MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
looking for some comfy and long lasting bar tape.
was thinking going down the Brooks leather route with some gel pads undeneath.
before i hit the buy button,is there anything else worth a punt?
Ergon BT - Gravel Tape, it's pricey, but I use it without gel pads no problem.
Another vote for Ergon bar tape here.
It's pricy but thick and nicley padded.
Just replaced the tape on my gravel bike with BBB Gravel stuff. Much better than my old ritchey stuff or the specialized stuff i have use in the past.
Not used the ergon stuff so can't compare.
I like the redshift really long bar tape, better than anything else I have tried, and being long is good for adding extra wraps for added comfort as well as handling unusual bar shapes.
I get through tape alarmingly quickly, I guess I must shift my hands around a lot, even riding with bare hands in summer it wears away.
I'm currently using a few rolls from ali-express.
Any better than £20/roll stuff bought in the UK, nope. It still wears through by the hoods about as quickly as I'd expect. But for £4-5 per roll I can just throw a new set on when spring arrives. keeps the bike looking smart and saves a fair bit of money!
Have a goggle to see what your favorite tape is actually made of (PU, EVA, silicone, etc) and just search for that and the thickness. Order 2-3 different variations from different vendors to keep on the shelf for when it's crashed, worn through, or just fancy a change.
Only been disappointed twice, once just turned out to be the same sort of generic £5 foam bar tape you can get from any budget brand. The other was something I thought would be like DSP, and it was in terms of grip, but far too thin for my liking.
Silca make some very expensive and very plush tape…
Silca make some very expensive and very plush tape…
Silca make some very expensive and very plush tape…
Cinelli cork, £10-12 a roll.
Have heard people saying the Silca tape leaves behind a nightmare of adhesive on the bars once you've removed it.
I've always liked Lizard Skins DSP, not cheap but works for me.
DSP. It is available in various thicknesses.
I find that the "tackiness" of it means I'm not gripping the bars so tightly and that adds to the comfort.
Very personal
Also a fan of BBB Gravel tape, though last time I tried to buy some was out of stock everywhere.
Bontrager/Trek Double Gel is about the centre of the Ven for comfort, grip, cost and aesthetic and endurance.
I get on well with the Supacaz stuff, nice and grippy and last well for me. Lizard Skinz on the other hand feels nice, but wears really quickly ime.
I have a roll of expensive Enve stuff sat in a spares box, but haven't used it yet, so can't really comment, except to say that it's supposed to be very good.
Have heard people saying the Silca tape leaves behind a nightmare of adhesive on the bars once you've removed it.
Who cleans their bars when changing tape?
Pick off any big chunks of old tape and stick the new tape over the mess.
Limited experience so far, but I like the Fizik Tempo Microtex Bondcush 3mm on my Cascade. Admittedly, it's double-layered over the previous tape and is a bit 'girthy', but I'm used to gripping big things.
(first time trying double-wrapping bar tape and definitely increased comfort - no issues with grip etc, but won't work for smaller hands I guess)
Who cleans their bars when changing tape?
Pick off any big chunks of old tape and stick the new tape over the mess.
That would be me - I can't live knowing that it's under there!
Tortec Super Comfort for me. Not mega durable but good in all other respects.
Not a fan of Lizard Skins at all - Not very nice to wrap and quickly deteriorates.
My (harsh riding) cheap road bike has Specialized Roubaix on it. I've also had their Bar Phat. I can't speak for longevity but both are very comfortable. They're also bulky. If you've got big hands it'll be fine. Not so much if not.
Another vote for the snappily named Fizik Tempo Microtex Bondcush 3mm - lovely suedey feel on the hands, last lot lasted 3 years for me. Comfy and good grip in the rain, too. I tried the Wolftooth super soft stuff recently - didn't get on with it at all for reasons I forget now, but I unwound it and gave it away (no proper adhesive, so it comes off fine, at least) and went back to the bondcush.
Supercaz has proven excellent. Nice fades to match frame hilights too. Lizard Skins didn't last a ride before delaminating (might be friction with gloves), Fabric was the same rubbish. Arundel was nice but wore away too quickly. Fizik micro is very long-lasting. For cheap, basic Halfords black for £10 is decent.
Soft and squishy padding is no substitute for a good position on the bike. Padding isn't really needed if your position is good.