Got a bike? Then you need to get a grip... Two of them, actually.

Let’s start with the basics. What are grips?

Bicycle grips are those soft bits on your handlebar that you hold onto when riding your bike. You know, the bits you wrap your paws around and hold on tight when cruising the means streets or ripping the trails.

They can be made out of foam, rubber or soft plastic and chances are high that many of you rarely give them much thought. Let's try and change that.

Bicycle grips are one of just four contact points on your bike that you physically touch, alongside your two pedals, so they’ve gotta be good if you want your bike to feel good.

Remember - grips are only found on bikes with a ‘flat’ or ‘riser’ handlebar - that’s a handlebar that’s pretty much straight and pretty much flat. You know, like on a mountain bike, city bike or similar.

If you have those funny-shaped, curly bars, AKA ‘drop’ bars, you’ll need grip tape which is something else altogether.

What Makes Great Grips?

Good grips need to get a few ingredients right.

They need to be comfortable in your hand with a soft, but not too soft, material. The boffins that design grips spend hours scratching their heads to find the perfect ‘durometer’, meaning the ‘hardness’ of the grip’s material.

Grips also need to be grippy, obviously. Grippy grips mean that your hands don’t move around, slip or spin when it’s rainy or you’re hot and sweaty. That’s partly down to the material and partly down to the pattern, with manufacturers creating all sorts of weird and wonderful lumps and bumps across their grips to add friction. Personal preference plays a big part here.

Grips also need to be durable so they won’t wear out too quickly or get damaged when you take a tumble. The material needs to be soft enough to be comfy, but long-lasting enough to stay undamaged and not wear out, even after miles and miles in the saddle.

Last but not least, they’ve got to be the right size and shape to fit your hands. They can’t be too fat or too thin and they need to be the right length for your hands, neither too big nor too small. Get the wrong fit and you'll get sore hands, achy forearms and have a sucky time on two wheels.

There’s a lot to get right!

How to pick the right bicycle grips for you.

Picking your ideal bicycle grips comes down to picking the right thing for you and the right thing for your riding style.

Then, it comes down to personal preference.

As always, we’d recommend visiting a good old-fashioned bike shop and getting some expert advice in-store, then trying a few pairs for yourself. You can find your local Marin dealer here.

Don’t be afraid to visit a store, grab ‘em off the peg, get your hands on and give them a feel in-store. Don’t just settle for the first thing you see, really try a few pairs on for size.

Go on, don’t be shy, grab a grip!

What’s wrong with standard grips?

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the grips that come supplied on your bike… If you’re riding a Marin. Our ‘stock’ grips are kick-ass and have been designed from the ground up to look, feel and ride way beyond what you’d expect from ‘standard’ grips.

But many other grips are just a bit meh. They’re cheap, they’re made with hard plastic. They’re uncomfortable. They’re made to cut costs, not boost stoke. Meh.

We’re on a mission to give you the best possible experience on your bike, right down to the grips. We’ve designed 4 of the greatest grips ever, to give you the best ride experience ever.

If you’re riding a Marin, you probably have these fitted already. If you’re not, you can always upgrade to them, transforming the comfort of your bike with one low-cost, easy-to-install, low-hassle upgrade.

Yay.

Which Marin Grips are Right For You?

We've created a collection of four grips that, between them, are perfect for every type of rider and riding style out there.

Here's the complete collection: