Eggplant Jeff
04-02-06, 05:14 PM
Which bar tape is better? For all-weather riding? Comfortable, long lasting, etc?
General Cycling Discussion - Cork or Foam?
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jonsam
04-03-06, 12:14 AM
I'm a fan of cork myself. I can't stand foam as I have a tendancy to squeeze it too tighly. Plus cork is much better looking. I don't know about long lasting though, I think foam would win there. My mom has foam grips on her bike that I'm pretty sure are older than I am.
seely
04-03-06, 01:30 AM
Foam comes apart fast once it gets wet, and it breaks down in sunlight and heat too. Cork lasts forever if its wrapped right.
Banzai
04-03-06, 09:31 AM
By foam do you mean gel? Most cork wraps are mostly gel anyway, with bits of cork. And some with some of them the cork bits can actually generate weak spots as they're stretched during wrapping.
I have Serfas ICS gel without cork on one bike and Planet Bike gel/cork on another. So far so good with both.
I have Serfas ICS gel without cork on one bike and Planet Bike gel/cork on another. So far so good with both.
Banzai
04-03-06, 09:35 AM
By foam do you mean gel? Most cork wraps are mostly gel anyway, with bits of cork. And some with some of them the cork bits can actually generate weak spots as they're stretched during wrapping.
I have Serfas ICS gel without cork on one bike and Planet Bike gel/cork on another. So far so good with both.
I have Serfas ICS gel without cork on one bike and Planet Bike gel/cork on another. So far so good with both.
huhenio
04-03-06, 09:40 AM
No tape and full finger gloves is what I use ... riding under 30 miles a leg.
catatonic
04-03-06, 11:58 AM
Cinelli Gel Cork, I accept no less. I don't use gloves though....if I found a pair of gloves that didn't suck, I would go for regular cork.
operator
04-03-06, 12:58 PM
Well whatever deda bar tape is, it's great.
jur
04-03-06, 05:14 PM
Is cork tape genuine cork?
catatonic
04-03-06, 07:48 PM
No, it's a closed-cell foam (not Gel), with cork particles added to it.
Gel cork tape has a Gel layer under the closed-cell foam.
Gel cork tape has a Gel layer under the closed-cell foam.
lemurhouse
04-03-06, 07:55 PM
Old school cloth tape wrapped over a very thin wrap of synthetic cork tape works for me.
Eggplant Jeff
04-04-06, 12:44 PM
Well nashbar had some gel/foam tape on sale for $5 so I bought that ;). If it sucks, I didn't waste much money on it. This is my first time using bar tape so I didn't want to blow a bunch of money.
How's it compare to grips? Basically my project bike had vaguely mustache-bar-shaped handlebars with grips. I'm going to flip 'em, probably leave the brake levers where they were (out at the ends), but figured if I wrapped 'em all the way with tape I would have another good hand position out at the front.
How's it compare to grips? Basically my project bike had vaguely mustache-bar-shaped handlebars with grips. I'm going to flip 'em, probably leave the brake levers where they were (out at the ends), but figured if I wrapped 'em all the way with tape I would have another good hand position out at the front.
Nermal
04-05-06, 10:16 PM
Prince puts out a great wrap for tennis racquets. Has anybody given it a try?