Bike Ribbon Wafer bar tape

This waffle patterned tape from Bike Ribbon is certainly different, but it's hard to see who it's aimed at.

The USP of this tape is the dimpled surface which is pleasingly tactile and quite dry. It's fairly thin though, the waffling doesn't add a great deal of cushion for your hands and it also comes up very short. Wrapped on the teeny-tiny bars of my vintage Carlton (37cm outside to outside) it only just about makes it onto the tops.

My best guess is that this is tape for trackies riding without gloves. The waffle pattern should give a better grip with sweaty hands and the length would be fine on narrow track bars with no brake levers to negotiate. Of course on a billiard smooth velodrome the lack of cushioning won't matter either.

Verdict

Too firm for long haul truckers but trackies might appreciate the textured grip.