[Closed] Never, ever bought bar tape, help! 🍌

For my Official Turbo Bike, I just cut some thin strips of towel and wrapped it round with a cable tie to hold it. Easy to take off and wash, and actually pretty comfy too.

Unless the customer's got very specific needs, we usually use one of the Bontrager range of tapes. There's a huge selection, depending on your needs, goes on easily enough, and it's pretty durable too.

I used this recently and have found it to be good.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00142FFCG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seems to be out of stock at Amazon but you may get it elsewhere.

With regards to sweat I wear mitts (cheap ones from planet x) and then just bung them in the wash and they also have a sweat cloth on them to wipe the forehead.

I don't think I've ever come across crap bar tape over the last few years. There does seem to more choice than ever these days.

I quite like the standard black cork tape (cheap/affordable) but one of the thicker ones, the ones with a silicon tacky strip can be easily adjusted as opposed to the a glue type which can stick a bit too well. Just don't stretch it too tight as they can tear.

I find installing bar tape quite relaxing and it's nice having a neat finish that you've done yourself. YouTube is - as ever - your friend with helping with the installation.

This stuff is good. https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lizard-skins-dsp-dual-bar-tape . The wierd colour stuff is cheap

I double wrap the bars on the top. I usually use a cheap roll or the old roll on the tops and go over with nicer tape.

There's always rolls going cheap on CRC.

As above, why not double wrap over the existing tape if you have big hands?

Videos on Youtube will show you how.

I recently fitted some Tortec SuperComfort to my road bike which is very nice stuff. Definitely better than the Lizard Skins it replaced.

On the turbo I always have an old towel over the bars, I suspect any bar tape would quickly end up pretty minging without that.

Can sell you some comfy Supacaz tape in grey for a tenner, used 3 times. Colour was slightly too light, ahem

I'd also recommend Bontrager Gel tape. I've tried many different types including Charge (it tore), Cinelli (nice, but hard), Lizard Skins DSP (sticky, but maybe too sticky, and it doesn't stretch, making placement a bit tougher), etc, but always come back to the Bontrager. It feels great, wraps nicely, doesn't leave marks on the bars when removing and wears nicely. It's also reasonably priced.

I don’t think I’ve ever come across crap bar tape over the last few years.

I used to think that, and always bought relatively cheap stuff and been happy with it, but the BBB stuff I bought recently is horrid. Utterly useless adhesive means it squirms around even when wrapped tight and it just has a generally nasty feel.

It's one of those annoying things that you find something you like then next time you need some it's discontinued or out of stock. I like the bog standard Deda stuff (but not enough to buy it in pink which is all Wiggle have at the moment)

I use the 3.2 lizard skins, but the bike also goes outside. As above, the minging colours are normally quite cheap...

All much of a muchness IMO. Currently using some Boardman stuff.

- I prefer non sticky as I adjust things a lot, and it can be reapplied indefinitely.
- I like the expanding end caps with an allen bolt in, perhaps because when it's not sticky you need to anchor the end in well.
- I use gel pads underneath - available in sets with bar tape (got mine from Evans ages ago and re-used it lots of times) because it makes the bar thicker, but not so thick as two layers.
- The taping method is important - there are lots of good vids on YouTube about this.
- Ignore the little snippet of PVC tape they give you to stick down the ends, it's tiny - just use electrical tape you can wrap the ends properly with that.

I like the Shimano pro stuff which has a silicone backing rather than adhesive and a foam texture which handles rain well so probably would be fine with sweat too. I hate adhesive backed tapes

I'm experimenting with shorex silicone foam which seems good but it was the first ride today.

For my turbo bike I just buy whatever is cheap on PX, normally some hideously coloured cork stuff.
If you want some extra thickness and don't want to buy pads just stick a strip or 2 of the old stuff to the bars before you add the new stuff. I like a bit of extra thickness on the tops but no the drops so do that, it works well.

Supacaz kush is awesome, I've had some on my gravel bike for 18months and it's done over 2000 miles in all weather's and still looks like the day I put it on. Just bought some for the latest bike. Expensive (£35) but worth it imo

Lizard Skins is comfy but wears out quite quickly.

Product descriptions for Bontrager tape say it is adhesive backed? Is that true?

Is quite expensive but I like the idea of the reflective stuff, might look better than the fluoro yellow Lizard Skins I have right now...

On the turbo why would you need any ? I just put a towel across the bars, it catches sweat and can be used to wipe forehead

I like the bog standard Deda stuff (but not enough to buy it in pink which is all Wiggle have at the moment)

Haha, I specifically searched out the pink stuff when redoing my bars at the beginning of summer. Not sure how it'll fair in Winter though

I’ve got Lizard Skins DSP 3.2mm on the tourer mainly because

Thicker than a lot of stuff
Very grippy to hold
Non-adhesive/easy to rewrap/adjust
Was on sale for £11

Also have some cheapo Planet X Cork Gel Bar Tape on the loop bars, which seems pretty good.

On the turbo I always have an old towel over the bars,

I rate this ^ ‘sensible/simple’

13thfloormonk
Full Member
Product descriptions for Bontrager tape say it is adhesive backed? Is that true?

Is quite expensive but I like the idea of the reflective stuff, might look better than the fluoro yellow Lizard Skins I have right now…

It's tacky, but not sticky IME. There's enough tack to stop it moving around, but it doesn't cement itself to your bars. You could unwrap and re-wrap if required. I have done this after 6 months use to move the drop tape to the tops and vice versa on bikes with white bar tape.

I bought some deda carbon finish tape for my road bike and it was awful, like shiny unabsorbant plastic. That would however make it perfect for the turbo as it'd be black, wipe clean and won't absorb sweat and grime.

If you are getting sore hands on a turbo something is wrong with your position and/or core strength most likely.
Double wrapped tape wont help I dont think, thats to reduce vibration which you wont have on a turbo

Lizard Skins here too.  I find it comfortable and has not been 'sticky' through winter and summer, I ride without gloves for warmer shorter rides.  Still looks in good condition too.

It’s tacky, but not sticky IME. There’s enough tack to stop it moving around, but it doesn’t cement itself to your bars. You could unwrap and re-wrap if required.

Nice, sounds fine. I really like the basic Easton stuff but it comes with the cheap double-sided sticky tape style backing which typically means it rips itself to bits if you ever need to rewrap.

Thanks guys, lots to ponder on and didn't think about simply adding a layer over the existing tape.👍