Need to replace the bar tape on my commuter, what’s your favourite and why?

(It’ll prob be black)

Lizard Skins DSP. Comfy, looks good.

Lizard Skins

Though apparently it’s not made with real lizard.

Lizard skin 2.5 mm £20 something but I will never buy cheap again. Love it

grippy in the wet very comfy.

We used to have a house-favourite Trini Lopez greatest hits tape in the bar I worked at.

I may be showing my age here.

I like Fizik Soft Touch, but not the light one.

Used to be Fizik until I tried Lizard Skins DSP

A corky Cinelli with a soft backing or Selle Smootape for me

A lot depends what you want out of your tape.  It’s a much bigger topic than ‘what looks good’.  Probably  actually a bigger topic than MTB grips

You can’t go wrong with this stuff….trumps my old favourite (Zipp) because the price at Merlin is sooooo cheap!

Widget Tacky Wrap

I love Zipp service course. Works great in the wet and fairly tough.

Sepcialized S-Wrap roubaix. Thick, soft, easy to install. Pair it with a fat top bar = heaven.

I bought some from China on eBay for £1.20.

Its pretty much the same as the foam stuff that every other brand sells for £5-£7 (Deda, cinelli, cannondale, bontranger). Its on the thick side but for commuting that’s not been a bad thing,

I think I must rotate my wrists as I ride as the upper bend gets worn off in a matter of rides and the drops not long after so cheap and often seems a better value. And the foam stuff seems to last as long if not longer.

Other posh stuff I’ve tried –

fizik classic – looks the best, but quite hard and uncomfortable

DSP – nice, gripy, ridiculously f****** expensive. Its one for Sunday best at that price but then you’d miss out on that comfort and wet grip on a commute.

Another vote for Lizard Skins here…

3.2mm Lizard Skins for me.

Supacaz. I used to like Lizard Skins but the stuff simply wear through near the hoods. The Supacaz tape does all the same things but is way more durable and easier to clean with it. Brilliant stuff, priced similar to Lizard Skins, but lasts much longer ime.

I’ve found the Easton branded tape to be pretty decent, also Bontrager and Deda with the non-adhesive silicone backing wears well and is easy to apply.

Some one off stuff I got from Fibrax.

it really is beyond comfy, just wish they would put it into production.

Failing that?

lizard Skins DSP.

Velox cloth bar tape.

You can keep the padded stuff. Just spreads the discomfort.

Lizard skins here too. No longevity problems here- the set on my cross bike is just shy 5 years old and while it’s quite tatty and really needs replacing, it is still functioning.

Zipp Service Course CX.  Very similar to Lizard skins but about half the price

Lizard skins DSP it is, pretty compelling support, thanks

Salsa.

Bontrager Double gel for the winter bike. Not sure they still make it, but I love it.

If it isn’t too late, Lizard Skins DSP is my choice as well.

Good with, or without gloves. In dry or wet weather. Also, if wrapped properly it lasts surprisingly well.

Avoid Fabric silicone tape it’s as rubbish as their bottles. On two bikes mine has delaminates badly and I’m very disappointed. Waste of money.

Variously Fizik, Zipp or lizard skins. Cheap Black is normally good too from Specialized or Halfords. But it’s not THAT expensive and makes a big difference. So no point buying cheap, lizard skins ftw

D s p

Lizard skins tape, 3.2 or 2.5?  Any downside to the 3.2 other than cost?

Depends if you like fat squashy tape or not.  Mrs BS likes the 3.2 as she has carple tunnel  I don’t like Lizard Skins at all as I don’t like sticky squashy tape, hence being a Fizik man.