Prologo Onetouch Bar Tape

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