Getting a handle on bar tape: the tape thread

only just found this thread. Anyone know why Canyon only seem to have white bar tape?

I want black obvs

Supply chain issues, I'd imagine. 6 months ago it was pretty much impossible to buy black bar tape anywhere, from anyone.

My favoured bar tape, Arundel's Rubber Gecko, is seemingly unavailable in the UK these days, so I'm looking for an alternative.

It's really grippy and very hard wearing so suggestions of a similar tape welcome. I've used Lizard Skins previously and found it wore through really quickly, so I'm likely to discount any recommendations for that.

I just ordered some of the PDW pizza tape for my new single speed build because it's cool and I like pizza. I don't really know what it's like other than that but it will make me smile so who gives a fuck?

Not tape, but what grips are the cool kids rocking these days?

I've got some of those silicone weight weenie mtb things, which are fine and cheap. Just wondering if there's something else better?

For reasons I cba to go into I will probably have more weight on my hands than I should. Use will mainly be gravel paths, dirt paths and fields.

Cheers

Ergon if you want comfort and don't care about looking like an old man

Cheers.

It's for an old mtb/kids carrier so I'm already looking like an old man.

That said they're about 75% of the price I paid for the whole bike.

https://www.seabasscycles.co.uk/arundel-gecko-bar-tape.html?id=227048908&quantity=1

Anyone tried that Greppo tape? Like idea of reusable etc, but looks a bit thin.

You mean this https://grepp.cc/ ?

Yep, that's the one.

I really like the idea of that Grepp stuff particularly that fact you can stick it in the washing machine, but was a bit put off by all the people using it saying you have to wrap from the top. But fear not on their site it also shows it being wrapped correctly. I know idea is that you don’t have to cut it so can use it on different bars, but I have other stuff in my bar ends.

I ended up getting some to try it.

Looks nice, feels nice. Quite thin as you'd expect from a cloth tape. Will try the inner tube underneath I think.

Will try the inner tube underneath I think.

Oh, that’s a thing? Pulled over, erhmm, condom-like, or wrapped like tape? Assume the former but always pays to check

Keep us posted on the results. I quite like thin tape so…

In the past I've usually cut it open into a strip, then cut out the shape of the bar and rested it on top.

I've done thin strips, wrapped the other direction than the bar tape that goes over it. works pretty well imo for some slightly better damping and some more thickness.
It's nice and stretchy and if you clean the talcum powder off well, it provides a good grip for the sticky bits of the bartape. would recommend.

Have only done parts though, so a short portion in the drops, not double-wrapped for the whole length of the bars.

That's interesting. I use the gel stuff under my bar tape for long distance stuff, but a bit of inner tube as well might not do any harm. Will try it next time I tape.

I use a single old tube, one cut to open it up, second cut to create two lengths. Wrap the bars normally but with electrical tape to secure the bottom rather than tucked.

Side bonus... new bars/bike fit you can just use the tube till you've got your position set without having to completely re-wrap if you tweak your levers. If it's a beater bike you could just style it out with the tube. Also keeps you from having to clean off old adhesive.

So you wrap the bars in inner first like bar tape, then put bar tape over the top?

Hmm might try that later rather than my usual cut out the shape and put it on the bar and wrap over.

Yes, full disclosure... I'm not a 'chain gang' roadie, so any aero/feel/max watt downsides are irrelevant and with XL glove hands the extra squidge/thickness is lovely.

If your like your bars thin/buzzy it's absolutely not for you, it's basically a way to add 2mm (ish) to whatever tape you're using.

This looks interesting. I might give it a go. I've never wrapped bar tape...what could possibly go wrong?

I started wrapping, didn't like the feel personally so stopped before taping the end down.

So if anyone wants it, let me know. £15 posted, was £25 new.

1 Attachment

Following on from an old conversation about simple thin perforated bar tape, I used this BBB Speed Ribbon tape on a recent job and found it very acceptable.

https://www.wiggle.com/p/bbb-speed-ribbon-bar-tape-bht12

Can bar tape be multipurpose? Perhaps when you're touring/camping? Paracord is meant to be the most versatile stringlike material. Would it work as bar tape? Americans put paracord in their zombie apocalypse grab bag. You can make a car tow rope. Or a sling for a broken limb, a noose for Mike Pence, etc.