u235

I am looking for a specific style of bar tape. Solid rubbery/vinyl but some flexibility. The one I took off to replace cables is like that and had some type of felt backing and it was great. It was held on by separate two way scotch tape. I've tried several foam and cork based ones with various outer layers and I just don't like them, they are too squishy, or thick, or slippery when wet.
Any ideas or a "type" I should look for? Cork is well defined and labeled but I'm not sure what other non cork ones are made out of to search. Most "top sellers" and "highest rated" are not the type I am looking for. Fizik Superlight Classic seems to be a close match or the tacky version.

fietsbob

How antique was your last tape? Bike Ribbon was a slick vinyl, are they still in business?

I got Fizik gel pad and tape set, but my road bike is rarely used in the winter. (No Mudguards)

Aubergine 

Look for Fizik and Lizard Skin. I personally love Fizik’s 3mm thick tape. My son likes Lizard Skin, which feels more rubbery.

Andrew R Stewart 

Don't think that the word "cork" means an actual nature made material. There's lot's of marketing leeway with this stuff. But the classic way to add padding and still have the texture you want is to have two layers. They can be of the same tape of two different kinds. The sectioned pad sets currently offered by many companies are an example of two layers.


I'll add that all kinds of bar wrap has been tried over the years by many. Bike inner tubes, tennis racket wrap, steering wheel covers, various leathers, carpet padding. Andy.

u235

It was on the bike and it only a year old but it does remind me of tape I had on my last drop bar about 35 years ago

Maybe cork was the wrong term of what I tried, it was all foam based. the last two I've bought and didn't care for was the SRAM supercork and Nashbar Softgrip. Nashbar being the better of the two but just too squishy. I always wear gloves and ride gravel and off road too so I'd like a hard solid sticky tape for a more direct feel. I think most people want the comfort and padding effect instead.

EDIT: I just did a mixed ride in the cold with the Nashbar Softgrip. I can get used to it. I can see the pluses of having some additional padding.

FBOATSB

I switched from the plastic tapes to one layer of shellacked cotton about thirty six years ago and never thought twice about about switching, just my personal preference.

McBTC

Careful of the stretchability of the extra long vinyl tapes-- all the convenience of an extra 2' of tape doesn't help much if you overdo it and it pops in the middle of your wrap job.

cpach

Sounds like you might like something like lizardskins. Tacky, less squishy than cork/foam, cleans up. Zipp tape is, I think, rebadged lizardskins. Bontrager supertack is also similar.

This is actually a good case for visiting your local shop. Nothing like actually touching the tape.

GoldenBoy12

Supacaz is one of the best in the industry.