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23 comments
Guee silicon tape. Thick, vibration damping, and can be put in washing machine when grotty before re-wrapping. Don't wrap too tight as will be a too pale shade.
Fizik 3 mm. Best bar tape I've used so far. Get it in red or black and you get a largely maintenance-free wrap job.
I've never had great experience with LizardSkins DSP. It tends to shed itself into layers.
+1 for Supacaz Sticky Kush. Strong, lasts for (so far) at least couple of years and easy to remove and put back on if need be. Colours are awesome.
Like others here +1 for Lizard skins. Great in the wet, easy to clean.
Have a look at the Selco stuff on the Planet X website, i bought some (but I cant remember which one) for about £7 which is very grippy when wet (with south Wales rain) or dry.
Bontrager bar tape for me - the one that has a little colour in the bit that looks like stitching - plenty of colours to match to your bike.
I've had good results from the Boardman cork tape from Halfords. Reasonably padded, grippy, and silicone rather than glue which is essential because I'm rubbish at wrapping and always need a second go.
Another vote for the Cannondale Synapse tape, can't vouch for durability (have only ridden about 100km on it) but it tapes up well, has a silicon strip on the back instead of the double sided sticky tape on my Specialized BG Phat tape (I don't like double sided tape as I inevitably take a couple of goes to get my tape just right...) and looks good.
Alpine Bikes seemed to be carrying it cheap when I bought it last.
Thanks for the recomendations all i will certainly take a look over all of them and see if i can find some bargains
Specialised BG Phat 4.5mm (Roubaix tape with gel pads) is absolutely amazing for comfort. I use it on my winter/commute road bike, the suede feel is much more grippy than cork tape when wet. Comes somewhere in the price £15-20.
I'm finding this Kush Bartape by Supacaz very good.
Comes in various colours solid as well as two tones and some really lary ones too if that's what you like.
It's not cheap at full rrp, but there's generally cut price/offers around the www
Supacaz.jpg
Yeah the outer plasticky outer bit of my lizard skins started peeling off about 15 months in (riding it about 5 miles a day for commuting, year round). Bit annoying for £25 tape, however the cushioning on the 3.2mm is darn good so it is still on the bike as it is only cosmetic really.
Until a couple of months ago I would have joined the chorus of praise for Lizard Skins tape but I've recently noticed several patches completely worn through on my little used 'best' bike. The white backing peeping through the black outer is not a good look.
Speaking to a mechanic about this, it's caused when the tension on the tape is too great - it shouldn't be wound as tightly as other bar tapes as it doesn't have the stretch.
Zipp Rosa Corsa ...tactile but not sticky, lite but just enough padding , easy to apply, can get them for around £12 if you shop around (Ribble were the cheapest when I bought a bunch !)
I've just re-taped my bars with Lizard Skins DSP (the 2.5mm stuff) - I'm not a huge fan. Not used it long enough to know how long it lasts, but it feels less padded than other tapes and I'm not keen on the 'tacky' feel.
I've used cannondale synapse tape on other bikes. It's comfortable, cheap, comes in lots of colours, lasts for ages and cleans up really well with a stiff brush and soapy water. (I've got white tape on my winter bike so I can vouch for this...)
Lizard Skins DSP is indeed very good, but I have also been happy with a similar (and cheaper) tape from ODI on my cyclocross bike. Works really well in the wet slimy conditions of CX. Only negative is that it's not especially stretchy so getting a neatly finished tight wrap on the bars is a little more fiddly than Lizard Skins DSP or Fizik Performance.
Had a quick google and not many places seem to be stocking it at the moment though. Found some yellow on ebay...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Odi-High-Performance-Premium-Road-Bar-Tape-2-5mm-Thick-Yellow-/381592225632?_trksid=p2385738.m2548.l4275
Is there one bit that gets more / less mucky. I've gone two tone with a swap under the hoods which means I use cheaper black tape where I replace more frequently (on the tops)...
+1 for lizard skins dsp, I managed to get for £22 on amazon last year. I usually cheap out on these kinds of things but I wouldn't go for anything else now.
Deda bar tape is pretty comfy, cheap and comes in yellow - I've got it on my commuting bike and it's ok all year round, including in the rain, but not as grippy as the Lizard Skins, which I think is what I put on my wife's bike.
Fizik's superlight seems to be on offer - perhaps not as comfy, but good in the wet and comes in yellow.
Plenty of choices if you look at Wiggle, CRC, etc and filter by colour.
Lizard Skins will do what you require. Easy to keep clean and seems to last for ages and ages. Intially pricey but when you're still on the same pristine tape a few years down the line you'll see where it went.
Thanks Dave
I undertstand Yellow tape is not ideal for keeping clean but it just looks too good on the bike to not go with. I don't mind it dirtying if it will clean up ok, i clean the bike regularly as much of my riding is along the seafront so the bike gets caked in sand with every ride. The Cork tape just never seems to clean up nicely. Once greasy/dirty hand on the tape and it's a mess.
Does anyone know of any Cheap alternatives to the Lizard Skins style? It is pretty expensive for what it is
Thanks
Fizik Performance comes in yellow and lasts well. Most yellow tape will get mucky after a while though. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fizik-performance-handlebar-tape/
Lizard Skins DSP shrugs off dirt better than most and is really good in the wet, but it's a bit more pricy http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lizard-skins-dsp-2-5mm-bar-tape/rp-pr...