Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Toughest handlebar tape

So I just put some new handlebar tape on one side of my bars. Seems like every time I crash or after a couple months, my bar tape gets so torn up I have to replace it. I'm thinking there has to be some kind of better/more durable bar tape out there. Anyone have any suggestions? A little padding is nice, but I'm not looking for some massively thick bar tape. Grip is more important. At this rate, I may put a couple layers of rubber tape on and cover it with friction tape.

I like my soma tape mucho

I have uses Tressoplast Cotton Cloth tape (Harris Cyclery and other sources) which is applied and then shellaced over that 5 or 6 times. It makes a permanent stain free easy griping surface and you can double wrap it for extra thichness. Very old skool also if that is important.


fixedgearhead

I just wear gloves and no tape... Helps w/ grip and padding, and you don't get the torn up tape.

Of course, you get scratches on the bars...

I have this vinyl tape. It has some padding, but none of that spongy, greasy feel. So far it has been tough as nails. Two months of riding 15 miles a day in still looking hot.
I don't remember the brand but I'll check once I get home.

Old school Bike Ribbon vinyl tape rocks. I have no idea what the facination is with cork tape - the stuff is just sh!thouse and rips just by looking at it. The Bike Ribbon stuff is pretty cool and reasonably tough, but naturally nobody stocks it anymore so I had to order it straight from the wholesaler.

Another totally ghetto thing to do is get an old innertube and cut it into a strip and wrap your bars with that. Just make sure you wash it first, coz innertubes generally smell baaaaaaaaad.

Another totally ghetto thing to do is get an old innertube and cut it into a strip and wrap your bars with that. Just make sure you wash it first, coz innertubes generally smell baaaaaaaaad.

I did that once but I got a tiny hole in it from leaning the bike somewhere. the hole
spread rapidly because of the constant touching and pulling on the bars. but I still
might do it again because I like the feel of the rubber.

Along the same lines: anybody know where you can get some light blue tape?

closest I have seen
http://www.somafab.com/bigtapepic.jpg

I second the bike ribbon...tough stuff and has a small amount of padding.

Skit, check this link as there are a few light blue hues:

http://www.bikeribbon.com/product_detail.php?product=a&subprod=c

cloth tape is my bet also....much more durable - but not as comfy as cork.. but i haven't been that bothered by it

Anyone used leather? I was curious if that stood up well.

toughest tape is no tape :)

Dunno what is toughest. Probably Keirin rubber grips? Cinelli cork tape did not last long and neither did Silva

I did that once but I got a tiny hole in it from leaning the bike somewhere. the hole
spread rapidly because of the constant touching and pulling on the bars. but I still
might do it again because I like the feel of the rubber.

Yeah, I tired that but found out that it moves easily, if not glued down (messy, very very messy)

Anyone used leather? I was curious if that stood up well.

Haven't tried it, but would imagine steering wheel wrap would be a good thing to try...

somebody mentioned hockey grip tape once. that might be tough.
does anyone know how the shiny benotto professional tape is?

Ever tried ODI bolt on grips?

I second the bike ribbon...tough stuff and has a small amount of padding.

Skit, check this link as there are a few light blue hues:

http://www.bikeribbon.com/product_detail.php?product=a&subprod=c


Know any dealers?

Yep, Bike Ribbon is what I use.

Tough as Slayer, indeed. :D

Went to Yojimbo's today and got some new tape from Marcus. Salsa Goma tape. Definitely seems more vinyl-like than foam-like, which is a step in the right direction in terms of durability. Still cross-wrapped it with a layer of electrical tape, but I always do that. I'll report back if it turns out to be noteworthy in terms of toughness or suckness.

Another supposedly tough thing is shellacked cloth tape. I never tried it but sounds good.

http://www.mindspring.com/~d.g1/shellac.html

Dunno what is toughest. Probably Keirin rubber grips? Cinelli cork tape did not last long and neither did Silva


EXACTLY! I'm surprised no one else mentioned them. I've got soyo long grips on the drops I use for racing and they rock. Not much padding really but the grip you get on those cannot be beat. And I've had mine for a while and they are holding up fine.

Cinelli cork tape is really nice as far as padding, but on a messenger ride or a beater that you ride everyday in all sorts of weather it isn't really practical.

Shellac over cotton is certainly old school, especially if you finish the top with twine. It's not real grippy though, which is pretty important to me.

When I was a messenger I used mainly cotton tape, usually several layers, just keep piling it on as it flattens/wears out.

How about genuine ray skin and black leather wrap, like on a custom made sword? :D

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/series/highlights/2001/madison_follow5.html

Or Panda Bear leather...

How about genuine ray skin and black leather wrap, like on a custom made sword? :D

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/series/highlights/2001/madison_follow5.html


cool. here is how to do it.

http://www.primitiveways.com/processing_sharkskin.html

EXACTLY! I'm surprised no one else mentioned them. I've got soyo long grips on the drops I use for racing and they rock. Not much padding really but the grip you get on those cannot be beat. And I've had mine for a while and they are holding up fine.

Cinelli cork tape is really nice as far as padding, but on a messenger ride or a beater that you ride everyday in all sorts of weather it isn't really practical.

Shellac over cotton is certainly old school, especially if you finish the top with twine. It's not real grippy though, which is pretty important to me.

When I was a messenger I used mainly cotton tape, usually several layers, just keep piling it on as it flattens/wears out.

Thanks. Might give cotton tape a shot. I'v ridden bare bars, too but they are just TOO cold in the winter

As a bit of a follow-up, I just went out and looked at my bars. Despite getting mauled by a taxi, the worst the tape shows is a few scuffs. Definitely more durable than what I had before. Salsa Goma gets the thumbs up.

Tennis racket wrap? One more vote for the old tubes, at least it's waterproof, and doesn't look dirty.

Velox cloth tape.

Whats grip tape for? and where do you put it?

that stuff on the handle bars