I believe that Grab-On grips popularity was diminished not so much by aero cable routing as by the influx of fast-wearing, ozone-susceptible cheap imitations that sacked out and then fell apart in as little as a few months.
Not very racey looking, but for a lot of mixed riding, especially bumpy roads and trails, there's nothing better, imo, and I use some that are still original to the 25-year-old bikes they were mounted on! I also like lined cable housing, good narrow clinchers and good brake pads, when did they first appear?
I also happen to like a carefully set-up brake system with -- GASP -- safety levers.
Modern, OT pedals, shoes, full-fingered gloves, suspension seatposts, indexed shifters and helmets are my only other must-haves for everyday, go-everywhere-and-anywhere riding, and even the diminishing range of good 27" tires has yet to cut into my riding enjoyment.
David Snyder
Auburn, CA USA
> Hello everyone went out for a ride with Mark my son on
> the tandem trike today and met up with some cycling
> mates for a lunchtime beer (Top Totty wonderful).
> Anyway the conversation went this way what do you
> think have been the best cycling innovations which
> have made a real difference to you.
> Well here is my two-twopenn'orth for what its worth.
> Quick release wheels, quick release brakes, Suntour
> derailleurs ease of changing and you can get the mech
> off without unriveting the chain and finally Grab-On
> foam for the bars.
> Whats yours?
>
> Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not
> still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.