Enjoying the Ride with Ergon: Reducing the Barriers to Riding Pleasure

Enjoying the Ride with Ergon: Reducing the Barriers to Riding Pleasure

Enjoying the Ride with Ergon: Reducing the Barriers to Riding Pleasure

Here at 365 Cycles, we have a core belief that the world would be, in part, a better place if more people were active each day. We salute any form of activity that gets bodies moving, but it should come as no surprise that we have a special place in our hearts for cycling. Cycling is a low impact, magical-carpet with the ability to transport us, with a smile on our face, most anywhere we want to go. The main thrust of all the decisions we make as a company hinges on this core belief. We provide enhanced customer service and in-store sales and service at competitive prices so the barrier between a person getting out and riding their bicycle is as small as possible. It seems to us, when there is a barrier, the path of least resistance often wins out. If we can reduce or take away that barrier maybe, just maybe, more people will get out and go for a bike ride. And as a result, the world might see more smiles.

These are the words of Ergon, a company for which we have a lot of respect and a company that also believes reducing the barrier for a person riding their bike is key to many smiles when riding. Ergon strives to increase the riding pleasure for every cyclist through ergonomically designed handlebar grips and bicycle saddles. If a rider is able to enjoy their experience on their bike even more, then that rider is likely to return to riding their bike again and again. In the world of cycling, the main contact points with the bike are the hands, feet and butt. Of those, arguably the two most intimate points of connection are your hands, through grips, and where you rest your butt, the saddle.

Specializing in positioning, or ergonomics, the aptly named company Ergon focuses on increasing the rider’s enjoyment and overall pleasure by delving into scientifically supported ergonomic ideals on a bicycle. Believing that the bicycle should be matched as best as possible to the rider’s body, Ergon grips and saddles seek to:

  • Support the rider by distributing their weight surrounding specific pressure points as found in the hands and sit bones

  • Place the rider in a ideal riding position thus enhancing the overall handling of the bicycle

  • Allow the rider's joints and overall range of motion to be unencumbered and guided into more ideal body alignment - in short, good rider posture

  • Withstand the daily rigors of riding without prematurely breaking down and wearing out

Upon visiting Ergon’s website you will quickly make note of the fact that lots of engineering goes into each of the products they make. What is especially noteworthy is the fact that each facet, contour, material, and construction method is purposeful. Essentially, while style and aesthetics are appealing, it is clear that Ergon doesn’t simply add shape and channels to its products without substantial scientific and anecdotal evidence of its necessity.

While the use of science by Ergon is evident throughout their marketing materials, what may not be as evident are the processes that led them to their ideas. Observation, first person account and experience of riders, both seasoned and beginner, continue to spur Ergon’s design. From visiting mountain bike races and observing riders and their mechanics cutting slits into grips to aid in non-slip-grip, to candid conversations with bike shops about what ails their customers’ riding experience, Ergon is driven to create an environment where the rider and bicycle are in a relationship where the barriers to a fun and memorable experience cease to exist.

That might come across to some as a lofty goal. And, maybe it is. But, it is with that understanding we can appreciate how these products from Ergon are born. Ergonomically designed, founded in a desire to increase the rider’s experience with simple enjoyment. At the end of a bike ride down a woodland trail with friends, or across town for ice cream with the family, the last thing we want to think about is any discomfort in our hands or butts.

Taking a Ride with Ergon

Several years ago I developed an interest in endurance mountain bike racing. Being on the bike upwards of 8 hours over 100KM really tested the relationship I had with my bike, especially my relationship with fit. I developed a deep appreciation for the subtle nuances of fit, seeking to make my rides as comfortable as possible. After trying the many saddle and grip options on the market, I settled upon Ergon

Recently, Ergon was nice enough to share a few of their grips and a saddle with 365 Cycles so we could experience more of what it is we have come to appreciate about them as a company. Having been a long time user of Ergon grips and saddles myself, I was eager to see how the grips and saddle we received compared to my previous experiences with Ergon. There were a few interesting surprises I hadn’t anticipated and would never have imagined possible had I not given these a try:

 

Yes, scientific evidence notwithstanding, we at 365 Cycles, appreciate Ergon. Their pursuit to reduce the barriers to riding pleasure that resonates with us as a team. For each of the customer questions we answer, in the back of our minds we are thinking, “How can we make it easier to get this person back out on their bike having fun?” If there are more people out riding their bikes, there are going to be more smiles crossing those riders’ faces, and smiles are contagious. Thanks to Ergon’s technology, we at 365 Cycles can scatter more smiles across our community all year long.

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