Bar tape help..
Discussion
If Cinelli still make their cork-based bar tape, it's excellent.
Difficult to install, as it's quite thick, yet can snap really if you're not careful.
Once it's on, however, it's great. Comfy without being squishy, compliant without feeling vague. Even pretty good when it gets wet.
It's likely to be expensive, and I'd recommend darker colours, simply because lighter colours get filthy pretty quickly.
Difficult to install, as it's quite thick, yet can snap really if you're not careful.
Once it's on, however, it's great. Comfy without being squishy, compliant without feeling vague. Even pretty good when it gets wet.
It's likely to be expensive, and I'd recommend darker colours, simply because lighter colours get filthy pretty quickly.
Lizard Skins bar tape is great but not cheap. Any generic cork tape is fine (Planet X tape is good value http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BTPXCOG/planet-x-cork...
I recently put some Arundel Gecko Grip tape on a bike and it seems really good. Not my bike so I haven't ridden it and don't know how well it lasts but it feels good..
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=arundel+gecko+ba...
I recently put some Arundel Gecko Grip tape on a bike and it seems really good. Not my bike so I haven't ridden it and don't know how well it lasts but it feels good..
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=arundel+gecko+ba...
I reckon Supacaz bar tape looks great, feels comfy and comes with superb plugs. Here's a review on RCUK, which gives Supacaz a slight edge over Lizard Skins. The downside for both brands is price.Supacaz's available in loads of colours and patterns. There's even a Glow in the Dark bar tape!
I really like the soft Bontrager bar tape and find the non-adhesive tapes easier to apply.
I've also had relative success with cheap Deda bar tape on my commuter but hate the Fizik tape I put on my road bike a few weeks ago! It looks passable and is quite comfortable but it was a pig to wrap because there was not enough length to wrap it the way I like it and it looks grubby already! White will never wear well but the Bontrager tape it replaced cleaned up well each week while this Fizik stuff has stained!
I also use insulation tape at the tops end because the finishing tape provided never seems that flexible or nice.
Might have a go on some Lizard Skinz next?! Just for fun.
I've also had relative success with cheap Deda bar tape on my commuter but hate the Fizik tape I put on my road bike a few weeks ago! It looks passable and is quite comfortable but it was a pig to wrap because there was not enough length to wrap it the way I like it and it looks grubby already! White will never wear well but the Bontrager tape it replaced cleaned up well each week while this Fizik stuff has stained!
I also use insulation tape at the tops end because the finishing tape provided never seems that flexible or nice.
Might have a go on some Lizard Skinz next?! Just for fun.
I normally use the Arundel Gecko, but my LBS weren't able to get it for my last build as Saddleback just dropped it from their lines, it's available online though, really nice tape.
Lizard Skins DSP is good too and comes in a few different thicknesses.
I've currently got S-Works HD on my CLX and it's a nice tape too.
Lizard Skins DSP is good too and comes in a few different thicknesses.
I've currently got S-Works HD on my CLX and it's a nice tape too.
Watch some youtube videos and make sure you wrap it the right way otherwise it will tend to loosen in use (and each bar should wrap the opposite way). There are various different ways of getting round the levers so have a plan 
I like the little gel pads that go under the bar tape but it does tend to make the grips a bit chunky (my hands are on the large side) so expect it's not for everyone.
I like the little gel pads that go under the bar tape but it does tend to make the grips a bit chunky (my hands are on the large side) so expect it's not for everyone.
Another Lizard Skins convert here. Avoid the Deda stuff, it's so sticky that it becomes impossible to remove without solvents and blades, I prefer tape which isn't too sticky as it's easier to re-wrap if you make a mess of it. There are loads of YouTube tutorials of how to do it, just take your time and it's not too hard.
I Second the bit about deda tape, nice , and lasts well but a pain to remove
Wear latex gloves, as I find it adds more grip to hands and keeps the tape clean when installing .
I would buy some cheap Planet X tape to practice on and then change it again in about a months time once
Some fabic/cork tape has no adhesive, so you can wrap it as many times as you want without it sticking to the bars , great for learning, or if you want to adjust hoods etc
Wear latex gloves, as I find it adds more grip to hands and keeps the tape clean when installing .
I would buy some cheap Planet X tape to practice on and then change it again in about a months time once
Some fabic/cork tape has no adhesive, so you can wrap it as many times as you want without it sticking to the bars , great for learning, or if you want to adjust hoods etc
Another vote for Lizard Skin 2.5mm stuff. Been running with it for about a year, replacing the plain OEM tape. Much more comfy, tacky but not sticky and looks brand new even now.
This was my first time wrapping my own bars and there's only one bit I'm not 100% happy about but it's on the inside of the hood so barely noticeable. It's not too sticky that you can't remove and replace it during application if you notice something going amiss.
If I was to do it again I know I could do a perfect job. Might be worth buying very cheap tape and doing a test run first? Would get any 'first time' wobbles out of the way before you go with anything expensive.
This was my first time wrapping my own bars and there's only one bit I'm not 100% happy about but it's on the inside of the hood so barely noticeable. It's not too sticky that you can't remove and replace it during application if you notice something going amiss.
If I was to do it again I know I could do a perfect job. Might be worth buying very cheap tape and doing a test run first? Would get any 'first time' wobbles out of the way before you go with anything expensive.
Usget said:
bar end plugs supplied are s
te and have a halflife of about three rides.
You need Supacaz Bar End Plugzte and have a halflife of about three rides. 
SVS said:
Usget said:
bar end plugs supplied are ste and have a halflife of about three rides.
You need Supacaz Bar End Plugzte and have a halflife of about three rides. tty ones though, so if they fail I'll buy some of these - thanks for the link.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff