LoamLab Counterpunch Bar Ends Double as Pinkie Protectors

Nov 18, 2021 at 7:19
by James Smurthwaite  
photo

Pedals to the shins, a stem to the crotch or just a good old-fashioned face plant, there are plenty of ways to hurt yourself out riding but one of the most common (and often most painful) can be trapping your pinkie finger between your bars and a tree trunk. It's for this reason that Mark Haimes (who once set the World Record for the most mountain bike descending done in 24 hours), created the Counterpunch bar end.

The Counterpunch plugs into the end of your bar, but unlike most bar ends, which are there to either stop you from being impaled on your handlebars or offer a different hand position, they instead curl around your pinkie to keep it safe from tree strikes. Haimes had been imagining the Counterpunch through his 15-year riding career that included stints as a pro racer for Rocky Mountain, but was spurred on to make it a reality when he found himself in the Whistler Clinic with a broken 5th metacarpal, joining two other riders with the same injury, all staring down the barrel of 6 weeks off the bike in prime riding season.

photo

Yes, enduro handguards already exist but they don't always extend all the way out to the pinkie and Haimes claims that the Counterpunch can also be used for extra control when cornering. The design is minimalist, designed to slide off a tree rather than grab it, you can see that demonstrated in the short video below:


The bar end can be run on its own or in combination with Loamlab's own grips. These grips are 29mm thick and have parts of the core removed to increase comfort. Without grips, the Counterpunch weighs 68 grams per pair and costs $39 CAD and with the Loamlab grips the weight is 164 grams per pair with a cost of $59 CAD. More info, here.

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195 Comments
  • 315 5
 Annnd we've come full circle. Bar ends are back.
  • 174 1
 perfect for my 90s mountain bike... I mean my flat bar down gravel bike
  • 8 0
 Get them on your "flat bar gravel bike" and you're cool!
  • 6 0
 Gotta dig out my old double bend bull horns!
  • 15 25
flag BoneDog (Nov 18, 2021 at 8:47) (Below Threshold)
 This will save you 1% of the time at the expense of your spleen and bike looking ugly as faccck.
  • 9 0
 Will they open bottles, too?
  • 3 0
 @Smallbright: just unscew the top hey..
  • 2 0
 @islandforlife: are the anodized pink?
  • 2 1
 “Next week, we’ll showcase a new product release from @goggleProtect!

Their ingenious device is and opaque microfibre, custom fitted unit that protects your clear and mirrored lenses- AS YOU RIDE”……..
  • 2 0
 I never took mine off! I run the Ergon GP2 and use those bar ends to fight off trees more than to climb with! Saved me from getting a bar in the crotch more than once!
  • 3 0
 @timtoldnes: PURPLE!!!!
  • 7 0
 If only they were 3-D printed out of titanium, then they would be perfect!
  • 5 1
 @Thomasbenko: How did they save you from getting a bar in the crotch? You know bar ends are supposed to be installed on your handlebar, not on your....never mind, whatever works for you.
  • 3 0
 @cb7: Yeah, they would last four times as long, while only costing three times as much. Major saving right there.
  • 2 0
 No hand to fakie to bar ends is my best trick Smile
  • 5 1
 next week is the highly anticipated release of the new Trek Y-Frame enduro bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 2 0
 @adrennan: Well said! Do you think they'll offer them in oil slick or purple anodized?
  • 1 0
 @ncrescenti: they better come in purple ano
  • 2 1
 @dmackyaheard: I believe its called a session these days...
  • 2 1
 @adrennan: or do you mean "flat bar down gravel country mullet e-bike"...LOL!!!
  • 122 3
 Saves the pinkie - kills the spleen.
  • 32 2
 Yeah, I don't really want something that thin and sharp on the end of my bar thanks
  • 4 2
 @emery033 you win!
  • 4 0
 My roommates named it the spleen machine after my dirt bike handlebar took mine.
  • 5 0
 They do look very Stabbie Stabbie
  • 2 0
 No spleen = no problem! My elbow took mine in a dirt bike wreck.
  • 3 0
 Those pinkie protectors look an awful lot like pinkie choppers!
  • 104 1
 There seems to be three categories of comments here;
A) I've used them and like them a lot
B) I've never seen them or used them but here are facts according to me.
C) I needed a new heel for my shoe. So I decided to go to Morganville, which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. "Gimme five bees for a quarter," you'd say. Now where were we... oh yeah. The important thing was that I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time. They didn't have any white onions, because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones...
  • 5 0
 thank you Abe ha ha
  • 3 0
 Maaaatloooooooock!
  • 3 0
 I love you man. That was hilarious.
  • 50 3
 that would be gnarly catching that on something
  • 10 27
flag Tormy FL (Nov 18, 2021 at 8:24) (Below Threshold)
 I was thinking the same thing. Of course I have broken both my pinkies several times this season alone smashing them on trees.
  • 17 4
 @Tormy: Broke both several times!? That is hardcore...In all the years I've raced MTB's (both XC and Enduro) and raced Dirtbikes in the woods for years without proper handguards, I've broken fingers maybe once or twice....
  • 6 2
 @RadBartTaylor: irony.
  • 5 1
 tree hooks
  • 35 0
 @Tormy: Broken both pinkies. Several times. In one season. Sure ya have chief.
  • 6 0
 @RadBartTaylor: It would be hardcore if it were true. Both pinkies several times? Has he fook.
  • 5 0
 I've had them on all of my bikes for a year. They catch way less than a standard bar/grip/finger combo.
  • 3 0
 @Tormy: yeah well my dad has robot pinkies so...
  • 13 0
 Doesn't happen how you may imagine. I ran these for a season and connected at pace with trees multiple times, they deflect and you move forward. They do collect a bit of leaf salad on mid-summer brushy bash-throughs however. IMO they are a great solution if you want metacarpal protection with negligible downsides.
  • 2 0
 @Tormy: You seem to have excellent hand eye co-ordination there bucko
  • 2 1
 Even worse than that, catching your pinky during a dismount. If you search on YouTube you’ll see some horror stories of fingers getting caught in dirt bikes handguards that connect to the end of handle bars. I’ll take my chances with not clipping trees, thanks…
  • 3 0
 @Betacygni: Funny how that keeps getting repeated in the dirt bike world but it's always someone who knows someone who knows someone to whom it happened...
  • 2 0
 @redrook: I read this in Superintendent Chalmers’ voice. Thanks for the chuckle.
  • 2 0
 @leifgren: Lol, I should have finished off with "localized entirely within your kitchen!?"
  • 1 0
 yes, a wait-a-minute vine
  • 1 0
 @MatLax00: certainly don’t know how common it is, but like I said there are some documented videos showing the injuries, and pretty gruesome. And stands to reason if you have a small joint be held in opposition to the movement of your body weight, bad things are possible. That said these are obviously smaller, so less risk, but I still value my fingers, and won’t ride that style of barkbuster hand guards even on my enduro moto.
  • 1 0
 @Betacygni: what sort of injuries are you talking about? Dirtbikes are dangerous, anything can happen, but I've never seen any injuries in person from wrap around handguards and I've been riding for a minute...
  • 1 0
 @RadBartTaylor: The particular injury I saw the video for was a near total finger amputation from just dropping the bike over at slow speeds when the finger caught behind the handguard and the rider fell away. Other reports of broken wrists (though this would obviously not as likely apply to the mtb product listed). This discussion got me more curious about how common this type of injury is, or if I’m just paranoid after seeing that example. Only thing I was able to find was a poll where about 8% of responders reported either being injuried themselves, or personally knew someone injured by moto wrap around handguards. For this particular mtb product to cause serious harm might be pretty small, and might indeed be worth it if you’re on tight trails dodging trees, even if they do possibly carry their own small risk (just like car airbags). But I like the ability to bail as freely from my equipment as possible, again especially when weak important joints are the catch points. But your tree densities might vary from mine.
  • 1 0
 @Betacygni: I've heard of the wrist thing, if your hands slip and you ram something it could leverage your arms over the top of the guards, probably worth the risk IMO. The finger thing is odd, not even sure how that would or could happen.....maybe? Considering chain, sprockets, hot header pipes, sharp footpegs....lots to go wrong.
  • 1 2
 @Betacygni: check this out youtu.be/L3wOL_-uXX0
  • 2 0
 @GO-GO-GADGET: That was a good bit of entertainment. The editor really 'explored the space' Thanks!
  • 1 2
 @owenbfoster: thanks for watching!
  • 35 1
 My good buddy has what we refer to as "fancy finger" after smashing his pinky on a tree and having to get it pinned. Now it won't bend and stays straight, like some British Royal at tea time.

Good idea!
  • 30 0
 That's not exclusive to the Royals, we all do it ;-)
  • 5 1
 Question - can you use them on/in carbon bars?
  • 2 0
 @bikebasher down voted by a British Royal!
  • 8 0
 @trillot: The straight pinky fingers? Absolutely. They look even more distinguished combined with expensive carbon.
  • 6 0
 @trillot: Yes, carbon bars are safe.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bILtghv__M
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ-LX3dwR88
  • 4 0
 @trillot: yes I have them on carbon bars
  • 4 0
 I hope you give him &$*# every time he drinks a beer with his bougie highfalutin finger up....
  • 11 0
 Years ago, I got bounced into a chainlink fence that ran by the trail. My left pinky caught the fence and got yarded on really hard. It wasn't broken, or dislocated, but it hurt like hell.

The finger specialist looked at the x-ray for a small eternity before declaring "you didn't break it, but you really f*cked it up". When the doc drops the f-bomb... yeah. He then explained that I ripped the tendon partially off the bone, and it took a chunk of bone with it. The finger now sticks out noticeably when my hand is relaxed. The worse news was that he couldn't do surgery because if he "put a stitch" in, it would likely cause my finger to go the other way and be pulled too far toward my other fingers. Then he says "don't worry, eventually you'll catch it on something and rip it the rest of the way off. You can come back then and I'll fix it."

That was over 15 years ago and the tendon is still at least partially attached. The only real impact is that it screwed up my ability to play guitar. There's things that pinky just won't do anymore on the fretboard.
  • 3 0
 @pixelguru: Indian Larry was missing a pinky on one of his hands....he said it was an advantage since he could get his hand into tight spots around the Harley's better!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Larry
  • 1 0
 @trillot: yes you can
  • 2 0
 Tape or stitch your gloves' pinky to ring finger. Then you cant pry it sideways as easily where a lot of damage occurs
  • 2 0
 @pixelguru: This is called an Avulsion fracture. I had one earlier this year, and my finger specialist wasn't quite such a drama queen as yours.
Maybe that was because my injury was less severe than yours, or because it was on the back of the finger. My finger stayed bent inwards for a few months, and has slowly straightened. Not quite as good as new, but it works just fine for my work as an artist.
Sorry to hear about your fretboard limitations. That's a bummer.
  • 27 0
 I've been using those all summer long and my favorite thing about it: they help with tremendously cornering. Your hand stay really secured and snugged against the bar end, and you tend to use them to push more on the grip/bar, leading to more traction and carrying more speed throughout.

I was really skeptic at first as I was seeing myself clipping all sort of trees and debris on the trail, but they definitely saved my pinkies a couple of times from smashing trees. Would recommend 10/10 for someone wanting to give them a try.
  • 7 0
 Yeah I've smashed my pinkie on a rock before bad, this probably would have helped. Also probably still won't buy it, but it's interesting.
  • 15 0
 Me too. I've been riding these all season and they have definitely deflected me off a couple trees. The reason they will stay on my bike is performance increase. They provide some security at the end of your bars and allow you to relax just slightly. Almost like the difference between flat pedals and clipless in rough terrain. When you try them, you will know. The haters will always hate while the world continues to progress.
  • 2 0
 A grip with a little rib at the outer edge works just as well. It's nice to have something to push against. Also to feel secure when it's wet.
  • 3 0
 This has been my experience with them too. I've crashed in the past from my hands blowing off the bars when wet or sweaty, and these give me a lot more confidence in weighting the front end through corners. It's a huge benefit to me to know my hands are in the right place & not going anywhere – like clip pedals but for your hands. Also very nice not to worry about my pinkies when getting close to trees!
  • 16 0
 I've been using the Counterpunch bar ends for about 6 months now and I can honestly say they've saved my hands on numerous occasions. I'm also impressed with the quality, durability and ergonomics of the bar ends. They allow me to have a lighter grip but at the same time feel more locked in. I appreciate products that are designed by actual mountain bikers, especially those that look enhance rider safety. I love the mountain bike community but I'm a bit disappointed with some of the negative comments. When someone puts their heart and soul into a product that looks to enhance rider experience and safety it's never a bad thing. You may not agree and that's ok.....you don't have to buy them. But I think we can all appreciate the people who are willing to share innovative ideas that continue to enhance our sport.
  • 3 0
 I can't agree more. I thought the mtb community was incredibly welcoming and open-minded after years of surfing, but the more pb comments and endurobros I see the more I think mtb and surf culture are the same.
  • 1 0
 @Purpledragonslayer: Mountain biking I moved on from enduro to freeriding (and surfing I do a lot of SUP surfing to get away from the crowds).
  • 17 1
 That dude absolutely committed to hitting that tree. Not sure if this product is for me but that at least got me thinking more about it. Kudos.
  • 13 0
 My wrist hurt for a week after that.
  • 3 0
 That dude is not known for his gentle riding.
  • 15 1
 "Haims claims"

I'm sold on that two word combo alone.
  • 9 0
 Lots of trails around me were designed in the 90's when a certain group of riders thought that tree gates are cool. Tree gates still everywhere. With 800 bars is a guaranteed pinkie smash every couple of months. These are verrrry interesting.
  • 9 1
 I am a software developer and can't afford to have my fingers get smoked (which I have had happen) - used the counterpunch for most of this season - saved my fingers three times thus far... ! The grips are also excellent in terms of vibration reduction...
  • 14 2
 Could it also function as chest penetrator in case of a crash?
  • 2 0
 unlike a brake lever?
  • 6 0
 "chest penetrator" should totally be a weapon in the next Doom game.
  • 1 0
 I'm not worried.
  • 8 0
 I’ve bounced off trees a few times and torn gloves and scuffed my pinkies. All my sprains and dislocations of thumbs and fingers are from landings. Still I bought a pair and I’ve scuffed off a few trees without any problem so I bought a second pair for my other bike. They shouldn’t snag branches because my fingers are there filling the gap.
  • 8 0
 I have been running the counterpunch and loam lab grip combo all year on both my DH and AM bikes. Love the added protection on tight trails and the confidence this product has given me. The CP also aids in leaning the bike over in the corners and helps secure a solid yet relaxed grip. Big fan. Try them, I bet you would agree and also hit those tight treed sections with more aggression. #makebarkfly
  • 12 2
 surely its time to just cut to the chase and fully enclosed hand guard like motorcycles?
  • 12 0
 Sam Hill has entered the chat
  • 1 2
 Hello broken wrists
  • 1 0
 Yep. Close the loop fully. You can use them as inner and outer bar ends whilst protecting your hands and stopping a bar puncturing your abdomen. The current ones that leave the bars exposed on the end don’t go far enough IMO.
  • 11 1
 I patented taping a set of brass knuckles on my grips to protect all my fingers.
  • 1 4
 At least a misplaced friend or rib would take a shot from a blunt weapon rather than that shark fin murderer of a bar end. Imagine your hand slips off the bar, you go to slap it back on in a hurry and your palm or any digit grabs that blade of a bat end and smashes the ground or a tree
  • 7 0
 My first ride with grips + CP I hit a tree and didn't break my finger. Who knows if I would have broken my finger or not, but it to me was certainly worth the investment as far as I'm concerned. I do find that the grips are quite comfortable as well. After using them for a while, I've adjusted my riding a bit to adjust to my hands staying pretty darn locked in. Previously I would choke up on the grips a bit, but I now run at a wider stance.

If you're in need of new grips, and have hit trees before.. why not give em a try?
  • 6 0
 Ive used these on my pedal and ebike for the past 6 months and absolutely love them. If you ride where there are tight trees then these are a no brainer. If you are a tired dad trying to get the most of your rides even though youre exhausted from life, Im sure you've been a little too close to a tree or two. Ive run them with the Loamlab grip, Ergon dh grips and push on Sensus grips and they work awesome on any grip. My pinkie scabs have finally healed and my hands no longer look like a thug. I just wish they kept the original name. Lol. I also paid for all my Loamlab products. They're awesome.
  • 10 1
 It's not the innovation we asked for, but it's the innovation we need.
  • 5 10
flag handynzl FL (Nov 18, 2021 at 8:53) (Below Threshold)
 It's not the innovation we asked for, but it is the innovation we don't need.


Smile There, fixed it for you....
  • 8 1
 Been running these for 6 months. They are awesome. Anyone who thinks these are any more dangerous than a brake lever is an idoit.
  • 5 0
 I got a set of these, because couple years ago I tagged part of a stump and broke my pinky finger, missed 6 weeks of prime riding season. I got the grip/counter punch combo. First off I really like the grip, if you like a lower diameter grip you will definitely like these. Secondly they work as intended, they totally protect the finger and outside knuckle. Also I initially thought they would catch trees but they don't at all.
  • 5 0
 I've been running these for the past few months and there are several things I like about them - in this order. 1) I love LoamLab grip they work with, which is super thin in a way no other grip can quite match (check out the cut out image here - www.loamlab.bike/products/grips). 2) The grips are a smidge narrower than any other grip I have seen which means my brake lever placement is feels more natural (especially with the new Shimano brakes with the brace thingamajig). So, even if I wasn't running the Counterpunch, I would still be running LoamLab grips. 3) They do, in fact, offer a way to leverage the bar in corners that feels to me like it increases the ability to weight the front wheel and increase traction. 4) Lastly, they do what they are designed to do - protect your finger. Note that I consider the thing they are advertised to be as the 4th most important benefit they offer. The weight penalty for this protection is minimal. No, they aren't for every rider but if you hang it out there regularly, this is a no-brainer inexpensive upgrade IMHO.
  • 8 1
 Doubles as a pinkie protector, triples as a bush-grab-bar-turn-dirt-sample-facilitator.
  • 7 0
 Its actually the complete opposite of that. They slide you past the tree/rock/parked car that you were going to get caught on.
  • 4 0
 I ran these for a couple months before switching to rev grips for bike park. Rev grips don’t seem to do much for me, so I’ll be switching back to my counter punches once I get around to it. Probably with a push on grip to see if those help with hand pain.

They never really caught branches or vines or anything, and they saved me from one solid tree punch. They definitely deflect trees better than my pinkies do.
  • 2 0
 Also, I screwed up my shipping address but Mark sorted things out before he even got the “returned to sender” package back
  • 4 0
 Been using them all season. They have saved my hands several times and the trees have the scars to prove it. You need to get your cockpit set up just right, but once dialed in, they are are super comfortable. Cheap effective protection.
  • 4 0
 Ive never broken a pinkie, but I've bashed my hands enough ive considered running those moto style brush guards... When I rode Enduro motorcycles, I loved those, but they feel cringey on a bicycle.. to me. But my trails are all natural and tight. These look kinda awesome.
  • 4 0
 I've got a set of these! I really like them for being able to rest your pinkies in there and know your hand wont slip off the end of the bars. I've definitely used them a couple times against trees, but I can't necessarily say they saved my hands.
  • 7 0
 Pretty sure Brendog had these in Lenzerheide.
  • 3 0
 I've come close to smashing my pinkie a few times, fortunately I've been running my hands inwards a ways. But still, even if you just hit the end of the bar on a tree it really tweaks the bars. So the ability to glance off them instead could help keep your momentum. I'd love to try them but doesn't look like they play nice with Ergon Grips!
  • 1 0
 They play well with ODI grips. So I'll have a bunch of Renthal grips to sell.
  • 5 0
 They're on my wish list, not for protection but to rest my hand against. I like the idea of anything that encourages or enables me to loosen my grip
  • 3 0
 Would have saved my pinky for sure 3 times in 15 years of riding.

While it doesn’t seam like a worthwhile use with those odds, there’s story above one by @pixelguru about tendons ripping bone off and a chainlink fence. . .so. . .I like this little invention and will probably go for it.
  • 3 0
 I bought a pair of these after breaking my 5th metacarpal against a tree. I mostly just wanted the knuckle protection but now I'm in love with the grips themselves. Any grip that allows me to drop from the top of Puke Hill in Park City down to the resort on a hardtail with no arm pump is cool by me.
  • 8 2
 I bet I'd hit approximately 23% more trees with those.
  • 3 1
 hanging vines will love them start ending asap
  • 1 0
 I've always torn the pinkies off my gloves and now with LLCP my gloves stay whole for a lot longer.
  • 5 0
 I wish I had these a couple of years ago...maybe I would still be able to play the guitar... Frown
  • 5 0
 can still play a ukulele?
  • 3 0
 Now you just play the organ?
  • 1 0
 flow is for guitar players
  • 3 0
 At this point why not just take the weight penalty with full hand guards? Not only will it not puncture your chest, your entire hand and brake lever will be protected from rocks and branches.
  • 1 0
 I use these LLCP with and without Sendhit Nock handguards. It's up to each one of us to decide what kind of protection to use.
  • 2 0
 I run my hands at the very edges of the bar and have never caught just the end on a tree. I either just skim the tree with an elbow (elbows out! Amirite?!) or it’s a full on tree punch.
  • 2 0
 Anyone use these on Revgrips? Not sure they'd be compatible in terms of ergonomics but these do look interesting. I love being able to push on the outside of the bar grip interface so these are interesting for that aspect.
  • 1 0
 I don't know about Revgrips. I changed from Renthal grips to ODI for compatibility, and it works for me. But full compatibility with more grips would of course be great from my perspective.
  • 1 0
 That's not even enough protection. I think there should be something similar to motorcrosses where it protects the whole set of fingers and the brake levers. Cripes, I've had my pinkie and other fingers pinched or scraped by trees and broken one brake lever after slamming into a lodgepole pine. And yes, I didn't tighten the clamps down tight to let the whole mechanism rotate during impact.
  • 1 0
 So, it was the same for me and the LLCP saves my pinkies. And when I use the Sendhit Nock handguards as well it saves my levers and knuckles from full on hits.
  • 4 0
 Nothing like a good "finger banger" to ruin you day.....or is that save the day?
  • 3 0
 Having clipped more than a few tree's on my rides I am VERY interested in picking these up. I have not smashed a pinky yet but it freaks me out every time.
  • 3 0
 I think I might benefit from something like this…
m.pinkbike.com/photo/21666808
  • 3 1
 usually, i would make fun of this but as I am petrified of hitting my hand on a tree and also need my hands intact for soccer, I will not. it seems pretty cool
  • 5 0
 Er, for soccer?
  • 1 0
 @redrook: Must be a goalkeeper? Or a tifosi?
  • 2 0
 It's called football for a reason...
  • 2 0
 @barp: I'm a goalkeeper. Should've said that in my comment
  • 4 0
 Was so ready to make fun of this but that's a compelling video!
  • 2 2
 Used to mash my fingers regularly - lots of tight trails in the Tweed Valley - but cut bars down 5mm each side and rarely happens now. This looks great but as others have said, it's worse than a missing bar plug in the wrong kind of crash...
  • 1 0
 if i was this worried about banging my pinkies on a tree i would just use motocross gloves, they have protection focused precisely on this area, www.klim.com/Dakar-Glove-3167-004?quantity=1&color=9
  • 1 0
 For me, these would be an option for brushing off branches and when falling off the bike but not for contact with trees or rock where the LLCP saves my hand from the full on impact of a hit.
  • 1 0
 cant wait for these to dig into the bark of a tree instead of glancing off, saving me from bruising my pinky but throwing me from the bike and breaking literally any other part of my body/bike.
  • 2 0
 I tried a Counterpunch and now their on all my tree smashing steeds. Deflection is real and save your pinkies...well done @LoamLab
  • 2 0
 They may want to check for a trademark violation with another company, JL racing who sell rowing products...
  • 3 0
 Vlad the impaler rose from the grave.
  • 1 0
 Not gonna lie, if I hit a tree hard enough where I need these, I'm definitely more concerned with the fact I'm just about to get ejected....
  • 3 0
 If you check out the video, you can see how hard I hit that tree, very far over (not just a clip, but straight into it), yet I didn't crash, or impact any of my hand.
  • 1 2
 @LoamLab: as the owner of GEO HANDGUARDS, I feel your pain!
We innovators are in this together!
  • 1 0
 @LoamLab: Yup, I see that. But we're not talking about you here. We're talking about me. I'm 100% going down.
  • 2 0
 Next week on PB: New 26” Wheels that are lighter, accelerate faster, more nimble, stronger!
  • 2 0
 What trees? I live in the desert Wink
  • 2 1
 I still use bar ends................ and like Nickelback ................. and have never hurt my pinkie ................
  • 1 0
 I'll let you think I do no-handers, thanks. Skyhooks for those that don't sky.
  • 2 0
 Should have been called (anti) finger bang.
  • 2 0
 hands up who has lost their small fingers in an MTB accident
  • 1 0
 Anything metal in the outside end of my grips is a hard no. The comfort of single clamp grips is hard to ignore.
  • 4 0
 Then you might really like my single clamp grip. The are eccentric, and have the thickest rubber you'll find on the top outer end of any thin 29mm grip. Even more than a concentric push on grip.
www.loamlab.bike/products/grips
  • 1 0
 @LoamLab: looks nice!
  • 1 0
 I'm curious as to the carbon footprint of these grips compared to others. Any info would be appreciated.
  • 3 0
 If you walk over to my place to pick up an unpackaged and unboxed pair, pay in cash without placing an order on your computer, leave your phone at home, ask for directions instead of using gps, drink from the river on your way (maybe take a piss in it too) don't take a sticker and don't spend too much time chatting in the cold outside, you'll probably save a few grams.

But if you buy these grips, I sell rubber refills, so you can reuse the metal parts and only have to buy the part that wears out, so you'll do better in the long run than chucking your whole grip out each time.
  • 2 0
 As a member of the yakuza the pinkie-strike problem is neglectable!
  • 1 0
 Don’t think they can be race legal? Bar ends need to be flat with no protruding edges?
  • 1 3
 I have a LOT of RESPECT for these guys making this product and for the guy willing to slam into that tree!…For those of you who appreciate RIDING SMART and RIDING SAFE and looking for more protection than what these guys offer, check out www.geohandguards.com
They’re “A HELMET FOR YOUR HANDS “ and they offer FULL rprotection for your hands and controls.
I really like the minimalist approach to protecting your outer finger and I’m also a BIG fan of any form of protecting your digits and controls!
Handguards are coming weather you like it or not and now that you know about this product or any other product that “MAY” help prevent a lifelong injury or a ride ending crash you may regret not taking these seriously on your next crash!
These guys put a lot of work into making these bar ends and you TROLLS need to give them more respect as far as I’m concerned!
youtu.be/5BkmHagU2xU
  • 2 1
 You can always trim your bars instead!
  • 1 0
 Id rather have a full metal hand guard, moto style
  • 1 0
 Ah, yes. Tree catchers are back!
  • 2 3
 All I can imagine is ramming into a tree, having it bend onto my pinkie, and crashing with my bike firmly clamped to my smallest finger.
  • 5 0
 This might change your mind.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ-LX3dwR88
  • 2 0
 @LoamLab: careful or you'll break that hammer
  • 1 0
 mmmmmmm idk about this one
  • 1 0
 Where's the popcorn for this show!
  • 1 0
 wow, you really out done yourself
  • 1 0
 Why not just run full wrap handguards moto style?
  • 1 0
 No integrated stubby opener... so yeah fail.
  • 1 0
 And I thought I read ‘……..pinkbike protectors’.
  • 1 0
 Ah, yes. The old stinky pinky.
  • 1 0
 Hos is this just not a TOGS, on the other end of your bar?!?!?
  • 1 0
 Great product for when your bars are too long.
  • 1 1
 every tiny tree bar end clip is now gonna hook up.....yeah nah not for me but i wish em well
  • 1 0
 Meat hook...
  • 1 0
 Shocker protection
  • 1 1
 Hmm, would rather hit my pinkie than stab myself with a bar end tbh.
  • 1 2
 introduces a new and more likely problem/hazard while mitigating one less likely. Winning
  • 1 1
 Excellent way to hook onto small bushes and crash when you ride past
  • 1 0
 Super cool idea.
  • 3 4
 This industry will bleed you dry if you let it
  • 1 3
 Nice try , how about using a real tree next video instead of a movie prop tree in your backyard
  • 2 0
 I only use unreal trees.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoLNQLYOycU
  • 1 0
 @LoamLab: if unreal trees are good enough for Radiohead , then their good enough for me .
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