[Closed] Comfortable handlebar tape?

If you can find somewhere selling it, teh ESI grips RCT is excellent stuff.

I'm a fan of Lizard Skins DSP. It has a tacky feel that means I don't have to grip it too tightly. That has a resultant impact in reducing fatigue and buzziness.

I think that the Zipp Service Course CX Bar Tape is pretty good and often reccomended. Nice thickness, fairly tacky with a file pattern so you can still grip well with muddy hands.

I've got some of the Kenesis / Jo Burt tape on my bike at the moment and it's lasted better than I expected considering it's got white printing on!

Other half has Supacaz Super Sticky Kush Galaxy Bar Tape on, as the blue snowflakes matched her bike nicely. Some people have commented that it's not particularly hard wearing though.

I like using gel pads underneath because it makes the bar wider, which means less pressure on your hands - and also softer obvs.

+1 for gel pads under tape. Not that big a fan of the plasticy tapes like Lizard Skins, prefer cork style like Cinelli which is a bit more squishy even than the 3.2mm Lizard skins.

Another vote for gel pads under the tape. Like @t3ap0t I also go for cork tape for its comparative squishyness

Lizard Skins DSP is comfy but wears out quickly. I've gone back to good old Cinelli Cork tape and am pretty happy with it.

Other half has Supacaz Super Sticky Kush Galaxy Bar Tape on, as the blue snowflakes matched her bike nicely. Some people have commented that it’s not particularly hard wearing though.

I run Supacaz on my cross bike and I'd say it's pretty tough. Massively better than Lizard Skins which is cushioned and comfortable, but wears through in weeks, and as good or better than anything else I've used, though it goes a bit shiny eventually - that took a couple of years of hard use though. It's expensive, but Merlin was selling it cheap and possibly still is.

FWIW my DSP lasts really well.

I love the (deep breath) Fizik Tempo Microtex Bondcush Soft Bar Tape I put on my road bike... so nice and soft/suede-y/grippy that I don't usually wear gloves any more. No signs of wear over a thousand miles or so in all weathers. I did customise the fit a bit by padding out some areas with old bar tape under the new, but that was just to fill up my lanky hands a bit.

DSP lasts well for me too. Just about to replace the stuff on my road bike after 4 years constant use.

DSP lasts well for me too. Just about to replace the stuff on my road bike after 4 years constant use.

Maybe it's glove dependent, but I never get more than a year out of mine.

Another vote for Zipp Service Course CX. Nice and grippy, comfortable, long lasting and good value. I run it with gel pads under too.

I have the Wolf Tooth Supple tape. Thick, soft and grippy. Very comfy indeed

Lizard Skins DSP here too. First time user & will buy again. No signs of wear after 6 months on the gravel bike.

Anything silicone. The Supercaz is lovely but the cheap Chinese stuff feels as nice. Arundel did some nice middle ground stuff.

Thanks for the advice folks.
I've decided to go with the Lizzard Skins DSP... next day delivery helped too!

Cheers

defblade
Free Member

I love the (deep breath) Fizik Tempo Microtex Bondcush Soft Bar Tape I put on my road bike…

I use this too, much nicer than DSP when riding gloveless. the DSP is comfy though (especially in 3.2mm flavour!)

Wow... the 3.2mm DSP turned up quickly!
Feels great. Will fit later.

Dang, too late to the thread. I bought DSP last year (thickest one they did) it lasted less <200K! The outer layer is like thin skin and just disintegrated/tore away on the tops. OK so I do a bit of heavy climbing with gloves on but nonetheless…

(Hopefully OP) YMMV

Sure I've read that the DSP coating flakes if it is stretched by wrapping too tight.

Sure I’ve read that the DSP coating flakes if it is stretched by wrapping too tight.

That may describe my method 🤭

Q: How tight is ‘too tight’
A: Find out in 6 months

What I want now is some thick black grippy stuff with gel and corky bits in it like I had from stock on my old Genesis. That lasted a couple of years and was really comfy.

Too late but Silca Nastro Piloti is working well for me...put it on your list for next time.

Not cheap but it's easily outlasted the DSP stuff I used previous.

I know that nobody reads the instructions but those supplied with DSP do remind you not to stretch it.

Planet X do some balck rubber stuff with a tiny criss cross pattern. Great stuf and may be only 99p or £29.99 depending on the stars.

Good for bunny hops? 😉