Raise your hand if your mountain bike in the 90’s had bar ends. Now who is still using them today? A lot of hands just went down. Granted, there are still a number of riders using traditional bar ends but the majority of us have probably left them in the bin with the sub 600mm handlebars.
Traditional bar ends have a few drawbacks – namely they can be heavy, you could hook them on branches or trees, and most keep your hands away from the brakes and shifters. However, the alternate hand positions do offer an advantage for certain types of riding including endurance racing. What’s the answer if you’re craving another hand hold? TOGS thinks their Thumb Over Grip System is just what racers need.
Lightweight, ergonomic, and relatively inexpensive, TOGS are an interesting solution to the common bar end…
The basic idea behind TOGS is the ability to move your thumb from underneath the bar and place it around the hook provided. This supposedly better aligns your wrist and changes the position enough to reduce fatigue. The benefit to the TOGS design is that your hand is still in place for shifting and braking and it keeps the ends of your bars free and clear. Chances are good that you may already place your hands in the TOGS position, but lack the thumb hook which allows you to keep control of the bar and provides additional leverage when climbing.
Made out of a nylon resin from Dupont called Zytel, TOGS are extremely light coming in at just 18g per pair. Designed to be a universal fit, each TOG has a locking collar that allows it to be positioned over any grip. Available in 8 colors, TOGS are made in the U.S. and sell for $24.99.
