The_Mickstar

I see that the Fizik Chalk White tape I'm planning on getting comes in the regular version and a "Soft Touch" version. Does anyone know what the difference is?

Steve

briscoelab

Soft touch sucks.


Seriously, it's like fake suede... it looks like crap and feels even worse.

SPlKE 

I use fizik microtex, which they sometimes refer to as soft touch on the westernbikeworks site.

It kind of feels like suede, but never seems to feel wet, even when it has sweat or rain on it.

I stopped wearing riding gloves this year, for the first time in over 20 years, after I switched to the fizik microtouch tape. With the nice combo of grippiness, softness and dryness, and the fizik gel underneath, gloves really weren't adding anything.

This tape is one of the best upgrades I did this year.

I highly recommend it.

https://www.westernbikeworks.com/prod...il.asp?p=FITAP



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The_Mickstar

Thanks. I'm probably going to go with white. So, maybe I better stick to the regular variety. (Sounds like the Soft Touch kind would be more difficult to keep clean.)

Steve

Hammertoe

Soft touch is awesome...In the right color...

Soft touch decreases the slipperiness of the tape and adds some cushion...

But soft touch is impossible to clean...

I use black soft touch but regular white (which is a snap to clean)...

domestique

+1 for soft touch sucking! I had black soft touch and when I got new bars, I went to unwrap the tape and it tore at the edges ruining itself.

You CAN NOT re-wrap soft touch... it sticks to itself and rips when you go to unwrap.... It also holds the dirt esier... the only advantage would be if you do not wear gloves (it tends to soak up sweat better).

I perfer Fizik Microtex: I have white and the metallic blue on my bikes and love the stuff. The microtex white stays clean looking so much better then normal cork tape, and can be washed off a lot easier.

The_Mickstar

Thanks, guys.

The cleaning aspect is specifically why I asked about it (since I'm getting white). I have the regular Microtex on my tri bike, and, you're right, it's actually pretty easy to (keep) clean.

Steve

kenshinvt

I've been using the black soft touch (microtex) for a little bit now. It's ok--I bought it because they didn't have the regular version in stock. It's a nightmare to wrap and it tears easily.

I'd say absolutely avoid it if you are going to go with white tape. From everything I've heard, aside from what's already been posted in this thread, it's impossible to clean.

umd

Correct

Incorrect. Microtex is the material for all their tape. Soft touch is only the fuzzy option. I had black soft touch and after less than 1000 miles it was rubbed down in several places and looked dirty. I have the regular white and it was very easy to keep clean, although after about 8,000 miles the color rubbed off in a few spots. Note that Microtex is also how they refer to their saddle covering material, and that is not fuzzy.

SPlKE 

I stand corrected. I use the microtex soft touch, not the regular microtex.

I upgraded my handlebars in august so I only have about 1500 miles on my latest microtex tape. I prolly had about 2000 miles on the same type tape before the upgrade.

Since bar taping is so cheap and easy, i tend to re-tape when my tape gets dirty and worn.

umd

This is what the regular white looked like after about 9,000 miles, when I finally replaced it

tekhna

Do you have a picture of the metallic blue?

Val23708

looks like a colony of something living on there...

umd

It's very clean, it's just the absence of color.

aicabsolut

The soft touch is impossible to keep clean. I think my gloves dyed gray (gray palms) it at the corners, but they don't dye regular cork tape. Or maybe this was rubbing off the color...? I'm thinking the first theory is better. Anyway, dirt wasn't impossible to get off, but it wasn't easy. I usually had to use something abrasive, like a scratcher sponge for non-stick cookware. It would take off the dirt--and a bit of the tape, like I had to scour off the dirty layer of tape. After a while, that didn't even work, and I started to worry that I was going to shred it. If you get white and want Fizik, get the regular microtex. I did really like the feel of the soft touch (I'm not a fan of the microtex). I've gone back to the uber-thick S-wrap cork tape.

mimis

exactly

Cleave

Hi umd,

I don't know what you did to wear out your tape like that. You must have a much stronger grip than me.

I've had red Microtex tape for over 6,000 miles and it still looked good when I took it off when I changed bars. In fact, it was a shade of red that sort of clashed with my bike and I was hoping that it would wear out sooner.

umd

It started wearing out after about 8,000 miles. I also have red on my other bike, it doesn't seem to wear the same.

JoesInBoston

I've been on the regular Microtex tape for about 1,000 miles now and I love it. I use it without gloves when it's warm enough.

wideAMG

until you fall.