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Prologo Onetouch Bar Tape

8
£20.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Soft and grippy bar tape that is very easy to fit
Weight: 
90g

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Prologo is best known for its large range of saddles but also produces a range of bar tape, so if you're using a Prologo seat you can match the bar tape on your bike. There's nothing better than matched saddle and bar tape if you care about the appearance of your bicycle, and the grip and cushioning this tape provides makes it a good choice.

This Onetouch bar tape is made from what Prologo calls 'Polygrip', a foam core sandwiched in a polyurethane outer, and is about 2mm thick. I prefer my bar tape thin as opposed to thickly padded; I like a good handlebar feel. This tape manages to be quite thin but there is enough padding to make it really comfortable, even on longer rides without gloves. Prologo offers a gel version if you want even more comfort.

The best aspect of the tape is the diamond texture serves to increase grip. This makes it an ideal choice for any readers who happily ride without gloves, as even when you've got a bit sweaty there is still good grip on the handlebars. Your hands feel very secure with gloves too. It's also really good in the rain, as it simply serves up more grip than most regular bar tape.

It's really stretchy so you can either wrap the bars loosely to keep the padding, or pull it very taut to produce a thinner wrap. I went for the latter, and had quite a bit of bar tape left over after I cut it to length at the bar tops. It's ridiculously easy to fit this bar tape, without doubt the easiest tape I've yet fitted. There's a wide adhesive backing but it isn't too sticky, so if you need to remove the tape to have another stab at looping it around the bars or hoods, you can do.

Colours available include black or white with a contrasting Prologo logo. The logo isn't to everyone's tastes, it works okay when you have a Prologo saddle fitted obviously, but might otherwise be a bit 'pro' for some people. You soon get used to it; I'm rather fond of it now. Prologo does offer plain versions elsewhere in its range.

Prices for bar tape vary a huge amount. Prologo Onetouch is pitched right in the middle, more expensive than Fizik's Microtex but cheaper than ESI, Supacaz and Brooks, and about the same as the Lizard Skins DSP Race bar tape.

Not madly expensive then, there are cheaper, but for the performance, the high grip factor and nice cushioning, this is a very good choice.

Verdict

Soft and grippy bar tape that is very easy to fit

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Prologo Onetouch Bar Tape

Size tested: White

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Really grippy texture and good cushioning.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Logos are a bit loud, would be nice to see a plain version.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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1 comments

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gigster69 | 9 years ago
0 likes

Probably the nicest, comfiest bar tape i`ve taped around my bars. Unfortunately though it didn`t last long before it wore out around the the default grip area of the hoods. Didn`t purchase it again, went for a Fizik bar tape which is a lot more likely to last but definitely not as comfy

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