Best Bar Tape for a Cyclocross Bike

I’ve got a Charge Filter Plus Cyclocross bike and seem to get a lot of feedback from the trail, can anyone suggest a decent tape to help this as my hands are being mullered

something white and perforated 😉

something cheap, it will need replaced often

If you are coming from MTB, it will always feel like your hands are getting a battering.

Loosen your grip on the bars and let them float around inside your hands more.

Lizard Skins DSP bar tape is good at reducing trail buzz/chatter – i use it on my Tripster and it was my preferred choice to fit on bikes when i worked in the bike-shop.

Needs a bit more care in fitting than the usual foam tape but once fitted correctly it’s very secure on the bars and if you like white tape it’s easily kept clean with alcohol wipes and is nice n’ grippy, do not use soapy water to wipe it clean as this will reduce the sticky tackiness. Some folk complain about the price but f-f-sake get a grip you cheapskates, what is £25 spent on a critical contact point with regard to what may be a £3K+ bike.

Comes in 1.8mm, 2.5mm (what i use) and a 3.2mm for plush chunky lazy boy comfort.

Don’t buy bontrager it’s bobbins.

Use 2 layers

Specialized Phat tape if they still make it, it has a layer of gel that you put under the tape.

http://road.cc/content/review/3828-specialized-bar-phat-bar-tape

DSP is very good as it has a “sticky” feel so you don’t need to grip it so tightly.

I like the Cannondale Synapse tape for anything needing spongey, grippy tape. Doesn’t have any logos on so it’s not going to clash with whatever bike you have.

Zipp Service Course CX tape, which is essentially the exact same stuff as the thick lizard skins DSP tape but is only a third of the price…

http://www.merlincycles.com/zipp-service-course-cx-bar-tape-61710.html

The Zipp service course it excellent and a bargain from Merlin as above.

i have a filter hi, i changed the bars.
for some relatively cheap deda ones for about 35-40 quid (an improvement)
i use cube tape, but as above, if you are using the bike off road it will be manky/ripped fairly soon anyway.

I use the Arundel tape, double thickness on the tops, seems to have survived post mudfest hosing down well, words on packaging is quite fun also (not normal product bol-cks). Agree with comment about death grip on bars, need to be a little more relaxed when holding on.

Black.

Cinelli Gel tape is good for me.

I disagree with 90% of this thread. I’ve not found anything that tops standard cork tape – Bontrager and Ritchey both make a good one – and the modern plastic Lizard-skins esque stuff does nothing for me.

Folk recommended my Fizik. I thought it was shit- fragile, not very comfy, very hard edged.

Gel pads under something like deda carbon effect tape. The gel pads last forever and the deda carbon tape wipes clean, even the white one I use.

as scotroutes says, the DSP is lovely and grippy as well as comfy

Had Bontrager on the monster cross and its just too fragile it tears off in chunks. Fizik tape that looks like suede is soft to touch but has withstood crashing on a gravel road. So for off road something that can take some hammer.

esi wrapped/unwrapped?

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/esi-grips-rct-silicon-road-bar-wrap—bar-tape-4300-p.asp

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/esi-unwrapped-silicone-road-grips-black-2561-p.asp

I run Fizik 3mm performance tacky tape and its great!

I just run cheap Deda tape so when it rips, I don’t get upset. no bar tape is going to absorb the trail with 35mm tyres and no suspension.

+1 Zipp Service Course CX tape. Like Lizard Skins DSP but half the price. Its also a bit stretchier so easier to fit.

Cheap Deda tape is ok too, cheap and thicker than the Bontrager stuff on my ss.