To prevent or eliminate existing problems with the hands, TMR Designs takes a different approach to other well-known manufacturers of ergonomic grips. As with foot orthoses, TMR Designs imprint grips can be adapted to the natural shape of the hands. The advantage: a better hand position and reduced stress peaks.
There are two versions: The standard grip with polymer body or the premium grip with aluminum body - we choose the heavier but more torsionally stiff grip made of aircraft aluminum. For comparison: the standard grips weigh 110 grams, the premium 135 grams.

Adjustment and assembly

To adjust the handle, the screws are screwed into the clamps and the mesh stocking supplied is pulled over them. This gives it a non-slip structure when adjusting. If you want your Imprint Grips to be smooth, simply leave the stocking off. It is advisable to do the work either in the workshop near the bike, or in the kitchen with handlebars of the same design.

Boil water and soak the grips in it for two minutes. It is best to pour the hot water through a sieve. Be careful, the handles and especially the aluminum clamps are hot. But not so hot that you would burn yourself. As not everyone has the same sensitivity to pain, we recommend putting on bike gloves to put the grips on the handlebars, roughly align them and tighten them slightly. This process should be quick. The handlebars are now gripped firmly without gloves and held for around half a minute.

It doesn't hurt to make slight steering and pedaling movements. This expands the imprints slightly and creates a little more space. It is important to grasp the grip in exactly the same way as you grasped the old ones - in other words, if you always grasp the grips far out, you should do the same with the imprint grip - and vice versa. Because if you grip them differently when adjusting them, you will intuitively miss the grip when biking.
After fitting, the imprints are cooled in or under cold water. If the imprint does not fit exactly, the grip can be reshaped a few times.

From theory to practice

The first ride with the grips is a little unfamiliar, but definitely not uncomfortable. The grips hug the shape of your hands and fingers and feel comfortable. As mentioned earlier, if you grip the handlebars as you always do when adjusting them, you quickly grasp them intuitively and the position fits. In fact, hands cramp less or hardly at all on long descents - provided the adjustments are made correctly. This is a particular advantage on long descents.

Another plus point is that the grip can also be dented to provide localized relief for local problems such as cuts, scars or warts. This makes it possible to continue riding, which may not be possible with normal handles, or only with pain. Once the pain has subsided, the grip can simply be reshaped.

The Imprint grips are only clamped with a screw on the inside of the handlebars. However, the aluminum body makes them so stiff that no twisting is noticeable. In combination with carbon handlebars, however, you should use a special assembly paste with these grips - we have had good experiences with the carbon grease from Motorex.

If you leave your bike in the trunk of your car at the height of summer, the grips may become soft. This happened twice, but had no effect on the shape. Even if the grip is still a little soft, it is still easy to grip. The rubber then hardens again quickly.

The price for the premium grips is relatively high at CHF 65.00. However, you get a sensible high-end product for the money. The standard version is already available for 38.50 francs and is therefore a real price-performance hit.

Conclusion

The Imprint Grips are not only a good alternative to other ergonomic grips, they can also be the solution to hand problems. They are very easy to adjust and are ideal for enduro, marathon and touring riders who need to grip the handlebars for a long time. Although they are no thicker than comparable products from other manufacturers, there is no thin version. They are therefore less suitable for very small hands, but this is also a matter of taste. They fit well from medium hand size upwards.

www.b-bikes.ch/imprint-griffe