp Glitter didn't offend?

Those Kraton rubber grips are inexpensive and really high quality rubber. I'm not a fan of soft grips like OURYs because they tend to cause a subconscious "need" to squeeze the bar more tightly than what's really needed, resulting in pump and fatigue. For me the Kratons are the right balance between soft and firm. The contact surface is soft but the core is rigid and strong. The contact surface is tacky too, so that encourages an even more relaxed grip.

Mumonkan

shellac these ones and theyl match better and be a little different from the surly

ethet 

I love your bikes.

This is my primary problem with the Oury grips (that, and I think they are kinda dumb looking). I was getting some numbness in the fingers of my left hand after riding this bike for a few hours, a condition that I isolated to the superfluous squeezing that these grips invite. Since becoming aware of the issue and adjusting the way I hang on to the bicycle the problem has vanished, though having grips that I have to be vigilant around is annoying, and so I desire difference.

I don't like slender grips, however, which really limits the possibilities. (I was just making my own grips for a while.) These Kraton guys will likely be a good fit... I remember liking them when I was younger.

ethet 

The problem is that the cork grips are kinda slippery, which is fine on my super-relaxed Steamroller with nerd bars and a basket, but I tend to go fast on this bike which would likely have me feeling uncomfortable with the cork. Though I could be wrong, and I already have the grips, so I might give it a try for a few days while I wait for the Kratons to come in. Thanks for the inspiration.

SquidPuppet

Thanks!



In the pics I provided, the first grip is quite round shaped and not slim. The second grip is bigger yet and shaped more rectangularly, similar to a pistol grip. The third version is round and quite slender, and my personal preference for that reason.

Arm pump ache, weakness, fatigue, numbness and tingling can also come from hand/wrist angles that don't agree with your joints. Personally, I can't ride bars that place my hands at a 90 degree angle to the top tube, nor bars that place them in line with the top tube. I have to have a bit of a sweep back and downward angle. Comfort is King, looks and aero be damned for me. This is why all my bikes eventually adopt a nerd set up.

Mumonkan

glue dem jawns:

ggpepper

Probably belongs in townie thread but it is SS. Nashbar SS CX with VO bars and levers.

SquidPuppet

Holy neanderthal technique batman.

SquidPuppet

Killer grips man.

ethet 

Ha. I meant my hands slip off of the grips, not the grips from the bars. That is the one thing I like about Ourys: I've never felt like I was losing my grip with them—an issue I seem to have with a lot of grips for some reason. I must have an excessive palm perspiration problem.

My better mood/groceries bike is set up similar to that... Nice sweep and rise, much more upright and relaxed. I like it a lot—and I always find myself smiling at the world around me when I ride it—though there are times in the week when I need something more, um, 'therapeutic', and that is when I like myself to be slammed into the bicycle, ignoring the world around me.

The one thing that has not been fun in building this new bicycle is trying to figure out the stem & bars situation. I kinda gave up on the calculations and went with something I know, yet is likely suboptimal, and I am sure I will end up switching everything out after riding it around. I'm already thinking of trading the 4" riser with 9º of sweep for something like this. While I am relatively certain my finger numbness was the result of switching to the Oury grips (they are the solitary variable), I remain concerned about my wrists.

SquidPuppet

If you do, you may want to consider the On One Mary for comparison regarding angles, width, rise and sweep. If it meets your fit requirements I can tell that in it's 31.8mm clamp version, it is fantastically rigid. Light, high quality and inexpensive. I had them on my Chartreuse bike for a while and loved the bar itself, but I could never get the reach short enough.

What is the new build?

On-One Mary Handlebar | On - One

Mumonkan

ive been told a single coat of shellac adds some tackiness, but ive never 'lac'd anything

the map bars kick ass! theyre stiff and have pretty much the perfect angle. my only wish is to make them wider, but then its basically a jones bar and i wouldnt be able to split lanes as easily

ethet 

It is good to see a vote in favor of that bar... I think I like it from afar. Though it would be nice to try it out before dumping that much money into a handlebar hope. I'll be in Milwaukee soon, I'll stop by that shop if my bar requirements have still not been met at that time.

I've never shellacked anything either, and never will, for reasons that would likely irritate you

That is an interesting option, certainly, especially as this project has already spiraled out of control. Thank you for the pointer... I kinda like that thing.

I am building a bicycle that is completely out of character for me, based upon a frame which is far more aggressive than anything I've ever ridden, though this project has become somewhat cathartic. Though, in full disclosure, the only thing I have at the moment is the chain:

SquidPuppet

Where did I get the notion that you were in The Netherlands? Or somewhere in Europe? LOL at myself.

Is the frame set a secret or can you tell us what it is?

ethet 

No, it isn't a secret, I just fear the oft-horrific condescension of this 'community' like the plague. I'm not sure why I care so much, but I do.

The frame is a G.O.A.T. Track. The Steamroller fork I got separately on eBay.

Mumonkan

@Scrodzilla also loves his mappys, and i recall seeing at least one other rider here with them but i forget who it was now

i commute on them most of the week, and ive done a 160mi ride and a 50 mile 7000ft epic gravel climbfest on them. despite having one hand position (with my setup, without the bag you could have at least 3) my hands never get angry at me

kingston 

I recently put a set of these Constructeur grips on one of my bikes an have been happy with them.

SquidPuppet

Interesting. Are you going to build it raw or paint it?

SquidPuppet

Available in GUM. I'd kill for a pair of standard shaped (finger notches) grips in gum.

Mumonkan

really? id think it would be hard to find colors that arent gum

SquidPuppet

Dude. Black, blue, red, orange, yellow, purple, pink, white, silver, green, brown, and the first ten are also available in "sparkle".

21 colors, no gum/natural.

Gum would match my Brooks Honey saddle and tape. It would be too perfect.

Every time I see the grips below I have the urge to build a bike just so I can use them. Like a 29er BMX bike with all black bits.

Mumonkan

pink grips would require tassles. no way around that

thedapperest

Here's an incredibly ****ty pic of my bike with the Mavic 355 pursuits. At first I hated being so low but now I'm kinda liking it and I certainly feel faster. Gonne get some yellow cloth tape tomorrow, hopefully. Yeah, I know, I gotta adjust the bar angle, they're slightly pointed up and it pisses me off every time I look at it.

SquidPuppet