SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (BRAIN) — VP Components will begin producing bicycle grips made from molded liquid silicone rubber (LSR) in a new production facility focused on applying the material both in and out of the bicycle industry, the company announced Wednesday.
VP said its SiMO grips made from LSR will be a first for the bicycle industry. “SiMO grips will offer a significantly higher coefficient of friction in both wet and dry conditions without having to resort to sticky coatings,” the company stated in a release. “SiMO grips have a ‘soft touch’ feel on par with today’s high-end consumer goods and can be produced in many micro-finishes and textures to enhance both their look and function. SiMO grips are 10x more UV and Gamma stable than current materials. SiMO grips can match any Pantone color code and are nearly impossible to mark or stain, so they will stay fresh and clean for as long as they are in use- even in bright white.”
LSR is used in the medical and electronics fields for its mechanical properties, non-toxic safety and unlimited color palette, according to VP.
Demo SiMO grips will available at next week’s Sea Otter Classic (Booth 866) for consumers, retailers and OEM product managers to try. “We will have two distinct lock-on grips to try, one for MTB and another for city riding, as well as a third slide-on grip for general use,” VP stated.
More information about the grips and LSR tech is available at the VP Components website.
