[slipperyb]

I have a habit of smooshing/smashing (effect depends on speed) my pinky against smaller trees on the trail edges, typically when threading the needle at speed downhill. Sometimes it's a full-on crash, sometimes I ride it out, either way it's getting old. I've been looking around for some micro bar-ends that curve-in just enough to shield my pinky and perhaps a part of my ring-finger. The closest thing I have seen is the end that is the Ergon GP2 grip, but that's still a little bigger than I am after and doesn't quite curve enough, and is obviously intended as an alt gripping position. Also, I can't use that type of grip, but need a traditional MTB style. I'm not looking for those full hand guards, just a little alum. or plastic curved nubby thing. Does anybody know of anything like what I am describing? My pinkies would be pumped.

 

[Harold]

if you're already prone to whacking the ends of your bars on trees, the only thing the sort of hooks you're talking about will do is guarantee that you wind up in the dirt when they hook onto the smaller trees that you're already hitting.

 

[MSU Alum]

Do a search on hand guards. You'll come up with a bunch of options. One may work. Otherwise, we'll just be recommending stuff and your response is likely to be, "no, that doesn't work for me". Something like a GP2 will just catch the tree and cause carnage.

 

[Squirrel in the Spokes]

I am not a smart man but I would say you need skinnier bars or protective gloves

 

[JL_Mac]

Loam Labs Counterpunch

I have no experience with the product or association with the company. I just remembered seeing it on the bike site of pink. Concept makes sense to me, but comments very much speculate that it's just a tree grabber. If you rest your pinky flush up against it, I see very little chance of it acting like a hook as your hand seems to fill all the "hook" space.

 

[slipperyb]

if you're already prone to whacking the ends of your bars on trees, the only thing the sort of hooks you're talking about will do is guarantee that you wind up in the dirt when they hook onto the smaller trees that you're already hitting.

Thanks for the reply. Perhaps my description was lacking, as what I am looking for are almost like those Togs things, but on bar ends instead of thumb-side, more curve, just enough to shield the pinky. Not the big bar ends from decades ago that were terrible tree grabbers. I really just need about a half inch to 3/4-inch of protection. My hand placement is right at the ends of my bars (I have single clamp lock-ons, so the grip profile goes right to the end, and my hands feels good there) and it's only ever my pinky that is getting into trouble. I.e.; I am just barely clipping stuff. To clarify rarely does it lead to full crash, but yesterday it did, hence my post.

Do a search on hand guards. You'll come up with a bunch of options. One may work. Otherwise, we'll just be recommending stuff and your response is likely to be, "no, that doesn't work for me". Something like a GP2 will just catch the tree and cause carnage.

I have searched hand guards in the past, and it really only yields the moto-inspired full hand shields or actual moto hand shields. And from what I can tell, those things would still leave my pinkies susceptible to the described issue. I apologize if you think I should not have created a post, but I was hoping to reach a broader audience the than few folks I bike with and the few local shops to me. In using these great internet forums I have found a suggestion can spur-on a creative solution that may not be the direct rigid answer given but the growth of idea which could solve the problem. Also sometimes someone drops the golden egg...and problem solved!

I am not a smart man but I would say you need skinnier bars or protective gloves

Skinnier bars would definitely work for this issue, but would suck in general. My bars are just shy of 780, which feels perfect, and I don't think those are even that wide these days. I wear gloves all the time, and that helps with the abrasion part, just looking for smooshing/smash protection. Not sure if the current padded mtb gloves would help with that issue, but that's a decent thought, and I'll start searching for a pair that have protection on the outside knuckles while not being hot as hell.

 

[slipperyb]

Loam Labs Counterpunch

I have no experience with the product or association with the company. I just remembered seeing it on the bike site of pink. Concept makes sense to me, but comments very much speculate that it's just a tree grabber. If you rest your pinky flush up against it, I see very little chance of it acting like a hook as your hand seems to fill all the "hook" space.

Holy schnikes! That's a pretty much exactly what I am after. And it mounts inside the bar end-plug-style, which is amazing, as all the other stuff I was seeing clamped on the outside. I agree with you that it doesn't look like it would act as a tree catched as it doesn't seem to protect beyond the fingers. This is great, thank you!

 

[Harold]

Holy schnikes! That's a pretty much exactly what I am after. And it mounts inside the bar end-plug-style, which is amazing, as all the other stuff I was seeing clamped on the outside. I agree with you that it doesn't look like it would act as a tree catched as it doesn't seem to protect beyond the fingers. This is great, thank you!

I can see these things being pretty dependent on what you're hitting. Bigger stuff like the tree shown in the product pic, sure, you won't be snagging on that. but I do see them still catching smaller stuff even with your pinky all the way up against them. And instead of bouncing off, I see things being held in place over your pinky. Maybe smaller things, but I could see this being VERY uncomfortable with briars. I don't think they'll negate the need for protective gloves.

 

[Prognosticator]

I will be buying these. I run my bars at 780mm for control and reach purposes. I wear light gloves to maintain grip in the super-sweaty conditions where I ride but not padded gloves because they are too hot. I have scars on my pinky fingers/knuckles from hitting them, and it hurts so badly that I get a little panicky when trails get tight. I mean, cursing like an angry drunk-type pain. Maybe these will help me get my confidence back.

 

[slipperyb]

I can see these things being pretty dependent on what you're hitting. Bigger stuff like the tree shown in the product pic, sure, you won't be snagging on that. but I do see them still catching smaller stuff even with your pinky all the way up against them. And instead of bouncing off, I see things being held in place over your pinky. Maybe smaller things, but I could see this being VERY uncomfortable with briars. I don't think they'll negate the need for protective gloves.

Some true points, but I think the v-shaped void between each finger is a bigger brush/briar catch than the seemingly tight fit of these bar-ends to the last knuckle. Nonetheless, this post was in regards to small trees specifically, not brush, not saplings and not old-growth beasts. The goal here was pinky smoosh and smash protection, not shielding against little scrapes/cuts from briars. Any glove defends well enough against those for me. And for those where gloves don't cut it, the moto-style hand guards would seem to be your brush/briar solution. This Counterpunch product seems to be spot-on for my described issue. I'm ordering a pair as well. Thanks again for sharing JL-Mac!

 

[JL_Mac]

@slipperyb, good deal! I hope they work out for you and @Prognosticator and make your rides more enjoyable!

 

[Harold]

Some true points, but I think the v-shaped void between each finger is a bigger brush/briar catch than the seemingly tight fit of these bar-ends to the last knuckle. Nonetheless, this post was in regards to small trees specifically, not brush, not saplings and not old-growth beasts. The goal here was pinky smoosh and smash protection, not shielding against little scrapes/cuts from briars. Any glove defends well enough against those for me. And for those where gloves don't cut it, the moto-style hand guards would seem to be your brush/briar solution. This Counterpunch product seems to be spot-on for my described issue. I'm ordering a pair as well. Thanks again for sharing JL-Mac!

yeah, I wasn't clear exactly how big your "small trees" are. my worst impacts have come from saplings. I'm more likely to hit them, I think, simply because they're smaller and they don't register as well in my peripheral vision. haven't broken anything, but the fact that they bend and whip around has caused plenty of trouble. Thankfully haven't had any issues for awhile (I'm also using 780mm bars, but uncut). But that's why I'm extremely leery of using anything even vaguely protruding from my bars. that, and all sorts of briars grow up around the trails nearby and trimming intervals can be longish due to the sheer volume of trail miles that need trimming. the stuff we have gets through most gloves and clothes pretty easy so I often ride past them contorting my body all sorts of ways to avoid getting slashed.