Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Types of handle bar tape

Are you guys using the thick cork type tape or the thinner nylon tapes?
Which is cooler?

I like the look and feel of cloth on some vintagey bikes, but for comfort Cork is tough to beat.

Speaking of handlebar tape, can someone offer up some suggestions for me?

I just bought those Modolo Q Crono bullhorns from King Kog and now I need some handlebar tape. I have NO idea what to get because I've only ever used straight bars... I'll probably just pick up something from my LBS, but is there anything else I should consider?

cork FTW.
padding=good.

my favorite is a combo of cloth tape and champ grips. always ride iwth gloves. i dont like the extra cushiness of cork, makes me instinctively want to clench my hands super tight.

Cork tape is the shiz.

i like the thinner synthetic tapes, especially the stella azzura eleganza i'm using now.

I am also a huge fan of cloth tape. It feels so nice, but doesn't cushion all that much. So.. gloves?

I pretty much always wear gloves for whatever that's worth.

gloves + http://static.flickr.com/43/110146031_ab53bc030e.jpg = happy onetwentyeight

I am also a huge fan of cloth tape. It feels so nice, but doesn't cushion all that much. So.. gloves?

another option with cloth is to put on several layers. Back in the day the high mile riders would not peel off the last layer of tape, they'd just put new over the top, so after a few years you'd have like 4 layers, and it would be thick and cushy like cork.

I've got a friend with his old Peugeot in his basement that is like this. Course at today's prices it would take about 36 bucks worth of bar tape to get it that thick right away.

I like the look and feel of cloth on some vintagey bikes, but for comfort Cork is tough to beat.

I just wrap cloth over the cork. Best o' both worlds.

Deda Tape

another option with cloth is to put on several layers. Back in the day the high mile riders would not peel off the last layer of tape, they'd just put new over the top, so after a few years you'd have like 4 layers, and it would be thick and cushy like cork.

I've got a friend with his old Peugeot in his basement that is like this. Course at today's prices it would take about 36 bucks worth of bar tape to get it that thick right away.

Wrap your bars in old tubes and then wrap with tape to get that thicker, softer feel. I have seen it done with cork and I would imagine it could be done with cloth as well.

fwiw, viva cloth tape is the best i've used. softer, takes longer to fade, better adhesive.

I prefer cloth. On the tops of my bars, I have black Velox cloth taped over old innertube, which provides cushiness on the cheap. I wear gloves for any ride over 10 miles, but this is fine for barhopping/errand running.

edit: barba beat me.

Bontrager has an isogel bar padding made to go underneath bar tape. Probably a bit more cushy than a tube and perhaps a bit easier to apply. for the guys who use an old tube, do you cut it into a single strip, or is it small enough to slide over the bar without it bunching?

I've only tried two kinds of bar tape and I definitely like the cinelli cork tape better than the bontrager gel cork tape....the cinelli feels more corky I guess.... less padding than the bontrager though... the cinelli tape sticks to the bars much better than the bontrager

I like your suggestion onetwentyeight. Do you know of anywhere online (or in the Bay area..) that sells both? I found plenty of sources online, but I'd prefer to save a little on shipping and get it in one place.

freewheel and american both sell champ grips. i think boxdog does too. anywhere should have cloth tape. ive been going thru hell lately trying to find another pair of the clear ones. everyone is out!

freewheel and american both sell champ grips. i think boxdog does too. anywhere should have cloth tape. ive been going thru hell lately trying to find another pair of the clear ones. everyone is out!

Cool. Thanks. Gives me an excuse to go the city. :)

ive been going thru hell lately trying to find another pair of the clear ones. everyone is out!
Your hell is over (http://cgi.ebay.com/CHAMP-GRIPS-FOR-TRACK-BIKES-Clear-2-0mm_W0QQitemZ7239190353QQcategoryZ27951QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Your hell is over (http://cgi.ebay.com/CHAMP-GRIPS-FOR-TRACK-BIKES-Clear-2-0mm_W0QQitemZ7239190353QQcategoryZ27951QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

c'mere and lemme give you a kiss. MWAH.

*click BIN*

I just use old tubes with black tape at the ends for cushion, then wrap with vinyl tape. I like the feel better than cork.

I just wrap cloth over the cork. Best o' both worlds.

+1 - although my bike currently sports a jim-bob-aneurysm-inducing oury and strong-g combo on flip n' chops. It's been working.

m.

I just Cateye on all my handlebars. I like the look of it and it only costs me 2$ a roll. I've bought bikes with nicer tape but when they start tearing they leave behind so much residue (yes yes I know, I can go get a thing of goo-gone or whatever). Anyway I don't like the cushiness because, like stated earlier, I clench too hard. Plus I like it raw. but not too raw(bare). My roommate has 3/4 bare bars. wierdo.

i am trying some fisik cork wrap.. still undecided after a few weeks. (would have bought cinelli cork, but they were out of black..) the fisik tape seems slick, smooth, and a bit too squishy for me.

i like tressostar cloth tape the best though, great feel and not too squishy like cork. after a good hundred miles or so it gets softer. riding in a few bad storms too has softened it up quite nice. it ages well too, fading in the sun and water damage and so on...