Bar taping
 

For all those who use cloth tape, do you ever put any padding under it? I am used to cork tape which has some padding built in.

I have put cloth tape over cork tape, but it looks funky. Cloth tape looks best when you see the narrow profile of the bar (IMO). Wearing gloves makes up for the lack of padding.

One of my bikes has cloth tape over a padded tape (some cheap black vinyl stuff). Works fine. Does look a bit non-traditional - not for the purist's concours bike.

A thin, single, layer of hockey tape under the cloth tape works best for me. Gives it a little extra something underneath without the bulk.

No!
Cloth tape doesn't do much dampening, but the tactile feel of raw cotton is better than sex. At least for some. ;)

A friend taught me to cut an old innertube into strips and tape a piece under the cloth wrap. It's not much but is pretty much invisible, cheap, and combined with gloves works good. Another guy I know just puts on two layers of cloth.

Here's an example of what cloth-over-cork looks like. I think it looks fine/good, but on a bike I wanted to keep "pure", I agree that I would use only cloth.

http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/_MG_1696.jpg

Nothing comes between my and my bar tape, I mean between my bar and my bar tape.

Sounds like I need better gloves.

I wrap one layer of cotton over another, then add seven coats of shellac. There's a very slight give to the doubling of the wrap, yet it remains thin enough that it doesn't look bulky to my eye. As much as I love and prefer the look of cotton vs. "cork," I fall into that camp of people who love the feel of the wrap even more. Double win in my opinion.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3917/...8f08b10b_b.jpgHere's an example - two layers of cloth...only a touch thicker than a single layer and seems to fit my palms and grip nicely.

I like two layers of cloth as above, but with less shellac.

Very nice.

Very cool bike btw...

I have one bike with a double layer of cloth too. No shellac. I like it. Though I wrap the first layer edge to edge, without overlapping it. Makes the second layer look better, IMO.

Planet Bike has the "Century Gel Pads."

I like 'em. My palms are often on the corners.

That is a great idea. Any pics?

I've been looking at harlequin wraps lately... thinking about doing that on my 3-speed... looks cool, and doubles up on thickness of cloth wrap.

I just looked at all the pics I have of my orange Moto and no, sorry. No good pics of just the handlebars. Doesn't look like much, other than a little thicker than one wrap.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2868/...2d3c8528_c.jpg
Cotton over inner tube, as suggested by iluvnoise above.
It does thicken up the wrap, and provides a little padding.

Has anyone wrapped Benotto over inner tube? I have a bike with Benotto tape and around 70 miles, my hands are complaining. I want to keep the look but add just a little comfort.

Next time, I may try this, instead of trying inner tube.
Welcome to Rescue Tape! | Main | Rescue Tape

This is what I have been using, RavX Cottonwrap ? RAVX Design I love the look & feel of cotton bar tape but I have pretty bad nerve damage to my hands & fingers and needed something with more padding, I can ride without my gloves using the Rav X cotton gel wrap for a good distance without my hands going numb.

Glenn

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps0b00a076.jpg

RavX also has this: Ravx Bicycle Bar Gel Under Tape Gel Insert Road Bike Tape Insert | eBay

I might give it a try.

Does hockey tape actually have padding to it, or does it just bulk up the diameter a little for a better fit?

Just gives it a larger diameter. No redeeming "padding" qualities to it.

It's cheap like me. That's redeeming.