Bicycle Mechanics - What type of bar tape do you use??

Any bad experiences with a certain brand?

Any tape you absolutely love?

Hmmm, I don't even use bar tape much. Just in the drops up to the brake-levers. And then I get whatever colour is available at the LBS that goes well with the rest of my bike and shoes.

Fizik microtex bar tape. Love it to death, although I've been contemplating some Sram Supercork.

I've been happy with Bontrager "gel" tape. I don't care for the cork tape, it doesn't stretch as well when I'm trying to wrap the bars. The worst is the cheap cork tape that comes with those worthless chromed-plastic plugs that don't stay in the end of the bar for more than 5 minutes.

Whatever's on sale, as long as it's black (does not show dirt and goes with any paint cheme).

can't go wrong with deda foam or cinelli cork.
I should try fizik microtex, but I just don't have any bars I need to wrap up right now.

I'm going to try some BBB cork, which is 1/2 price of the other two I mentioned.

+1 for Fizik Microtex bar tape. It's slightly more work to get a good tight wrap, but after that it's the most durable and pleasant feeling tape out there.

Bontrager gel tape, LBS had all the "unpopular" colors on sale and I like it

+2 for Fizik. I used some profile designs gel and it was a pain keeping the plugs in the bar ends, but it was comfy.

Cloth. That's just how I roll

Big fan of Bontrager Gel. Feels just like Cinelli at half the price.

I've had excellent service with Profile Design's bar tape. It's non adhesive so you can adjust it a couple of times to get the wrap right and even reuse it if you have to change cable housings or remove a brifter or brake lever but it doesn't slip if wrapped snugly. The price is reasonable and it's been very durable.

Whatever's on sale, as long as it's black (does not show dirt and goes with any paint cheme).

+1

I've been happy with Bontrager "gel" tape. s.

+1.

Two of my bikes have Cinelli cork, which I prefer. My distance bike, which is most likely to be caught in the rain has Sampson foam tape. I'd never heard of it before I bought it, but it's held up well.

Brad

Newbaum's cloth tape with shellac, Brooks leather wrap or Velo Orange elkhide sew-on.

Big fan of Bontrager Gel. Feels just like Cinelli at half the price.

I've used gel cork from Bontrager, Cinelli, and Performance Forte.
All the same thing, only difference is the plugs, and the logo stamped on the tape.
Forte costs the least and has no logo, and I prefer the clean look.

Deda tape was too short for my 42cm Nitto 'bars. Bontrager and Salsa Gel Cork (same stuff?) are plenty long enough, and hold up pretty well.

Deda tape was too short for my 42cm Nitto 'bars. Bontrager and Salsa Gel Cork (same stuff?) are plenty long enough, and hold up pretty well.

I think it depends on how much you overlap, because I wrapped up my 42mm nitto 115 bars just fine with deda tape.

bontrager gel or profile designs. both are cheap and work well. dislike fizik microtex

I like Profile Designs, Performance Forte, and Nashbar's. For my bar plugs I use plugs that expand inside the handlebar tube with a center screw. Absolutely won't come out.

For my bar plugs I use plugs that expand inside the handlebar tube with a center screw. Absolutely won't come out.
Yep, those Velox plugs are REALLY secure but heavy and hard to find.

I like the chromed metal plugs with the curved prongs that look a bit like an oversized bottle cap. They snap into the bar ends firmly and never fall out. They are also big enough to stay put in an empty bar which I need since Iwrap my bars from the ends toward the stem and use a bit of electrical tape to anchor the first wrap instead of tucking it into the bar end.

The reflective Bontrager plugs sold by Trek are equally tight in an open bar end but you've got to be willing to advertise for Bontrager since they have a big "B" engraved on them.

My touring bike got a number of 'off the front' 'grip shape' lumps, that , when added,
broadened the upper surface to be flatish. a comfortable shape..
then laid over them with sheet neoprene, then cotton taped over the works.

20 years ago I used GrabOn sleeves on top overlaid them with cotton tape.

Generic padded tape, 2 layers, is how I covered the Trekking bars,
on another bike..
It came with foam sleeves, but double 'cork' tape wraps makes it fatter
diameter for comfort, with the replacement of 1 trekking bar for another ..

Cinelli black cork.

The cheapest cork available with no adhesive back. Cloth for vintage.

Anyone know where to find the Benotto plastic wrap?

A filleted inner tube, ended in duct tape. Cheap, comfortable, readily available.

Anyone know where to find the Benotto plastic wrap?
No, but why do you want to find it? I remember that stuff as being slick as oiled glass when your hands got sweaty and there is no padding or resiliance at all.

After trying many different brands of tape, I have become a big fan of Nashbar's . Plus it's the only red tape I have found that actually looks red. I eschew their bar plugs for a pair of expandable center screw types that I have had for ages.

Although somewhat boring, Giant's bar tape is easy to use, moderately priced, and very comfortable. However, when I'm going for effect, I buy the Salsa. Salsa provides greater color options with good comfort.

No love for foam grip?

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/GR408B22-Grab+On+Maxi+Drop+Foam+Grips.aspx

No love for foam grip?

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/GR408B22-Grab+On+Maxi+Drop+Foam+Grips.aspx
absolutely not.

Love the look and feel of cotton tape. I use Green Grips. Great product and comes in so many colors.

I haven't used it myself yet, but I've heard good things about the Lizard Skins DSP tape. Pricey though.

I just found a good deal on some stitched bar tape from pricepoint.com (http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/15698-200_SETSL6-3-Parts-61-Grips/Bar-Tape/Sette-Super-Light-Bar-Tape.htm). Less than $7 gets you a roll of some pretty darn good tape. It's tacky to the touch and looks good.

hockey stick tape - cheap, and comes in any color as long as it's black......or white.

Cinelli Cork for me...black.

No, but why do you want to find it? I remember that stuff as being slick as oiled glass when your hands got sweaty and there is no padding or resiliance at all.

The colors were clear and bright. It stayed clean. For selective cushion and added thickness, it was possible to use it to tape over an under layer of tape that had cushion, which is what I did, because I was advised other people were successfully using this approach. Low cost too. I almost always used gloves, so slickness wasn't a problem.

I'm not so enthusiastic about all the cork and cork synthetic bar wraps. Technically, they're a 'one covering does all' improvement, but they lack for a simple streamlined look. I don't like cork/cork synthetic's matte finish, or that it gets dirty and funky looking if you don't wear gloves. I wish someone would start producing the stuff again.

I use what ever is on sale.

http://www.specialized.com/zz/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=56846

Nashbar house brand. Works just fine for me, and on sale, it's a real bargain.

The colors were clear and bright. It stayed clean. For selective cushion and added thickness, it was possible to use it to tape over an under layer of tape that had cushion, which is what I did, because I was advised other people were successfully using this approach. Low cost too. I almost always used gloves, so slickness wasn't a problem.

I'm not so enthusiastic about all the cork and cork synthetic bar wraps. Technically, they're a 'one covering does all' improvement, but they lack for a simple streamlined look. I don't like cork/cork synthetic's matte finish, or that it gets dirty and funky looking if you don't wear gloves. I wish someone would start producing the stuff again.

http://store.somafab.com/behata.html

http://store.somafab.com/behata.html

Man...You Rock! Seriously, I've searched for that stuff online, but am fairly sure Soma Fabrications never came up. I hope it's not a joke. 14 different colors too! Thanks again!

Lizard skin DSP ... confortable and verry grippy ...

I have a bontrager wrap, but I cover it with a thin tennis overgrip. Takes 2 per side. Not bad when you can buy a 4-pack for $3.99. Much more economical than putting bike-wraps on and if you've got big hands it has the added bonus of adding a slight bit of size.

Love the look and feel of cotton tape. I use Green Grips. Great product and comes in so many colors.

Cool. I've been eyeing Newbaum's (also made in the USA with eco-friendly dies, no mention of whether the cotton is organic like Green Grips') for the next time I need tape.

Question: Is the Green Grips tape adhesive-backed?

I've been using Fizik Dual for a year and a half. It's alright. Some of it is micro-fiber-y, others are more leathery. I just picked up SRAM Supercork on amazon and will post back if it's good.

Deda tape was too short for my 42cm Nitto 'bars. Bontrager and Salsa Gel Cork (same stuff?) are plenty long enough, and hold up pretty well.

That's my expereince too.


I think it depends on how much you overlap, because I wrapped up my 42mm nitto 115 bars just fine with deda tape.

Maybe we just got a bad batch?

http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/uploads/images/ProductImage/300.jpg

I'm pretty impressed with this stuff. Comes with gel pads, is reasonably priced, and has a different texture to 'cork' tape; it's grippier, more like suede.

Most importantly, it seems a fair bit tougher than any synthetic cork tape I've used.

Tried a lot of different tapes, but still come back to Cinelli cork. I like the cloth tape for the look and easy to put on but it ain't got the cush the cork tape does. I like the chrome bar ends, but they don't stay in so I glue them. Cinelli can be washed over and over and does last a while. Not the cheapest, but good stuff.