Bar tape that's not Lizard Skin?
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,473
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1743 Post(s)
Liked 1,279 Times
in
739 Posts
I'm using Lizard Skins and Cinelli cork and like them both.
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tucson Az
Posts: 1,671
Bikes: 2015 Ridley Fenix, 1983 Team Fuji, 2019 Marin Nail Trail 6
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 336 Post(s)
Liked 223 Times
in
135 Posts
I've found Arundel Gecko to be about the best wearing stuff I've ridden on, however it really doesn't stretch, so it can be tricky to wrap.
#29
Senior Member
Wow, I still have the thin 'No 1' foam tape on my Fuji from 30+ years/10k miles ago... still looks and feels good (although I wear padded gloves)...
Newer --
The Miyata 710 has Nashbar/Performance 'cork' tape and is doing fine after three years/3000mi.
Univega Viva Sport has Lizard Skin - and only three years/1500mi. Still looks good - but is almost TOO 'squishy' soft for my taste.
Newer --
The Miyata 710 has Nashbar/Performance 'cork' tape and is doing fine after three years/3000mi.
Univega Viva Sport has Lizard Skin - and only three years/1500mi. Still looks good - but is almost TOO 'squishy' soft for my taste.
#30
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,341
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6200 Post(s)
Liked 4,201 Times
in
2,357 Posts
IMG_0736 by Stuart Black, on Flickr
I’ve found it tough as nails. I’ve used one set on one of my bikes for about years and it doesn’t look any different from when I put it on. Unfortuneately they went out of business...probably because the tape wears like iron!
I have Adarga leather tape on another bike (haven’t had it that long) which is pretty nice and should last for long time. It’s a little expensive but it should last long enough to get good value out of it. The Adarga is also US made and, unlike Brooks, is a single piece of leather so it’s a bit smoother on the bars.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#31
52psi
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 4,014
Bikes: Schwinn Volare ('78); Raleigh Competition GS ('79)
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 790 Post(s)
Liked 801 Times
in
390 Posts
But the OP said "not foam or cork," so the Brooks microfiber would be my recommendation as well. Sure, it's irritating as hell to install (exactly zero stretch and you will LIKE it, mister!) but it looks good, grips well, and is weatherproof. Brooks microfiber downside: the natural rubber end plugs are big and ugly, and the cotton weave finishing tape is wretched when used as intended. Upside to wretched finishing tape: it's excellent for use underneath frame clamps for bottle cages.
__________________
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Oahu, HI
Posts: 1,396
Bikes: 89 Paramount OS 84 Fuji Touring Series III New! 2013 Focus Izalco Ergoride
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 285 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 74 Times
in
54 Posts
scott s.
.
#34
Senior Member
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 699
Bikes: 1984 Bianchi Tipo Corsa, 1985 Cannondale SM600 (24/26)
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 235 Post(s)
Liked 349 Times
in
190 Posts
I use Velox/Tressostar Cotton tape. It gives good grip and lasts forever - though it might get a little frayed and dirty. It's thin, so since I ride with gloves, I find it less bulky-feeling than a foam-type might. Just remember to buy 2 rolls; they always seem to be sold individually.
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Denver area (Ken Caryl Valley)
Posts: 1,802
Bikes: 2022 Moots RCS, 2014 BMC SLR01 DA Mech, 2020 Santa Cruz Stigmata, Ibis Ripmo, Trek Top Fuel, Specialized Levo SL, Norco Bigfoot VLT
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 182 Times
in
118 Posts
After trying a ton of them, I think the Specialized HD is the best. I think it is the HD...it is the densest one they make...may come on the Roubaix.
#39
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Chombi1
Classic & Vintage
37
07-20-17 10:41 AM