Cork or Foam?
04-02-06 | 05:14 PM
#1
Thread Starter
45 miles/week
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,020
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From: Philadelphia, PA
Bikes: Jamis Aurora
Cork or Foam?
Which bar tape is better? For all-weather riding? Comfortable, long lasting, etc?
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04-03-06 | 12:14 AM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 128
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From: Seattle, WA
Bikes: Yellow Nashbar fixed gear conversion, Cannondale T800, Surly Cross Check
I'm a fan of cork myself. I can't stand foam as I have a tendancy to squeeze it too tighly. Plus cork is much better looking. I don't know about long lasting though, I think foam would win there. My mom has foam grips on her bike that I'm pretty sure are older than I am.
04-03-06 | 09:31 AM
#4
Jet Jockey
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,941
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From: St. Paul, MN
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Nashbar X-frame bike, Bike Friday Haul-a-Day, Surly Pugsley.
By foam do you mean gel? Most cork wraps are mostly gel anyway, with bits of cork. And some with some of them the cork bits can actually generate weak spots as they're stretched during wrapping.
I have Serfas ICS gel without cork on one bike and Planet Bike gel/cork on another. So far so good with both.
I have Serfas ICS gel without cork on one bike and Planet Bike gel/cork on another. So far so good with both.
04-03-06 | 09:35 AM
#5
Jet Jockey
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,941
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From: St. Paul, MN
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Nashbar X-frame bike, Bike Friday Haul-a-Day, Surly Pugsley.
By foam do you mean gel? Most cork wraps are mostly gel anyway, with bits of cork. And some with some of them the cork bits can actually generate weak spots as they're stretched during wrapping.
I have Serfas ICS gel without cork on one bike and Planet Bike gel/cork on another. So far so good with both.
I have Serfas ICS gel without cork on one bike and Planet Bike gel/cork on another. So far so good with both.
04-03-06 | 09:40 AM
#6
Barbieri Telefonico
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,522
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bikes: Crappy but operational secondhand Motobecane Messenger
No tape and full finger gloves is what I use ... riding under 30 miles a leg.
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04-03-06 | 11:58 AM
#7
Chairman of the Bored
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,825
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From: St. Petersburg, FL
Bikes: 2004 Raleigh Talus, 2001 Motobecane Vent Noir (Custom build for heavy riders)
Cinelli Gel Cork, I accept no less. I don't use gloves though....if I found a pair of gloves that didn't suck, I would go for regular cork.
04-03-06 | 07:48 PM
#10
Chairman of the Bored
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From: St. Petersburg, FL
Bikes: 2004 Raleigh Talus, 2001 Motobecane Vent Noir (Custom build for heavy riders)
No, it's a closed-cell foam (not Gel), with cork particles added to it.
Gel cork tape has a Gel layer under the closed-cell foam.
Gel cork tape has a Gel layer under the closed-cell foam.
04-04-06 | 12:44 PM
#12
Thread Starter
45 miles/week
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,020
Likes: 1
From: Philadelphia, PA
Bikes: Jamis Aurora
Well nashbar had some gel/foam tape on sale for $5 so I bought that 
. If it sucks, I didn't waste much money on it. This is my first time using bar tape so I didn't want to blow a bunch of money.
How's it compare to grips? Basically my project bike had vaguely mustache-bar-shaped handlebars with grips. I'm going to flip 'em, probably leave the brake levers where they were (out at the ends), but figured if I wrapped 'em all the way with tape I would have another good hand position out at the front.
. If it sucks, I didn't waste much money on it. This is my first time using bar tape so I didn't want to blow a bunch of money.How's it compare to grips? Basically my project bike had vaguely mustache-bar-shaped handlebars with grips. I'm going to flip 'em, probably leave the brake levers where they were (out at the ends), but figured if I wrapped 'em all the way with tape I would have another good hand position out at the front.
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04-05-06 | 10:16 PM
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 10
From: Farmington, NM
Bikes: Giant Cypress SX
Prince puts out a great wrap for tennis racquets. Has anybody given it a try?
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