michaelnel

I made the error of purchasing and installing the Aztec "Vibe Wrap" system:



It seemed like a good idea when I read about it, so I bought the whole setup including the black wrapping tape at REI for $29.00.

It's fairly easy to install, but difficult to make it look nice because the tape they supply is some kind of black foam stuff that isn't tapered on the edges like normal tape, so everywhere you overlap there's a lump.

I could live with the way it looks if it was effective. It's not. It makes your handlebars big and lumpy, and near as I can tell it does either nothing or very little to provide additional comfort. It's also not durable... in two weeks of commuting, the wraps started separating revealing the red foam crap underneath, and the tape was splitting in a couple places. One of the supplied bar end plugs fell off on the first ride (and to Aztec's credit, they sent me another pair of the plugs right away when I emailed them about it).

So, even though I paid almost $30 for it, tonight I decided to take it off and rewrap with some black Cinelli cork tape I have here.

The stuff is extremely difficult to remove. The glue sticks so hard to the handlebars that the foam stuff separates from it and leaves a thin layer of the red foam on the bars. I finally had to resort to a heat gun to heat it up, then kind of roll it off with my thumbs. It made a huge mess, and I still had to use that nasty nasty "Goof Off" to remove the remaining bits and glue.

I now have such a headache from the Goof Off that I have to let it subside before re-wrapping with the cork.

As you might suspect, I do NOT recommend this crap.

CRUM

Thanks for the head's up. I was seriously contemplating stocking it in my store.

michaelnel

Did about 25 miles today with the Cinelli cork wrap after removing the expen$ive Vibe Wrap and my hands were every bit as comfortable.

It's a total waste of money.

late

On an impulse I bought Vibe Wrap. I set it on the bar to check it out, and didn't like it. I already had some Bar Phat, so I put that on.
Not sure about that either.

I do like Off the Front Grip Shapes, and double wrapping the bars with gel tape. I also take a couple pieces of tape and tape them down on the inside of the bar. They get placed just behind the top
of the bar, and are there to bulk it up a bit when your hands are on top.

slvoid

I like barphat a lot better. Get the thick version of it, it's gel and REALLY cushy.
I only have the thin version on my commuter and racers.
My girlfriend has the thick version and sometimes, in my weaker moments... I'd like to ride her bike...

FarHorizon

I had the same experience as the original poster. I replaced the junky black tape with some Cinelli cork. I find the foam somewhat helpful in reducing vibration, but not a lot. Next time I wrap, I'll remove the Aztec foam and go back to plain tape.

fsor

On my commuter I tried the cheap nashbar gel strips. Instead of their suggested layout, I paralleled two strips on the tops so that my radial/ulnar and carpal tunnels sit in a "ditch", so to speak, when I rest my hands on the drops. It looks pretty warty, but then the commuter wins no prizes anyway. Seems to work, but I hear that the nashbar gel pads leak over time...I'll see. Bad carpal issues...had to do something

Velomancer

I find a good pair of gloves is all you need. I re-wrapped the bars on one of my bikes, using FSA carbon look bartape - which actually looks and feels more like leather, and is quite hard. I find the main difference in comfort levels seems to be goverened by the gloves I wear. I've tried different gloves, (weightlifting, MTBing and road) and the one that was the most comfortable was the road gloves (Specailized Pro).