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FIRST RIDE
The New Peaty’s Monarch Pro Grips
First Ride by Robert Johnston
I enjoyed the original Peaty’s Monarch Grips, thanks to their well considered design. However, I found myself wishing for a softer durometer rubber, and would always welcome increased comfort from a set of grips without increasing their diameter. It seems as if I was not alone in my suggestions to make the Peaty’s Monarch grips even better, so it has been incredible to get on a couple of sets of the Monarch Pro grips and enjoy the improvements to comfort and traction that Peaty’s have delivered, with only a small price increase.
The basic shape of the Monarch grip hasn’t changed, so the somewhat ergonomic, locked-in feel of its tapered thickness is still there to be enjoyed. The zonal patterning makes a lot of sense, and thanks to the new rubber layout, the grips have gained both in comfort under the palm and in feedback under the fingertips. The slightly softer rubber gives a little extra “tack” to the grip surface, increasing traction with and without gloves. But it’s the increased cushion that is most notable, thanks to the combination of increased rubber thickness and softer compound. More cushion without increased thickness or reduced precision is always going to be a positive thing, and Peaty’s has delivered with the Monarch Pro.
I was sent a set of the Sage grips to test intially in the knurl pattern and thin size. These felt good, but I felt as if they suffered the same fate as the many other light colored grips I have tested in the past, feeling a touch harder than their durometer would suggest. So, I requested a set of black mushroom thin Monarch Pro grips to put my theory to the test, and while it wasn’t apples to apples, I felt the black grips were a touch stickier. And of course, the extra cushion of the mushroom pattern led to reduced trail feedback and increased comfort, at the expense of ultimate feel and precision.
Where many soft compound grips with integrated rubber bar ends can quickly tear up, Peaty’s clever implementation of the tougher Duralite material should help to stand the test of time. That comes without the sharp edges of a metal or hard plastic bar end, which can cause damage to the rider or to your car’s paintwork. Good stuff. It’s only early days in testing and so I can’t comment on overall durability, but I’ll be running Peaty’s Monarch Pro grips for the long term to see how they hold up.
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Robert’s habitat is the Tweed Valley, Scotland, which is renowned for its root-littered enduro mountain bike trails. Robert has been developing his bike handling skills for the last 16 years. Since he was a pup, he’s been riding everything from BMX through to enduro and downhill bikes. Combining a playful style with occasional speed-focused aggression, he favors supportive bikes, and does his best to push them hard.
Rank: European Tech Editor
Size: 6’2” / 189cm | 220lbs / 100kg
Social: @robert_johnston
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