Selle Royal brings its comfort-centric design philosophy to grips with the launch of the Nivo Gel. The Show Daily spoke with Lorenzo Berti, Product Specialist at Selle Royal.
In the world of cycling comfort, Selle Royal is already a trusted name—at least when it comes to saddles. Now, the Italian firm is expanding its excellent reputation to another crucial ergonomic touchpoint between rider and bicycle: the handlebar. With the debut of the Nivo Gel grip series at this year’s Eurobike, Selle Royal brings its comfort-first ethos to grips, backed by both technical refinement and strategic investment.
“Rider and bike connect at three key contact points: saddle, grips, and pedals. After optimizing saddle comfort, our goal was to bring that same level of comfort to the grips—the second most critical interface,” says Lorenzo Berti, Product Specialist at Selle Royal. “During the development process, we made full use of our know-how in saddle comfort, bringing it to the world of grips,” he continues.
The Nivo Gel grip is more than just a new product; it marks a significant return. Selle Royal previously offered grips years ago, but those models—though innovative—were manufactured externally and lacked the control the company now deems essential. This time, the development was entirely in-house. “We invested in a dedicated injection machine specifically for grip production,” Berti explains. “That gave us the freedom to experiment with materials and design in ways that simply weren’t possible before.”
At the core of the Nivo Gel’s appeal is its material: a proprietary blend of soft TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) that replicates the tactile experience of gel without the downsides. “Most grips on the market are made from harder TPU, which forces you to shape the grip around the hand,” says Berti. “Our approach was different. We created a soft, responsive material that adapts to the rider’s hand instead,” he adds.
The result is a teardrop-shaped profile that improves wrist alignment and spreads pressure evenly for comfort on short commutes and long rides. Just as crucially, the grip avoids the tackiness common in many soft-touch components. “Stickiness is the worst nightmare for users,” Berti notes. “We solved that with a dual-layer construction: a soft core for feel, protected by a high-performance outer skin that resists abrasion and stays clean.”
The Nivo Gel also reflects the company’s broader commitment to sustainability. Selle Royal is integrating ISCC+ certified bio-circular materials into its supply chain, starting with the Nivo’s plastic components. “Eventually, we aim for a 100% bio-circular grip,” Berti says. That aligns with other internal initiatives like the Stracciatella project, which reclaims and reuses discarded saddle materials.
Though the Nivo Gel is only the beginning, it signals a broader ambition. “Our dream is to create grips for every type of rider,” says Berti. As the market for comfort-focused components grows, Selle Royal’s pivot seems well-timed. And with full control over development, production, and materials, the company appears poised to leave its imprint on more than just saddles.