What's your favorite bar tape and why?
02-22-17, 05:05 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
Cinelli cork tape.
02-22-17, 05:09 PM
#27
SpIn SpIn SuGaR!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,078
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
my favorite tape ever was the Lizard Skins DSP 1.8mm bar tape, cause i don't wear gloves and it was by far the most comfortable on my hands, but i stopped using it cause i got tired of going through at least 2 rolls a season at $40 a pop...
i prefer the Fizik Superlight Soft Touch cause it last a LOT longer than any Lizard Skins bar tape i've ever used, and after a few weeks it breaks in and softens up a bit, not to mention it NEVER gets dirty. the only down side to it is that it didn't really stretch well when i was rolling it on, so next time i'm going to roll it on and a month or so later re-roll it out and see if it stretches better. other than that though, no complaints at all...
i prefer the Fizik Superlight Soft Touch cause it last a LOT longer than any Lizard Skins bar tape i've ever used, and after a few weeks it breaks in and softens up a bit, not to mention it NEVER gets dirty. the only down side to it is that it didn't really stretch well when i was rolling it on, so next time i'm going to roll it on and a month or so later re-roll it out and see if it stretches better. other than that though, no complaints at all...
02-22-17, 07:41 PM
#29
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,631
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4729 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
just cause nobody else has mentioned it, and I like it.. Serfas Stitched bar tape. Tacky, the right thickness, and has a somewhat classic look to it.
02-22-17, 08:02 PM
#30
Senior Member
Retro FIZIK MICROTEX DUAL COLOR tape (White + Blue) because it matches my bike's color.
Last edited by ARPRINCE; 02-22-17 at 08:06 PM.
02-22-17, 09:21 PM
#31
Erik the Inveigler
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: The California Alps
Posts: 2,303
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1310 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Cinelli cork tape. It just feels perfect under the hands. I have Brooks leather tape on my Raleigh Super Course and that is nice; just not as cushy.
02-22-17, 09:27 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times
in
293 Posts
Cinelli cork tape. Works, feels good and is cheap online.
I get a box when I need another 10 or 20 bucks to make the minimum free shipping on Ribble. Last time I picked up two boxes and IIRC they were $8 a box.
Much better than the $30 price at local shops.
OK so it's 9 bucks now!
I get a box when I need another 10 or 20 bucks to make the minimum free shipping on Ribble. Last time I picked up two boxes and IIRC they were $8 a box.
Much better than the $30 price at local shops.
OK so it's 9 bucks now!
On the C59 and C60 I use this:
wiggle.com | Cinelli Mike Giant Handlebar Tape | Bar Tape
Cinelli tape is comfortable, easy to install and durable.
On the Bottecchia I use whatever vintage tape I can find on eBay.
Last edited by eja_ bottecchia; 02-23-17 at 07:54 AM.
02-22-17, 09:49 PM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,977
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1638 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times
in
495 Posts
Fizik gel pads under SRAM Supertape, Specialized S-Wrap, or Deda Elementi Mistrial. I like the padding and larger diameter from the gel pads for my arthur hands.
__________________
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
02-23-17, 12:53 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Scotland
Posts: 183
Bikes: N+1+1+1+1+1 etc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Fizik Superlight for me. Tried Lizard Skin, Cinelli Cork, Prologo, but keep going crack to the Fizik
02-23-17, 07:10 AM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: midwest
Posts: 2,528
Bikes: 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, 2016 Diverge Expert X1
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 482 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times
in
105 Posts
I just re[placed my bar tape not long ago with Serfas Echelon (TanMarble). I like the feel of it and it comes with extra length, which I need since I have gel inserts. Cleans easy too.
02-23-17, 01:01 PM
#37
Banned.
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 742
Bikes: Trek
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 264 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
02-23-17, 01:29 PM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Wichita Falls, TX
Posts: 142
Bikes: 2019 Giant Defy Advanced 3
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've had Arundel on there for almost a year now, and, about time to replace. I've even unwrapped and rewrapped them. I think I paid $17 usd at the LBS and I'll be back for more.
02-25-17, 12:06 AM
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: East Bay CA
Posts: 192
Bikes: 2016 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Disc Di2, Cannondale F1000 SL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
I usually use Lizard Skins DSP 2.5mm. Good stuff, but a bit pricey.
When I'm feeling cheap I'll buy PRO Smart Silicon tape, which I like very much as well.
When I'm feeling cheap I'll buy PRO Smart Silicon tape, which I like very much as well.
02-25-17, 12:21 AM
#42
Non omnino gravis
Fizik Performance Classic Touch Microtex 3mm
The only tape I've liked enough to buy more than once. I've bought it thrice!
The only tape I've liked enough to buy more than once. I've bought it thrice!
__________________
02-25-17, 08:30 AM
#43
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Fabric Bar Tape
I've been using Fabric Knurl bar tape. It's about $19 and seems to strike a good balance between being soft enough to be comfortable on long rides without being bulky. I've only had it for less than a year so I can't attest to longevity.
02-25-17, 09:49 AM
#44
Senior Member
02-25-17, 09:59 AM
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern California, USA
Posts: 10,474
Bikes: 1979 Raleigh Team 753
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3374 Post(s)
Liked 371 Times
in
253 Posts
I have bought the Performance Fotre SL tape for the last 3 years. Still/all-in-all the fav tape of my kid - and me. https://www.performancebike.com/webap...42_-1___000000
-light as tape can add more grams than most think
-absorbent for hand/arm sweat
-long lasting/colors stick.
-thin - wanted on carbon bars, not so much on metal bars
-thin - does not increase diameter of bar much - aero, tucks in pretty well
-edges are thin - again aero.
Dislikes:
-Does not stretch easily. You have to pull this stuff.
-I'm not a fan of the holes. I think that grab the wind.
Yesterday I bought Lizard skins to wrap on the top only for forearm grip. That is stickier than Forte but not as nice on the hands.
Note on padding and thickness:
My son found more padding on rough roads on long rides was worse than less/no padding. Doing long sections caused blisters. Not having padding under tape, and actually having thin tape had his hands survive better. Initially counter intuitive, but my thought is carbon bars take a lot of the shock. Padding means there is more finger movement on bumps. Think of squeezing a foam ball/or not - every time you hit a bump. If you are on rough road/cobbles that is a lot.
-light as tape can add more grams than most think
-absorbent for hand/arm sweat
-long lasting/colors stick.
-thin - wanted on carbon bars, not so much on metal bars
-thin - does not increase diameter of bar much - aero, tucks in pretty well
-edges are thin - again aero.
Dislikes:
-Does not stretch easily. You have to pull this stuff.
-I'm not a fan of the holes. I think that grab the wind.
Yesterday I bought Lizard skins to wrap on the top only for forearm grip. That is stickier than Forte but not as nice on the hands.
Note on padding and thickness:
My son found more padding on rough roads on long rides was worse than less/no padding. Doing long sections caused blisters. Not having padding under tape, and actually having thin tape had his hands survive better. Initially counter intuitive, but my thought is carbon bars take a lot of the shock. Padding means there is more finger movement on bumps. Think of squeezing a foam ball/or not - every time you hit a bump. If you are on rough road/cobbles that is a lot.
Last edited by Doge; 02-25-17 at 10:05 AM.
