ModeratedUser24102018

yo, so im getting drops next week, and before i buy them im wondering whats the best bar tape to go for, theres so many different types and textures, also how long does it normaly last? what do you have on your handlebars?. i dont know weather to go for something like cork, or the foam type. id love some of the tacky rubbery stuff, but no idea where to get it from.

Cyril 

I like Brooks leather. Lizard skins have a large following.
Many folks like old school cork tape. And some people use tennis racket tape (quite cheap).

Longevity depends on how hard you use it and how picky you are about its appearance. Some folks get a few seasons out of a roll of bar tape.
Some track folks get a race or two out of theirs.

Pick your poison.

ModeratedUser24102018

pick your poison, i like that! haha! i really like the looks of the foam ones, im thinking more for comfort than anything i guess, the road to work is full of pot holes and cracks, cant half feel it in the hands!. i dont know how people can use racket tape its so thin, almost like electrical tape!

UltraManDan

I just picked up some Fi'zi:k microtex tape and I absolutely love it. Has the feel between leather and cork and seems really durable so far.

ModeratedUser24102018

at the moment >this< is the only kind i can get hold of in time, and tbh i dont really like the look of it. im going for black, my bike is blue / black, if i added anything but black it would just look tacky tbh.
.

UltraManDan

Is that online or at your LBS? They come in a ton of colors, so it might just take some calls and searching. Well worth it imo. Unless you wanna go full leather

ModeratedUser24102018

Thats online, i dont like my LBS, its family owned and very expensive. I prefare to shop online to get better prices

Scrodzilla

Yeah, supporting someone's family sucks. Good for you!

Shame on them, trying to do stupid **** like putting food on their table and paying their bills.

ModeratedUser24102018

Why should i pay extortionate prices when i have a family of my own to support? Nothing wrong with buying online if i want to.

bbattle

I also use Fi'zi:k bartape. It lasts, looks good, has a bit of padding to it.

I've also used cloth tape on a conversion. Cinelli makes cork tape but I prefer the Fizik, lasts longer. There's some fluorescent tapes out there and lots of really wild colors. Just get what looks cool to you.

I've seen some really nice harlequin tape jobs using two different colors of tape. A lot of work but if done well looks awesome.


Damn!

If you like retro, Velo-orange has tressostar cloth tape, leather tape, elkhide sew-on wraps, etc. https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...bar-grips.html

MattoftheRocks

If you can afford the internet, you can afford a whopping extra two dollars for bartape. Having a bike shop there to do warranty claims, repairs and maintenance gives you quality time to hang with your family. Having a bike shop there gives you a selection of bartapes to touch with your fingers before you buy. Most bike mechanics have used and have thoroughly discussed with clients who've used every one of the products in the shop and can give you an accurate idea of how well it will perform in the conditions that you intend on using it.

LesterOfPuppets

I don't get how ordering bartape online works out, anyways. You'd probably need to buy a LOT of it for shipping to become feasible.

And you're on some sort of deadline?

Mail order is not making sense to me.

MattoftheRocks

Free shipping on orders over £0.25

Leukybear 

Lizardskins DSP gets my vote.

Well you guys got poundland, poundworld, 99p stores, etc.... so it's bad for either sides.

Scrodzilla

Too expensive. OP has mouths to feed!

Leukybear 

But the LBS and Lizardskins do too. Call the UN this is a humanitarian crisis!

veganbikes

The best bar tape is whatever cheap tape you can find at the dollar store. **** people who would rather buy all of their **** on the web then support their LBS. You people come in all the time wanting free stuff or refusing necessary service or just want us to give you advice so you can not follow it or what have you. "I can get it for 2¢ cheaper on Amazon so I will buy it there but you will install it for me right???"

If the internets is so great why not just plug your bike into your computer and let it do the repairs. You don't need experienced mechanics anymore with the internets or WallyMart. **** it just head down there and let one of those greeters fix your bike!

If your family needs support, I don't think you will find it here or buy buying stuff that won't help feed or clothe or house your family on the internets! If you care about family so damn much you wouldn't have a problem going to a family run bike shop and supporting them. Generally you support them and they will support you. I love seeing our regular customers and am always happy to help them out when I can and they are always happy to come in because they know we are going to do our best to help them out. It becomes mutually beneficial.

As a kid we had a local family run video store (they had these things called VHS tapes, you kids wouldn't remember) and then many many years down the line Blockbuster moved in and I think we got a movie from Blockbuster and stupidly tried to return it to the local shop (not realizing it) and the owner who was super nice was disappointed and at the time I didn't fully process it but now I get it. I miss the guy and wish I had known what we had done at the time. He got pushed out so some failure company could take his place . Blockbuster didn't know my name (until it popped up on the computer screen after you scanned your card) and they didn't give a **** about me or about their jobs. Dave, who ran the local shop, cared and was almost part of the family, he knew the movies and had a passion for what he did.

Anywho enough of my ranting. I hope OP changes their mind but if not so be it, I guess more birds aren't always a bad thing (you know because birds go, cheep cheep). You folks have a good night, Grandpa has to go to bed ; )

Jared.

Not every LBS is good, some don't deserve support.

jlafitte 

True, but let the OP wait until he actually needs help F2F with something and he might see some value in paying for service.

ModeratedUser24102018

Feel better now?. Heres a little price comparison for you. The drop handlebars i want are £39.99 in store. £16.99 online (hardly a "couple" more ££)- free delivery and i install everything myself. Ive been working on bikes since i was 16 and i know my way around a bike. Ive never had the reason to go into a bike shop, and i certanly wouldnt expect anything for free. The reason i also like to shop online is the fact that i also dont have anytime to go to a LBS and "support" them.

I have a family, yeah so what if i dedicate my whole time to my family. Im not the only one.
Im allowed to have hobbies and a family so who really cares if i dont want to shop in an extremly overpriced bike shop?.

ModeratedUser24102018

that looks awesome!

ModeratedUser24102018

+1

LesterOfPuppets

I guess I'm lucky. 3 shops within 15 miles that are also big mail order houses. So I can shop online but actually look at stuff in person before buying.

Does your local shop also markup bar tape that much?

I know a family guy that rides and goes to bike shops. Are you sure you're gonna be able to ride this bike, what with your family obligations?

ModeratedUser24102018

well my local bike shop sells bar tape for around 8-10 pounds which works out at around $10 - $16. for the cheap stuff. its a bit steep just for bar tape imo. especially when you can get it, like i say - online for alot cheaper. also one bike shop which is about 5 mins from my house hasnt got much selection. its a very small shop, only has one branch etc. you can see why it is overpriced.

i ride whenever i can, mostly to get to and from work, although when i have free time or if my daughter is elsewhere i go out for a ride around the local parks.

also ill just add to this, online, i can get a set of bars, aero brakes and bar tape for £32.00 or $51.99 for you guys in the US. in my LBS a set of aero brakes are £34.00 or $56.86 on their own. i think the internet wins here.

jr59

Here we go. What's to follow is not personal at all, it couldn't be seeing as I have never been in your shop and don't know you from adam;

Most shops don't carry the selection that you can find on line, but they will be glad to order it for you. Yet you are to wait until they work up an order, and have to come back to pick it up. Well that's great service, seeing as they are making you wait, and charging you full retail for your drive time. Meanwhile, the LBS has nothing but profit in this part. It's sold before they order it. God help you if QBP doesn't carry it and they have to source it somewhere else.

Oh yea, they never mind charging me 45-65 dollars an hour for things I can't do myself. That's ok, b/c that's the rate. I understand it.

At most shops I have been in, don't ask for anything Campagnolo. Apply the above, we can order it.

Back to the tape. I like stuff that works and feels great as well as lasts a long time. It's price seems very high at the start, until you realize it will last years, and many seasons.HandleBra : Exemplary Leather Bicycle Handlebar Wrap : "Wait ' till you put your hands on this!" TM Nothing I have found comes anywhere close.