First off, I am 48 and I ride everyday that weather permits in North Carolina. With age comes a little arthritis in my hands and I have trouble gripping most standard handles for very long. We have several Straitline handles with standard foam grips but they are too hard.
I need a soft cushy handle -- maybe even a "gel" type. The recommendations from several online stores have not been helpful. No behind the back handle passes here. I just want a handle that lets me ride as long as I want.
Bill - my fiance has arthritis and had trouble with the standard handles as well. It was not so much the hardness of the handle, but the circumference.
I ended up ordering her the oversize diameter Hyperlite ERA handle (black/white handle - Zebra looking) and she prefers it over everything else. Definitely helped her out.
Hey Wildbill, I second the larger grip size (diameter). I ride with a proline LG2 and love it. The handle is more tacky than soft so you don't have to grip it so hard. What's up with the lack of handle passes, your only 48!! -Bob