The Ergon GDH Team is newest grip to come from the German brand. It joins an already chock-full lineup of mountain bike grips that includes Flow favourites like the GE1 EVO, the GD1 and GFR1.
How many different ways can you make a grip for mountain biking? Well if you’re Ergon, it turns out a lot. Your hands and fingers are sensitive little things after all, so it’s worth keeping them happy by making sure they’re in control and as comfortable as possible. Balancing traction, feel and damping in a single grip isn’t necessarily a straightforward equation, but Ergon believes it has done just that with its new GDH Team.
Ergon GDH Team Grips
- Weight: 115g
- Price: $69.95 AUD
Designed primarily for gravity-based riding, the Ergon GDH Team grips were developed with input from World Cup downhill racers including Vali Holl and Troy Brosnan.
Upon first glance it would appear they take some inspiration from the ODI’s much-loved Elite Pro grips. Of course Ergon being Ergon, the Germans have taken this concept and turned the dial up to 11.
Featuring a CNC machined alloy inner clamp with a proper 3mm hex bolt to lock it in place, the GDH Team grips are manufactured in Germany using Ergon’s own GravityControl Rubber. This extra gooey soft compound helps to increase traction and damping, and it’s also claimed to be free of any toxic substances, which Ergon says is particularly important for those who prefer riding without gloves.
Three zones, one size
As pioneered by the ODI Elite Pro, the Ergon GDH Team grip is split up into three distinct zones; there’s a knurled base structure, a waffle pattern to support the palms of your hands, and ribbing on the underside for your fingers to wrap around. There’s also a raised outer edge and an asymmetric flange on the inside of the grip.
The result of all that meticulous tread profiling is a very secure and locked-in feel. At the same time, the waffle pattern provides some cushioning that improves comfort and helps to absorb vibrations for what is a fairly thin grip.
The Ergon GDH Team grips are only produced in a single size, which differs to the GDH and GE1 EVO that are available in standard and slim diameters. In use, the GDH Team feels like it sits right in the middle in terms of thickness.
Flow’s Take
If you’re after a mountain bike grip with a highly tactile tread pattern, the Ergon GDH Team grips are a great option. Their carefully designed profile employs all sorts of different shapes and textures, combining useful damping and traction in a grip that keeps your hands firmly in position.
They do take time to setup properly in terms of getting the angle right for your digits, and they’re not the most heavily padded option out there. We’d suggest that folks who prefer a squishier and more neutral-feeling grip will likely be better off looking towards the excellent GD1.
We have appreciated the overall traction and control when using the GDH Team grips on really rocky and loose terrain though, and we love the super soft rubber compound that makes them comfortable to wear without gloves. Combined with the high quality locking clamps and tough end caps, the GDH Team grips are very well executed.
