Ergon’s BT Gravel bar tape with its 3.5mm thickness is comfortable and easy to install, thanks to the good level of stretch. Designed to perform well in all weather conditions, the material and texture provide reliable traction. However, the adhesive provides minimal adjustment, which could be an expensive drawback given the cheaper options among the best gravel bar tape.
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Ergon BT Gravel bar tape – Technical details
The tape is 3.5mm thick, making it one of the more substantial options available. It features a three-layer design comprising an adhesive tape base, a lightweight AirCell Foam middle section, and a water-repellent, non-slip top layer. Ergon offers the tape in five different colours and measures 2300mm.
The textured top layer has a pattern to facilitate easier wrapping, allowing sections to align and maintain consistent thickness. While this concept is promising, it doesn’t always perform perfectly. The top anti-slip layer features a directional surface, allowing for wrapping according to personal preference, with one direction providing more grip and the other more freedom — or so Ergon claims.
Generally, thicker bar tape can be more challenging to wrap. The fabric and its stretch also play a role, with some being more accommodating than others. I was pleasantly surprised that the Ergon BT Gravel was easy to wrap, with some stretch that simplified the transition from the drops to the tops. I could use my preferred figure-of-eight pattern. The pattern on the tape is helpful but only on perfectly round bars, and maintaining the same thickness throughout is not always feasible or ideal. For flat or aero-top handlebars or irregular bends, maintaining the pattern is impossible.
The double-sided tape section simplifies fitting by holding the tape in place while you wrap. However, it has the downside that once fitted, you cannot remove or adjust the tape without risking damaging it. If you need to remove the brake hoods, replace cables, or change the handlebar, you will also need new tape. While bar tape with sticky sections is relatively common, more options now use a gel backing that holds the tape in place without forming a permanent bond, allowing for removal and refitting if necessary.
I fitted the bar tape to a bike with a Fara Integrated Cockpit, 42cm wide (centre to centre). Despite the bar’s irregular shape, the 2300mm length was sufficient to wrap to the end with a small section to spare.
Some minor aspects are less than perfect. The bar end plugs are unusually long, making them more challenging to install and the sticky finishing tape provided to conceal the join wasn’t very robust. The end kept lifting, so I eventually replaced it with basic electrical tape.
Ergon BT Gravel bar tape – Performance
The tape’s perceived thickness will depend on what you are transitioning from. I noticed a very marginal difference compared to the Fizik Terra Bondcush previously on the bike, but a much more significant difference compared to thinner tapes such as Ritchey WCS Pave bar tape, which is also made from a different material.
Extra thickness doesn’t always translate to extra comfort but the AirCell middle layer provides excellent vibration damping, reducing the sting from high-frequency vibrations typically felt on gravel tracks and forest roads. While bar tape generally becomes less effective as bumps get bigger, this tape is among the best for comfort and vibration damping compared to other options.
The tape performed well in both wet and dry conditions, and when riding with or without gloves. The water-repellent top coating works effectively, preventing the tape from becoming soaked on rainy days. Even on wet and muddy rides, I always felt confident in the grip levels provided.
Ergon BT Gravel bar tape – Verdict
The Ergon BT Gravel bar tape costs £37 for a set, placing it at the premium end of the best gravel bar tape space. This price is hard to justify if you might need to remove it soon after fitting or are not completely confident in your ability to fit it correctly.
More affordable bar tape options are available, some offering similar levels of comfort and many now featuring a gel backing that allows for more adjustment and refitting flexibility.
In terms of pure comfort and vibration damping, the Ergon BT Gravel bar tape is excellent and fitting it was simpler than I expected. However, some of the smaller components are less than perfect. While they can be easily fixed, this shouldn’t be required given the premium price.
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Product purpose:
Maximum gravel fun with no discomfort: Ergon has developed its handlebar tape BT Gravel specifically for this purpose. With its 3.5 mm thickness and aggressive, block patterned surface texture, shock and vibrations are absorbed, delivering the perfect grip and bike control on the most technically demanding terrain. This special bar tape for all gravel riders reduces pressure on the hands, feels good to the touch and provides a secure grip. The BT Gravel can be wrapped to individual preferences – thinner/thicker or increased/decreased grip texture – as wrap positioning guide marks are incorporated into the bar tape surface pattern.
• Reduces hand discomfort and vibration
• Excellent damping, maximum grip
• Less fatigue, more riding fun and performance
Build extra:
Technical Specifications
Name
BT Gravel
Dimensions
Length: 2300 mm
Use
Allroad/Gravel/Cyclocross, Road
Weight
150 g*
Color
Swamp Green
Thickness
3.5 mm
Price
€ 39,95 (£36.99)
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