Sometimes I’m lucky enough to asked by my good friends at DMR Bikes to do a product review for them. I’ve done a couple in the last year and the most recent was the newly launched DMR Gridlock Grips. I was also stoked to have Joseph Fitzgerald Patrick from Cornwall Sports Photography take some stunning shots on a gorgeous sunny evening on my local hill. If you’re looking for some new grips then look no further. 

Out the box, as they say, my first visual impression was the obvious thickness of the new DMR Gridlock compared to the Death Grips. (Other products are available, but why would you?) They have a similar grip pattern to the Death Grip where your fingers rest, but that’s as close as it gets as these have more of an old school mushroom grip look.  The bonus is the same collar mount system as the original Death Grip, but the version two will not fit, so if you fancy a different colour, then do what I did and swap the collars to match the colour way of the bike, but I only did that because I stupidly rounded the grub bolt during the process of getting everything set up over numerous riders. The Gridlocks are also noticeably longer, similar to the DMR Sect Grip which I have on my dirt jump bikes. They’re tidy and clean in black, and standard for that simple, and dare I say it at my age, kore look. As for fitting, it’s the same process too, just slip them on, give them a final whack with a mallet just to be sure there on, and tighten the grub screw, but use the correct size tool. 

Aesthetically they did seem to made my Odub 50mm rise bars look narrower, and I run my bars at 770mm, but my cockpit still screamed moto. So, out of the box, and on the bike, I was stoked. 

As a contact point I believe riders need to be convinced, and personally i’ll stick to something if I like it. The extra thickness of the Gridlock led me to immediately know they would feel different, and I always run the thicker Death Grips with a flange. When you put them on, close your eyes and just go with the first impression and you’ll know what I’m talking about. The thickness feels a little weird at first, and I’d say that you might well need to adapt to a little change, but the comfort was easy to get used. The Gridlocks are like wrapping your hands around an un-toasted marshmallow.

When putting them on my bars, I pushed the controls in a little to get that one finger braking and I’ll be first to admit, being longer, they took a bit of getting used. I found myself gripping next to the flange but this made the made the bars feel too narrow, similar to when riding my dirt jumper.  I just widened my grip again and played around with my brake position and left it at that. 

I’ll say here that I’m a rider who has quite severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome so comfort is everything. On my gravel bike, I have the thickest bar tape, wrapped over the original, and a stem that’s supposed add a little anti shock using torque, and I have played around with seat and bar position to help, so playing around with my cockpit is normal to achieve maximum comfort. .  

Anyway,  90% of the time I wear gloves and being a hot summer has meant sweaty hands, so it’s been gloves on, but will say that the rides I did go gloveless, the grips felt lovely and not sweaty.  Since getting these grips I’ve also predominantly ridden at the Bike Parks. Jump after jump, turn after turn, lap after lap for at least three months now, and I’ve gotten  used to the thickness and embraced the comfort like a toddler holding their favourite teddy. Every time I’ve ridden my bike, a 170mm Enduro, the Gridlocks just seem too comfy to take off. As far as longer enduro or more gravity focussed riding, I’d say the same, I’m hooked. Being in mining country here in Cornwall, my local trails are a combination of technical descents, a few drops and mostly granite laden trails, strewn with lethal little granite death marbles in the summer,  but with a bit of rain, granite has almighty grip of Thor. Loam is a scarce commodity in the Wild West, so descents tend to be a rocky affair, meaning the thickness and comfort of the Gridlock made everything feel just right on the palms and grip on the fingers. 

I came across a word once whilst watching a chap on the Do Lectures.  The presenter was reflecting on how we often have a feeling but its difficult to describe, an added value. He was relating his experience whilst writing an article about men and their toys and was in rural England to meet a chap, and drive a tank. In telling his story he used the phrase ‘Speilzueg’, a German word with the actual definition meaning ‘Playthings’. To explain further, and eventually get to my point; in the context of his lecture he was being shown around a persons collection of military equipment. After ragging around a field in a WW2 beast, he asked the question ‘why do men love tanks? The owner replied, “it’s Spielzeug”. Confused, the tank owner showed him into his barn where, behind many security locks, he kept a vast handgun collection. Dan was asked to hold one, an original Walter PPK, the same gun as James Bond uses. He held it carefully in his hands, and was then asked to hold a Chinese copy. As he began to hold other guns, he identified which one felt the best, which one felt right? Knowing less that nothing about these weapons, Dan unknowingly picked every original over the cheaper copies. The owner of the collection then explained that what he experienced is simply ‘when something just feels right’. It’s hard to describe, but there’s an added value,  and the author had his answer to his question, Why do men love Tanks? It’s because they just feel right. Finally to get back to my point; bikes are our toys, our playthings. We spend money, a lot of money, putting components on them that feel right. Our brakes, bars, tyres, pedals and grips, all contact points that give us a certain feeling that’s hard to describe. These grips just feel right. They’re not Death Grips and don’t try to be. DMR Gridlocks are longer, thicker and a pleasure to hold.  

On a final note, I heard it mentioned that thicker grips can possibly lead to arm pump. I did a little research and I also read this on a couple of motocross forums. However, I was recently told by two XC racers that they prefer thicker grips.  Personally I have not experienced any arm pump, but I’ve also not competed in an enduro event, or anything near a downhill race since putting these grips on, so I can’t comment just yet. I also know there could be affecting factors to arm pump like bar and brake positioning, fork settings, and not forgetting personal preference. What I will say is if your looking for more comfort, the Gridlock is an affordable way to find this solution. Give them a try whatever your riding style. I felt no noticeable difference in grip so I’m hooked. 


Note: Reviewing products is something I really enjoy  and If you like the way this product is reviewed and you would like some Bike, Surf or Outdoor products reviewed then please drop me a line.   

We all need a confidence boost. In every walk of life people will suffer at some point with a little lack of self belief, moments of doubt, arguably caused by some negative self talk. Some cry out for another voice to tell them ‘everything will be OK’, until you realise that voice needs to be your own.

Over the years I’ve had my fair share of self doubt, in fact I probably still seek that extra vote of confidence from someone else. But I’ve also learnt a lot about myself, and yet on many occassions, I’ve often fond it hard to feel confident in myself, so I follow a process and this helps me to hear my own positive voice, more clearly. 

Avoiding that negative energy that occasionally comes to visit in the form of self talk is vital. When it arrives tell it ‘your not in today’, recognise what the voice is telling you but make a real effort to not rise to it. It may have heard you mention something like ‘I can’t’, or ‘I’m not ready’ or ‘I’m not fit enough’ or the old classic, ‘I’ve not got time’, and that voice will use this as ammunition to undermine you.  These few phrases are ‘Limiting Beliefs’, and if you’ve heard that phrase before, I’m sure you’ve also used one or all of the above excuses for not doing something. Have we not all allowed this negative self talk into our lives at some point? If we have, then did we act on the voice?

As a confidence booster, look ahead not back. Legendary music producer states in his best seller, The Creative Act, “No matter what route you take, if you complete the journey, you will reach the same destination”. Moving forward is a journey and one where, if we allow ourselves to enjoy the process, this enjoyment will help defeat the negative voices,  the self talk and limiting beliefs, and the crippling negative energy, that hurts our confidence. 

On this journey, ignore the consequences, because this is where we learn. In sport, art, life, or work, enjoying the process of reaching what you deem as success, then anything that happens along this journey will be a learning experience. Forgive yourselves any mistakes, if that’s what you’d like to call them. The hard work and sacrifices needed will be admirable and something to celebrate.

Observe yourself on this journey. Ask what is going well? Is there any aspect you could improve? How did I do? Be kind to yourself, and always challenge those negative thoughts, if they creep in. Remembering this; Dave Brailsford (Former Sky Cycling Director) once said when talking about marginal gains that won them so many races, including a few Tour de France victories, ‘they’re thoughts with no fact, they’re pure emotion, with no evidence’. 

Just believe in your actions, please don’t worry what anyone’s else thinks, and race your own race.  That’s what I’m on a journey to do. 

A perfect time of day in the grand scheme of things. It only happens when the sun is out, and never present when the sky is grey. The golden hour is a moment to cherish. That hour before sunset, that hour when the world changes colour, an hour when time seems to become more peaceful and taking time to appreciate what’s happening around us, it can be the most precious time to just sit and do nothing. The golden hour is that heavenly transcendent period of the day when we witness light change and the land come alive. Burnt oranges, rust tones of earth and flora, stone turning shades of yellow, the bronze of earth, or the gradients of blue in the sky and ocean. The golden hour reminds us that its a splendid time to be alive and in the land of the living. 

Surfing and riding photos by the very talented Joseph Fitzgerald-Patrick.

Today is National Poetry day so here’s one of my little ramblings. Post surf, I penned a few words from my observations one morning. There is nothing more mindful, more beautiful than being in the ocean at first light with not a sole around. It’s rare, but when it happens, those are the moments to savour. As I get older, I surf less. I choose when I go and when to avoid it. The numbers have grown and I pick my times wisely now. This was one of those times, Like Matt Johnson in Big Wednesday, I surf, ‘just when it’s necessary’.

First Light
The world seems to alter as I sit and wait
From dark, ominous, gloom, to a glorious golden morning
Fishing boats appear, the marine white captured by the first light hitting the bay
The granite illuminates. The waves crisp, and the droplets of ocean glisten
Looking back, the sand on the beach casts a shadows 
Last nights foot prints become three dimensional
The guls dive like silver bullets, the sun exposing their breakfast below
The threatening sky gone, it’s a new day.