Spandex_fairy

I noticed that my supacaz tape has worn thru, where the thumb rests, while in the drops. I assume this is normal wear, after a year of riding. Which bar tape would be more robust, yet similar in feel to supacaz?

Koyote

I have not tried Supacaz, but this stuff wears like iron. I get about 8000 miles before it looks too tattered… Though it is still perfectly functional at that point. Tremendous grip, wet or dry.

SurferRosa

The best and best looking tape is Fizik classic microfiber.

Koyote

That's a meaningless subjective judgment.

KerryIrons

If I rode 1K miles per year and my bar tape wore out, I would assume it was truly crap. Absent some unusual circumstances, bar tape can last 10s of thousands of miles. There are lots of good brands of bar tape out there and the choice comes down to personal preference. The Fizik bar tape that comes with their saddles lasts about as long as their saddles do - maybe 35K miles. I've had good luck with Profile as well, but again there are lots of good brands.

SurferRosa

I'll give you "subjective," but not "meaningless."

Brooks microfiber (not leather) is way too thick. Looks stupid.

Koyote

I've got Fizik bar tape on one of my bikes, and it still looks great after several thousand miles. (I'm not keeping track, so that's a guess.) However, bar tape's lifespan is a pretty subjective thing, I think. I've got friends who keep using tape even when it's tattered, coming loose, and just generally disgusting-looking...But it's "lasting" a long time.

In the grand scheme of cycling expenses, bar tape -- even the pricier ones -- is inexpensive, and fresh tape is a nice way to freshen up a bike's appearance. So mine may not "last" as long as it could.

Koyote

It's meaningless because (I'm willing to bet) you haven't actually tried every other bar tape on the market....So, your claim that any particular tape is "The best and best looking" holds little merit.

You might just state the reasons why you like Fizik tape. That would be helpful to the OP.

But I agree that Fizik is good stuff. I've got the thickest one (I forget the terminology) on one of my bikes. It's difficult to wrap, but -- once on the bike -- it's quite nice and durable.

Koyote

So you're stating that you've only used Fizik, and you're convinced it's better than every other bar tape out there?

I can't argue with that 'logic.' Carry on.

tyrion

How's the adhesive on that Cambium rubber tape? I usually get half way done with taping one side and realize I have the wrong amount of overlap and unwind it and start over, so I don't like strong adhesive.

Koyote

You'll be fine -- it won't stick too strongly. But forewarning: the tape doesn't really stretch, so it is more challenging to wrap, esp around the levers. But that lack of stretch is part and parcel of why the stuff is soo durable.

cyccommute 

Another durable tape is Adarga. Made from US cows in the US. Cheaper than Brooks leather.

Spandex_fairy

I'll give the fizik a shot; I already have their saddle. I was surprised to see that I wore thru the tape within ~1.5yr/3.5k miles. I think the accelerated wear came from down-shifting, while in the drops, on repeated descents.

veganbikes

I would want to replace it at that point anyway worn or not. Tape soaks in your sweat and it sits on the handlebar all the time and you cannot see what is going on underneath it. It is a good thing to do yearly and you can also replace cables and housing and get better shifting and braking as well.

I have seen a few handlebars that have white powder (corrosion) on them and that is not good and poses a safety risk. Tape is pretty cheap and easy to find at any bike shop just about anywhere and it also can make your bike look really good so it is good to replace regularly for that reason as well.

smd4

Doesn't come in white.

Lombard

This. If any bar tape only lasted 1K miles, I would never buy that brand again.

Many good brands out there. Personally, I like MSW tape.

zaje

My Fizik microtex bondush now has over 6000km and I plan to reuse it on new handlebar which I will swap in couple of weeks (despite of the fact that I have new one on shelf). So my vote goes to Fizik.

drlogik 

I'd go a buy another roll of Supacaz. I ride it on two bikes and my primary bike has probably 3,000 miles on it and it's just now starting to wear. I'll go back with another roll of Supacaz. I like it that much.

I've tried Fizik, Brooks leather and a few others but the Supacaz has a great feel and comes with nice aluminum plugs to boot.

Fahrenheit531 

On topic: Fizik microfiber is the way to go.

Koyote

Do you wrap your own bars? If so, get some of the Fizik tape that's 3mm thick and try it. It has no stretch. It's very difficult to get it to lay flush around the sti levers. I managed to do it, but it took twice as long as I normally need to wrap a handlebar.

Fahrenheit531 

Maybe compared to the Cinelli cork/foam tape or similar. But it's nowhere near the nightmare of the Brooks microfiber, and the end result is worth any extra effort.
Clean, smooth, and grippy. No bumpy effect on the overwrap. Basically indestructible. Easy to clean. I don't see a downside, which is why it's all I use now.

smd4

Excellent wrap job F531!

Fahrenheit531 

Thanks! A little bit of time and attention makes all the difference.
Practice too, I suppose. I've wrapped more than a few bars since I started into this cycling thing.

smd4

Definitely all of the above.

genejockey 

I think y'all are talking about Fizik MicroTEX, not MicroFIBER. AFAICT, there is no such animal as the latter.

Bethatasitmay, the Microtex Classic is The Good Stuff. I put on all my bikes, as soon as I'm happy with the lever placement. It is a bit more work to wrap around the hooks than the stretchier Cinelli tape, but well worth the effort.