qclabrat

not looking to compare the two, but does anyone have recommendations for either
please include where to find them
Also how did you finish them, e.g., shellac, wax...

nlerner

The Dimensions cork grips can be found from lots of online retailers, including Amazon. I tried one project with them, including a few coats of shellac, but found they were a bit too slippery. Looked kinda cool:

oddjob2

Wood offers zero damping from road irregularities. Cork is much nicer, warm too. VO's are nice:

VO Cork Grips

biaddiction

I like this one:
Amazon.com : ORIGIN8 Corkie : Bike Grips And Accessories : Sports & Outdoors

nlerner

I also like cork tape in "natural" with a few layers of shellac. I also put a layer of foam handlebar wrap underneath for good cush.

oddjob2

I used them once, they feel like and look like rubber.

kimpw

+1. I used VO corks on my all around bike. Very comfortable and wears in nicely. I just kept mine raw without shellac.

irwin7638

Rivendell has some which are turned from solid pieces of cork. They look and feel exceptionally nice with amber shellac. One type is milled out to fit cable housing for barcons also.

Marc

JohnDThompson 

Just be careful when transporting the bike. I had some nice cork grips on a bike, put it on the roof rack to rake it camping. Unbeknownst to me, jiggling in transit allowed the grip to contact my wife's bike's handlebar and by the time we got to the camp site, that cork grip was destroyed.

Velocivixen

I've used the Rivendell cork with the channel in them for the cable, Dimensions natural cork as well as Dimensions Black cork. For comfort the Dimensions black cork is fantastic. The "cork" is blended with rubber or similar so ever so slightly compliant. It gives a very clean look. While Rivendell cork is a nice look, it grabs a little too much attention, visually, than I want on a bike. I don't shellac the black ones, and I did shellac the other two, but didn't like the feel of slick shellac. I'm sure, after time, the slickness would have worn a little.

Velognome 

Wood grips were advertised as non vibratory, while not as dampening as cork or foam, the do not transmit all the irregularities, just some. Plus, on the right bike, they look rather smashing; I think.

nlerner

My favorites are these models that my wife bought for me on a trip to Germany. I haven't seen them for sale in the US:

Grand Bois

These with a very thin coat of shellac so they stay clean.

Miesha's Portuguese Tree Cork Grips (Pair) - Normal

wahoonc

I use Velo-Orange or the Origin 8, easiest for me to get and the prices are right.

Aaron

fettsvenska 

Cardiff barrel grips...

Cardiff Barrel Grips by FatSwede, on Flickr

Matariki

I have the Dimension cork grips on my commuting bike. I like the way they feel but have to say that they are not very durable. A few bumps here and there and they develop gouges and cracks. My left one cracked enough that it would not stay on the bar. I have it wrapped with red electrical tape, which looks really, really ugly but at the same time appeals to my artistic sense that real beauty needs a flaw to be perfect.

In any case, when I have some time, I plan to turn some wood grips. I have a lathe and a bunch of nice red mulberry that would look nice although I may use walnut or ash. I am pondering how I would fasten them to the bars. I have made brass ferrules for chisel and file handles so perhaps I could do one with some sort of clamping feature.

As an alternative, I fitted one of my bikes with long turks head knots.

Grand Bois

I wrap mine with copper wire and then shellac it instead of using twine. I don't use twine on my bicycles. Twine is just too Rivendellish for me. It's supposedly something that was popular "back in the day", but I was there and I don't remember it.

A single thin coat of shellac on cork grips makes them easier to keep clean, but they still retain the good qualities of cork.

I tried the grips made from ground up cork and hated them. Solid rings of cork are the only way to go for me. They're pricey, though.

irwin7638

The copper wire idea is fascinating, do you have any photos? By the way, I use jute twine on my grips, the hemp thing is too Califori-ish for me.

Marc

Grand Bois

I don't have a close up and my daughter has my camera. you can almost see it in this shot. It's about 14 gauge copper ground wire. It goes with the copper-framed B17.



I once used round braided dress shoe laces painted with white glue and then shellaced. It worked well, but it was on the only bike I've ever sold and I don't have a picture.

irwin7638

That is a sweet looking idea!

Marc

qclabrat

what length are the VO grips?

any tips on installing cork and can they be removed or do you need to cut them off?

due ruote 

I have the Origin grips with shellac on an errand bike. They're OK but a little slippery. Also slightly large for my taste. I've thought about modifying them a bit with a wood rasp. I stuck them on with some contact cement as I didn't want them turning.

oddjob2

A few wraps of elec tape before installing or I have read hair spray works.

Grand Bois

I use 3M spray adhesive and the only way to get them off is to cut them. That's okay with me. Loose grips are dangerous.