Abstract: A resilient, supportive material provides low friction contact with moving parts, and includes a plurality of small diameter, resilient bristles disposed on at least one surface of a substrate. The plurality of bristles include at least a first and second group of bristles, where the first bristles of the first group have a first spring constant and a first bristle height for low friction contact with a moving part, and the second bristles in the second group have a second spring constant and a lower, second bristle height for low friction contact with a moving part. The second bristles in the second group are positioned to inhibit damage to the first group of bristles due to contact with a moving part which deviates from an intended path. As well, the first and second bristles provide two levels of resilient support to a part which is subjected to lateral forces.

Abstract: A steering member for a bicycle has extension sections extending outwardly from the central mounting section and a pair of opposed handgrip sections positioned adjacent to the ends of the extension sections. The extension sections are contoured along their length to have a cross-sectional shape and other contours which are complementary to the shape of the hand of the rider. Also, the handgrip sections have enlarged handgripping surfaces, that is, the curves which form the upper surfaces are adapted to be complementary to the curve of the palm of the rider's hand and the outer edges have curves adapted to be encircled by the fingers of the rider's hands.