TomMc1

Any thoughts on double wrapping bars to increase comfort for the hands? I have Bontrager gel tape on my bars which are the fairly cheap Bontrager Select OS bars. I haven't done enough research to pick out another set of bars yet but was thinking about adding another layer of tape on top of what is there to increase the diameter and hopefully comfort level for longer rides.

The forum search is down right now so forgive if this has been discussed recently... I've been on vacation for a week and away from the forum.

thanks!

Mariner Fan

By comfort do you mean you have pain or numbness in your hands? That could be a condition caused by too much pressure on your hands. I found that by getting a stem one size longer (100 to 110) the numbness went away. A buddy of mine got some Specialized bar phat and swears by it. Might be better than double wrapping your bars.

skandal20

Tom Boonen insists on having his bars double taped.

barba

a cheaper solution is to wrap the bars in old butyl tubes and then apply the tape.

johnny99

I agree about trying different handlebar positions. If your handlebar is several inches below your saddle level, consider raising the handlebar and moving the seat back a little.

TomMc1

pain in my hands. No numbness. My bike originally came with a much longer stem (120 mm and like 6 or 7 degrees) and 42 cm wide bars. When I got it custom fitted I went to a shorter stem (90 mm and and like 24 degrees) and wider 44 cm bars.

That got me sitting upright a bit more and more comfortable in general. I would think that pushing the bards further out would have you leaning on them more and would therefore increase the load on them from your upper body. Whne you went to a longer stem did you also change the angle of the stem?

bccycleguy

You might try some different gloves rather than double-wrapping the handlebars. As others above have pointed out, the bike fit has a really big influence on the comfort and pressure on your hands.

grahny

I just double wrapped my bars for the hell of it recently... i love it! I just like the feel of holding onto a thicker handlebar. I'm more used to grips on a mtn bike than road bars, so I thought I'd try it. Couldn't be happier. I used to get numbness, but gloves fixed that, as well as being aware of if my hands are in one position for too long... I always keep them moving to different positions every so often.

johnny99

Do you ride with bent elbows or locked-straight elbows?

wagathon

I have a picture on this for you. Too bad searching seems to have been disabled for me? The pic is on an earlier post.

Oh well . . . you'll like but there's a trick involved: you need to cut off some of the old tape about 3/4s up from the end of the bar to allow room for the second tape that you begin to wrap at the plug by wraping around itself once, in the usual manner, before spiraling up towards the brake hoods as usual. Additionally, there's no need for a figure-eight under the brakes because the bar already is completely covered so there's plenty of tape to do the second wrap.

P.S., a pic . . .

big john

I love the feel of double-wrapped bar tape, but I have huge hands. I also have used Moda Chunky tape and Blue Star thick tape.

'nother

You can get gel pads and place them in strategic locations and wrap with a single layer of bar tape. But I'd check out your fit/positioning first . . . usually you won't get those symptoms when the fit is decent.

formulaben

Aztec Vibewrap, yo.

Dead Roman

i had never thought about this untill i had my LBS put new cinelli bar tape on my bike. They asked if i wanted the new stuff wrapped around the old stuff, and i must say, it maes a pretty big difference.

TomMc1

Thanks for all of the suggestions and feedback! I may just try double wrapping them for kicks. If that doesn't work then I'll look into some of the gels and pads suggested.

I don't think it is a bike fit thing... the bike feels really good. I don't ride with my elbows locked. Not good especially when hitting a bump on a stiff road bike (not like my mountain bike with shocks on the front).

It just feels like the diameter of the bars is too small, like they would be more comfy if bigger. Like the mountain bike grips comment from grahny above.

thanks!

dr_cantalope

Check out Specialized Bar Phat, it's basically a gel pad that sits under the tape. Makes the bars a bit thicker and absorbs shock. I have it on my bike and I really like it.

operator

Hmm $25USD for bar tape. That's starting to push it.

Lucky07

I've got the Specialized gel pads under my tape. Feels great Profile Cork tape wrapped around that feels pretty good.

cs124

i like the feel too but found that it cramped up the drops too much (deda 215 classic italians)... should be ok on deeper drop bars tough...

woodcycl

I tried the Aztec stuff and HATED it ... it does NOT come off without the use of a heatgun and about 20 minutes of patience.

I have used the Fizik Bar Gel Kit now for 2 seasons and love it ... I have it on all of my bikes.

Fizik Bar Gel

56/12 and 22/28

It works for Tom Boonen, and you know how he is.

Thomill

+1 on this, after checking your fit as others have mentioned to the OP. I use the middle level of Specialized tape, the Body Geometry Bar Phat Tape. There is also the basic S-Wrap and even thicker Super Phat Bar Gel Kit. The prices go from $16, to $37, and to $40 for the Super kit. For me, the Bar Phat Tape is working well.

Take care,
T

RoadToad

Nashbar has their own brand of bar pads that are much cheaper.

$7.95

TomMc1

A couple of shops in the area are Specialized dealers. I'll be sure to check out the phat tapes. Will also check out the Fizik bar gel tape the next time I'm at my local REI. I like the fizik saddle that came with my bike.

Tom Boonen who?

thanks!

Hambone

Do you spray an adhesive on the bar to get the butyl to stick? or just rely on the friction...