Bar tape, cork vs gel
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: California
Posts: 542
Bikes: Trek 7.2 FX, Custom Vintage FG
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Bar tape, cork vs gel
I'm getting trekking/butterfly bars, and will actually need to use bar tape. I've been using stock flat bars with grips. I was curious about the differences between gel and cork. Especially these areas:
1) How do they behave when wet?
2) How easy are they to put on? (do they tear?)
3) How comfortable are they?
4) Durability?
Thanks!
1) How do they behave when wet?
2) How easy are they to put on? (do they tear?)
3) How comfortable are they?
4) Durability?
Thanks!
Last edited by oban_kobi; 10-24-10 at 08:11 PM. Reason: Changed mind
#2
Banned
I got some gel/foam tape, the 'gel' was a wipe of some stuff that was just a little bit of traction,
to hold the wrap, not much shock absorption effect.
I wrap my trekking bars twice , first layer old tape. then a wrap of new stuff.
Combined its quite comfortable.
My [ITM] trekking bars came with foam sleeves on them
to hold the wrap, not much shock absorption effect.
I wrap my trekking bars twice , first layer old tape. then a wrap of new stuff.
Combined its quite comfortable.
My [ITM] trekking bars came with foam sleeves on them
Last edited by fietsbob; 10-25-10 at 11:26 AM.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 51
Bikes: Jamis Ventura Sport
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I like my gel/foam tape Ive tried riding other peoples bikes without it and It's just not as pleasurable on the hands in my opinion.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 392
Bikes: Trek SU100, Surly Cross Check
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: California
Posts: 542
Bikes: Trek 7.2 FX, Custom Vintage FG
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Anyone have any experience with Planet Bike's gel tape? It's on Amazon = convenient.
Oh, and how long a bar does the fizik microtex cover?
Oh, and how long a bar does the fizik microtex cover?
Last edited by oban_kobi; 10-25-10 at 10:24 AM. Reason: Something else
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 392
Bikes: Trek SU100, Surly Cross Check
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times
in
363 Posts
The nice thing about tapeing your handlebars is that it's an economical way of giving your bike a make-over.
Wrap your bars with whatever strikes your fancy. If you decide that you hate the way that it looks or feels, you're out about $10.00 but you've gained experience through the process.
Wrap your bars with whatever strikes your fancy. If you decide that you hate the way that it looks or feels, you're out about $10.00 but you've gained experience through the process.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,760
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1106 Post(s)
Liked 1,197 Times
in
758 Posts
I've been using simple foam tape, no cork, no gel, for the past few years and prefer it to any tape I've used over the years. It is comfortable, works well when wet, is easy to clean (if you're into clean bar tape) and can be found very cheap so you can change it whenever you want. I usually buy a couple of rolls of Deda from probikekit when I need it and have also used house brand from Nashbar and Performance and they were great as well.