Thanks for the mention, JC.

When I started designing my handles, it was because I felt I would be
able to lift the muni more forcefully with less hand and arm pain if I
had a handle that actually fit my hand and had a way to wrap my thumb
around it. Also I wanted a handle that did not flex so that if I needed
a quick small lift to clear an obstacle I would not have to compensate
for loss of response from the handle flex. After a year of testing my
molded handles I can say that I can pull much harder on climbs and hops,
and I do not have any problems with hand pain. I do get muscle soreness
in my forearm when I do a lot of hard climbing, but it is because I am
able to pull harder without finger pain stopping me, so that's a good
thing.

My “DeathGrip” handles that I will be releasing soon were designed by
going through the hand positioning exercise you describe. First, I
designed and CNC machined a mounting base for the handle, then attached
and shaped modeling clay to make a rough shape while sitting/standing in
the riding position on the unicycle. I then made a rubber mold from
that shape, cast some urethane resin copies, and modified those by
filling and grinding them until I had a shape I liked. I then used that
as a pattern for a more refined mold to make prototypes for testing. I
am on the 3rd revision now and the shape seems to suit almost everyone
who has tried it. Any shape is a compromise because of the wide range
of hand sizes and shapes, and people’s individual biomechanics.

My DG handles slope down to the thumb side, not up as you describe. The
angle you describe does not seem natural or comfortable for me or other
people I have used for input, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be good
for you. You could easily cut and re-weld a Reeder handle to do that.
You might try mounting a stock Reeder with washers under it to test the
angle before actually modifying it.

If you want to sculpt your own shape, the method Tall_Dave outlined will
work. Finding a material that can take being slammed on the rocks
repeatedly is the challenge.


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S_Wallis - MUni Motivated

"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn
how to do it." Pablo Picasso
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