The Brooks Cambium rubber handlebar tape is intended for all types of riding, both on and off the road. It comes in a variety of colours and lengths that will suit many bikes, but it is pricey, and no particular performance area stands out against other tape options.
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Brooks is best known for its leather saddles, but the company has recently expanded to include vulcanised rubber models for its Cambium saddle line. The Cambium range also includes bar tape, which is made of PU and comes in seven subtle colour options. The green shade we have is called mud, and each roll weighs 67g (134g total). The bar tape measures 30mm in width, 215cm in length, and 3mm in thickness.
Brooks Cambium Rubber Bar Tape – Fitting & performance
The bar tape was fitted to a Spank Flare 25 handlebar (420mm width), with the tape providing just enough coverage for the flat top area. This doesn’t leave much room for wide bars, but there are only a few options that are significantly longer, including the Redshift Cruise Control Really Long bar tape (315cm).
It has a firm feel and isn’t as soft or delivers as much vibration absorption as other tapes of comparable thickness, but it has a tacky feel and provides good grip both dry and wet, with or without gloves.
The tape is durable, with no wear or rips along the tape’s edges. The bar end plugs are large and difficult to install, but this should help keep them in place and I’m sure more riders would prefer this over the plugs falling out,
Brooks Cambium Rubber Bar Tape – Overall
Not all riders need the thickest or softest bar tape, so the Brooks Cambium Rubber bar tape may be a good option. The tacky feel and all-weather grip are excellent when properly fitted, but the tape is a little pricey. At £40 per set, it is one of the most expensive options available, including the ENVE handlebar tape, a personal favourite of mine and Pat who originally tested it. The ENVE tape has the same 3mm thickness but a softer feel and greater cushioning. Another option for increasing comfort is to use gel padding, such as the Spank tape and pad kit.
The Brooks Cambium Rubber Bar Tape provides a sticky and gripping feel, but it’s one of the most expensive handlebar tapes available, with performance that might fall short of many riders’ expectations.
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