pbass

Ready to give my gravel bike a little spring makeover, and some fresh bar tape is in order. Do the ones advertised as "tacky" actually make any difference if you wear gloves?

Prodigy4299

I have the Zipp Service Course CX on my road bike, and it is relatively grippy / tacky. Can't say I really understand the fad of 'tacky' bar tape. It feels different, sure, but in no way 'better' (or worse, for that matter), than other bar tape I've used.

BTW, I put a Fabric Hex Duo on my gravel bike last summer, and am super happy with the way that feels and looks.

zen_

+1 for the Zipp CX tape. It does have a slight tack to it, but I can't image the tapes that have more will have a lasting effect. The Zipp tape has a really nice texture, padding, durability, wraps nicely / easily, and it's cheap.

pbass

Nice colors on the Zipp too - I'll look into that. Thanks!

mstateglfr 

I don't understand the appeal of tacky tape. Mine is dry. I've never wanted for tape that sticks.
Are people's hands slipping off the hoods/tops/ramps/drops with dry tape? I could see tacky tape in that instance.

Koyote

I like tacky bar tape on my gravel bike. If I’m sweating profusely, or riding in the rain, and on a rough descent, it helps keep my hands from slipping around.

My current favorite on that bike is Brooks rubber cambium tape. It’s comfy andamazingly grippy – and the grip does not change at all when it is soaking wet. It also wears like iron.

pbass

But with gloves I would assume it makes no difference, no? I wear full-fingered gloves religiously on my rides - can't remember the last time I rode w/o 'em.
The Brooks colors look nice--mud and octane are cool!

Koyote

I always wear gloves, too, and I find that it does help. Plus, it's just good bar wrap.

wheelsmcgee

I just bought some new bars and put them on last week, for the wrap I decided to try a sticky tape (Supacaz Sticky Kush). I wear gloves 90% of the time but thought the texture would be nice for those days I don’t. I bought it largely because the rolls seemed a few cm longer* than some of the others I was finding, it came with hex-adjusted bar plugs, and seemed to have good reviews. If would characterize it as normal bar tape but with a thin silicone rubber coating on the outside.

I have only done one ride in them this past weekend (gloved) and can say I didn’t notice much of a difference.

*Rant: Bar tapes need to be longer! Most are around 2m per roll...my quick Amazon search only found one no-name brand that was significantly longer than that. I would gladly pay 20% more for 20% extra length...with the trend of wider bars, it’s almost a necessity. I literally used the whole roll with a careful wrap, only shaving off a corner at the end for aesthetics...another few cm would have been nice.

msu2001la

Another +1 for Zipp CX tape. I've tried a bunch of different brands and still find this to be one of the best options. Has a bit of cush without being too bulky, and is very durable.

I've never had a problem with my bar tape feeling slippery, even when riding in the rain or hands covered in sweat (like on the trainer).

franswa

I have both, the ZIPP CX on my road bike and supacuz on my gravel bike and I like them both, with or without gloves and wet or dry.

Wilbur76

Redshift makes a really long bartape. Positioned to be used with their KitchenSink bars that have extra bar real estate. https://redshiftsports.com/products/...-long-bar-tape

Clipped_in

^^^^THIS! Excellent tape--and lasts a long time. I use it on all my bikes.