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After adjusting my drops on camino, I need new bar tape. What a minefield.
What is good what is bad, something with thick with cushioning is extra padding underneath worth it?
Ok, so after trying many types over the years I've settled on ESI silicon bartape.
It's really comfortable, washable, reversible, and reuseable. Comes in different colours, but not patterns.
It's expensive as far as tape goes, but because it lasts for ages and can be cleaned up and used across many bikes it's worth the extra £10 or so over other premium tape.
Tapes to avoid: although comfortable, lizard skins and Suprcaz. Both also look great but don't have the features of the ESi.
To counter monkeyboyjc, I've used loads over the years and after people raving about it, picked up some LizardSkins DSP in the sale. It's different gravy. Grippy, easy to grap, looks good, lasts well, brilliant stuff.
I'm intrigued at the features that it's missing compared to ESi.
I ride with no gloves in the summer and it's great for that.
Excellent that's that cleared up then.😁
I was hovering over the ESI tape but it was the price that made me stop..
Like Lunge says above, I ride without gloves far more now than I used to so looked for a comfortable bar tape.
I have Fabric silicone tape on one bike and it certainly feels plush. So far no problems with it at all.
When I built my ISO recently I decided to use Newbaums cotton tape as it has a really nice feel when riding. Not ridden enough to determine its long term wear but its lovely looking stuff, albeit a bit short when wrapping and I wrapped another tape underneath because it doesn't have any real cushioning.
I'm another one who doesn't like Lizard Skin tape simply because of feel.
Lizard Skins
Spesh Roubaix
Black, obviously.
I’m intrigued at the features that it’s missing compared to ESi.
Not as comfortable, can't be removed from the bike and washed in a bucket with soapy water, can't be reversed (flipped over and use the other side when it get tatty), more difficult to ranger to other bikes.
Even if you only use ESI tape on one bike it lasts twice as long as more conventional tape as it can be reversed and looks like new again.
Theres nothing particularly wrong with lizards skins or any other similar tape, but imo ESI being a different material and design works much better and although it cost 2x as much it's worth much more imo. No issues with glue etc. Only down side is if you like a thinner tape or are weight saving.
God even the tape they supply to secure the end of the tape is reusable stretch black stuff that doest damage the tape when you remove it.
Fitted some Tortec Super Comfort to my best bike last summer. Definitely prefer it to the Lizard Skinz that it replaced (which didn't last very long either).
On the chance you want something classic looking, the Brooks fake leather tape is great & costs far less than the real one, it's much nicer than any of the other "leather look" ones from Deda / Ritchey etc. too. Never used the esi one but the Lizard Skins thick version is great - perfect even if you don't wear gloves.
Lizard Skins DSP. It has a tacky feel which means you don't have to grip the bars so tightly. That means less vibration and less hand stiffness/fatigue on longer rides.
The Jo Burt/Kinesis colab is very nice, grippy and comes with actually useable finishing tape,
Never Supacaz. I've worn out two sets in less than a season.
Another vote for Spesh Roubaix. Good value looks good, comfy lasts ages
Silca Nastro Piloti, can't comment on it's durability yet but it seems like it could be pretty hard wearing.
The Lizard Skins DSP stuff was comfier but doesn't seem to last particularly well.
Lizard Skins DSP. It has a tacky feel which means you don’t have to grip the bars so tightly. That means less vibration and less hand stiffness/fatigue on longer rides.
+1. It's great for long rides. Not sure why folk are removing bar tape to wash it - sounds like a right faff.
I am happy with the lizard skin tape. Thicker on the gravel bike, thinner on the road. Like the tacky feel
Been using Supercaz for a while, brilliant summer tape - I ride without gloves most of the time and it's really comfy. Also lasts ok for me, but then it's on the best bike so doesn't get the depths of winter. I also mostly ride on the hoods, so don't really death grip the tape much. Downsides, it can be a bit slippy when sopping wet or wearing fleece gloves. Also used Lizard Skins DSP, that was grippy but had a really squeaky rubbery feel on bare hands.
Used to really like the Fizik 2mm tacky tape, was great for all conditions, grippy, easy to neatly wrap and clean. Then I moved to Scotland and decided that thicker, more cushioned tape was needed. In that vein, double wrap is still the best option of grip/comfort IMHO.
I recently used Fizik Terra on my bike. Gravel specific dontcha know! Thicker than normal and really grippy. I'm impressed with it (but I do have limited experience of bar tapes!)
I honestly like the textured stuff that planet-x sell
The bestv bartape is still the cheapest cork tape. No silicone or anything fancy.
Lizard Skins here too. Lasting well so far and I like the tacky feel when not wearing gloves too
Classic recommend what you have - Zipp Service Course CX for me, better in every way than the Roubaix I had previously.
Fizik Tempo here. Suede-like surface that's comfy without gloves and grippy when wet too, unlike Lizard Skins DSP.
+1 for Zipp Service Course CX. I’ve put that on my Camino and am very pleased with it. Grippy and comfy. Seems to be lasting well. I’ve also used Tortec Super Comfort and my wife has that on her bike. Comfy and grippy too (though not as grippy as Zipp) but my wife wears through it in 12-18 months where her palm sits. It’s cheap though (£17) so no problem replacing when needed (unlike Lizard Skins DSP!).
Having been through a few (although admittedly I haven't stretched to Lizard Skin or ESI prices yet) I've ended up with Cinelli Gel Cork bar tape on most of mine. Cheap as chips, comfortable and stretchy.
Lizardskins fan here... The extra thick stuff is great for 'cross and cobble riding. Works well without gloves too.
Black lizardskin DSP finished off with black insulating tape. Anything else is just plain wrong.
...grippy when wet too, unlike Lizard Skins DSP.
Forgot about this, not massively slippy but have definitely noticed it in the past.
The Silca stuff I mentioned above seems to be troublesome to wrap according to a few reviews, now I'm not the best at wrapping but honestly I had no issues on two bikes.
I've had Cinelli gel cork bar tape on my road bike for the past couple of years and it's been great. Soft and comfy and has held up well.
I'd avoid Deda, I've put some on my turbo bike which doesn't get used very often and it wore through very quickly (a few rides) - luckily that bike doesn't go outside anymore or I'd have to get some more