RubeRad

Maybe not quite a mech thread, but a gear thread in any case...

I was at REI last week, saw a couple gravel/adventure bikes they had out in their house brand Co-op's "ADV" line. I liked the bar tape they were wearing, it was rubber, textured, firmly cushy, and very grippy. Here's a close-up where you can see it pretty well.

If you go to the product page you can zoom in on that pic even closer, and get a good look at the texture.

I guess I should have asked somebody when I was there, but now that I'm home and searching for it, I can't find anything quite like it. The closest I can find is Arundel Rubber Gecko, but that's got "Arundel" branding all over it. Maybe it's the same stuff, but ordered by REI to be unbranded?

As a hint (or red herring), on the bikes in the store, the wrap was finished by black tape that pretty clearly said "3M", but probably that's just the electrical-ish tape at the end.

Anybody know what this bar tape is?

Andrew R Stewart 

Using "rubber" as a bar wrap, either solo or as a under layer, is as old as the hills. Over the years there have been more then a couple bat wraps advertised as "rubber". It seems that they don't last long on the market for various reasons.

I have used cut up innertubes as a base layer for tourists needing an on tour solution for hand/nerve issues. Andy

RubeRad

I also recycle inner tubes under cheap foam bar tape, but I really liked the look and feel of this stuff, and would be interested in trying it out (depending on the price) if I could find where to order it

Jon T

Try Planet Bike. They have a very good rubber /cork tape that sounds like it would be what you're looking for. I just wrapped my bars with it and like it--a LOT.
Jon

TimothyH

Try Zipp Service Course CX.

https://www.jensonusa.com/Zipp-Servi...Bar-Tape-Black

Outstanding quality and feel at a good price. It is rubbery but not tacky or shiny like Lizard Skins.


-Tim-

RubeRad

Thanks guys, Planet Bike Tachyon looks like it might actually be the stuff REI is using on the Co-op ADV bikes. The Zipp looks good too, and is surprisingly cheaper than Planet Bike!

RubeRad

Zombie self-bump...

So the Planet Bike Tachyon was a disaster. Within a month the awesome texturized rubber layer started to peel off within a month. (I can't find from my email history whether I got it from amazon or fleabay, if fleabay maybe it was a knockoff? It came in convincing PlanetBike-branded cardboard packaging)

I've been riding peeling bar tape for like a year now, and am ready to replace it finally.

I saw on somebody else's bike at work what I think must have been Fizik Terra Bondcush Tacky, and that looked like it would probably last forever, but it is spendy. That Zipp Service Course CX recommended above looks similarly rubbery, and is much cheaper.

Any thoughts?

canklecat

Go back to the Arundel wrap you mentioned in your first post. I've used Arundel Synth Gecko for awhile on one bike and it's terrific. Very durable, reusable with reasonable care. It doesn't use adhesive or take a permanent set so it's easy to rewrap. No obvious branding, just some barely visible embedded logos.

Arundel makes other silicone/rubbery wraps that look a bit nicer than the Synth Gecko too. So does Bontrager.

dsaul

That looks exactly like Marque Diamond pattern tacky tape. I have it on two bikes, but it appears that they don't make it any more. It is no longer on Amazon and the Marque website doesn't list it either.

RubeRad

Hmmm, that box looks the same shape as the PlanetBike box (except for printing), which makes me think it is the same rebranded stuff

KJK

The Zip Service Course CX tape is awesome. Very durable and fairly firm. The knurled pattern provides excellent grip. You can wrap it so that you can't see the embossed branding.

RubeRad

Before, with peeling Planet Bike Tachyon and emergency electrical tape:



After, with new Zipp Service Course CX:

Pop N Wood

Weird. I've been riding that tachyon tape for 2 years with no issue. Mine is black but that shouldn't matter.

fietsbob

A while ago I inquired about a Gel tape to use as an under layer on my Trekking bars, which I double wrap .
A reply gave me e brand , but did not find it via a vendor my LBS Uses, at the time,
and have since forgotten the named product they mentioned..
Any hints?

Pop N Wood

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

RubeRad

I underwrap my bar tape with old innertube, you can kinda tell in the pics above that the uppers are thicker than the drops

robertorolfo

I like tacky tape, and I recently installed some 3T Corius for the first time. Very tacky and rubbery feel, with plenty of texture. Can't comment on durability, but so far it feels good and gives the impression it will last a long time.

https://www.merlincycles.com/en-us/3...pe-105166.html

RubeRad

Hey gang, it's been almost 3 years since I posted pics of my new wrap with Zipp Service Course.

In that time, the nubblies have worn smooth and gotten quite dirty. A while ago (6-9 months?) a section started peeling and I thought "Oh great, planet bike all over again", but it peeled to about the size of a quarter and stayed that way.

Yesterday I took the tape off, swapped sides and wrapped it back on so (mostly) the old dirty parts are what is covered up. Here are pics before taking it off (except with the sealing tape taken off to show the new/dirty contrast), and the final result





I guess $25 is worth it if I get six years of use!!

MikeWMass

I was just thinking that after 3 years, with the nubs worn off, I would spring for new tape (and probably new cable housings as long as the bars were unwrapped).; but that is just me!

RubeRad

I am cheaper than that. And lazier.

Pop N Wood

My tachyon tape pealed the surface layer as well.

Much as I liked it probably won't use it again.