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What's your favorite bar tape and why?

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Old 02-22-17, 12:45 PM
  #1  
motosonic
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What's your favorite bar tape and why?

So, what's everyone's favorite bar tape? and why?

I've got some San Marco Presa tape on my bike and it's a little stiff. I've used Fizik in the past as well as Bontrager Cork. Still looking for that 'right' tape for me.
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Old 02-22-17, 12:49 PM
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ridelikeaturtle
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Deda Elementi. It's cheap (@ €6) and cheerful, a wide variety of nice bright colours (I hate black bar tape, it's so boring), it's fairly soft (though I wear gloves always), and easy to wrap.

I see bar tape as an annual consumable, so spending big bucks on it is silly to me.
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Old 02-22-17, 12:50 PM
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Fizik Microtex 3mm. I like the mild tack and cushion.
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Old 02-22-17, 01:15 PM
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Fizik. The thinner, lighter one. No matter what color, it never gets dirty. I don't mean it is easy to clean. I suppose that is true too. But what I like is IT NEVER GETS DIRTY.
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Old 02-22-17, 01:24 PM
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DomaneS5
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Lizard Skins 2.5mm. I went through 2 rolls of cheap bar tape on my first road bike that unraveled after only a few months of riding. The Lizard Skins bar tape has been on my bike for 2 years now and its holding up nicely.
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Old 02-22-17, 01:33 PM
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Fizik Superlight Soft-touch
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Old 02-22-17, 01:34 PM
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2x Cycling Road Bike MTB Cork Bar Grip Wrap Handlebar Ribbon Tapes + 2 Bar Plug | eBay

Cheap, and I don't have to worry about it.

I suppose I should try more modern tapes.... sometime.

The "Holstein" tapes may hide the dirt a little better than the plain colors, but aren't as popular.
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Old 02-22-17, 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by DomaneS5
Lizard Skins 2.5mm. I went through 2 rolls of cheap bar tape on my first road bike that unraveled after only a few months of riding. The Lizard Skins bar tape has been on my bike for 2 years now and its holding up nicely.
x2
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Old 02-22-17, 01:42 PM
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Supacaz Super Sticky Kush... nothing else on my bikes.
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Old 02-22-17, 02:02 PM
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If you want white then the ONLY answer is Fizik. The only thing about Fizik is that it's not very cushy. But it stays white and is easy to clean. Now that I have a different bike I've been using Bontrager Gel Cork, with a black bike I've goine through black, blue, orange and next is green.
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Old 02-22-17, 02:11 PM
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Originally Posted by lsberrios1
Supacaz Super Sticky Kush... nothing else on my bikes.
I'm liking this one.. But $40+ for bar tape? really? it had better wash my clothes and put them away for that much $. lol
I'm looking for something in a deep blue, so far Deda has that covered from this list AND it's super cheap and well reviewed.

I have a slight concern on the lizard skins as several reviews say they fray, fade or fall apart easily. But that's my 2nd choice right now.
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Old 02-22-17, 02:22 PM
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I've used Profile Design's cork tape a number of times on multiple bikes - it's not too expensive and I like it's plushness.
Currently using some Fizik tape because it was the only one I could find that matched the color on my bike. I think it's 3mm don't remember exactly.

I don't like spending more than $20 on tape because it's so disposable.
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Old 02-22-17, 02:32 PM
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Cinelli cork. I recently tried the imitation Lizard Skins tape they sell at Performance, forget what it's called, but I like it too.
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Old 02-22-17, 02:43 PM
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I like Salsa bar tape with the hot chilli design. Fairly inexpensive, many colors, and comfortable.
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Old 02-22-17, 03:02 PM
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Fizik Superlight for me. I don't like a lot of padding.
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Old 02-22-17, 03:23 PM
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Cinelli cork tape. Works, feels good and is cheap online.

I get a box when I need another 10 or 20 bucks to make the minimum free shipping on Ribble. Last time I picked up two boxes and IIRC they were $8 a box.

Much better than the $30 price at local shops.

OK so it's 9 bucks now!
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Old 02-22-17, 03:28 PM
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Fizik Gel Pad set under the tape offers the trifle of softness..

Bought as a .. Combo Pack, the tape is black, but the gel pad set is sold separately too.

....
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Old 02-22-17, 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by motosonic
So, what's everyone's favorite bar tape? and why?

I've got some San Marco Presa tape on my bike and it's a little stiff. I've used Fizik in the past as well as Bontrager Cork. Still looking for that 'right' tape for me.
I used to use Cinelli cork/rubber tape, but it has become stupid expensive. I've switched to the Bontrager cork/rubber and it is more reasonably priced substitute.

Decent grip and cushion and it lasts a season if you don't crash it.

Originally Posted by ridelikeaturtle

I see bar tape as an annual consumable, so spending big bucks on it is silly to me.
Exactly.
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Old 02-22-17, 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by ridelikeaturtle
Deda Elementi. It's cheap (@ €6) and cheerful, a wide variety of nice bright colours (I hate black bar tape, it's so boring), it's fairly soft (though I wear gloves always), and easy to wrap.

I see bar tape as an annual consumable, so spending big bucks on it is silly to me.
+1. I've got a bunch in colours that I think might go well with my bike, but haven't yet tried them on, and at about $9 CAD, if it doesn't work out I'll swap them out for something else.

I can't justify spending more than $20 for bar tape. I ride with gloves (or thick mittens in the winter, and can't even tell the difference between one or the other.
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Old 02-22-17, 03:42 PM
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Another vote for Fizik Microtex with the gel pad under it. Stays clean and plenty cushy with the gel. I get several years out of the tape and have never replaced the gel pad.
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Old 02-22-17, 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by ClydeTim
Cinelli cork tape. Works, feels good and is cheap online.

I get a box when I need another 10 or 20 bucks to make the minimum free shipping on Ribble. Last time I picked up two boxes and IIRC they were $8 a box.

Much better than the $30 price at local shops.

OK so it's 9 bucks now!
I second that. The Cinelli cork tape is excellent.

Sram supercork is also very good.

I hated the Fizik Gel bar tape. Not cushioned at all, not comfortable.
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Old 02-22-17, 03:56 PM
  #22  
snidely
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Originally Posted by motosonic
I'm liking this one.. But $40+ for bar tape? really? it had better wash my clothes and put them away for that much $. lol




The stuff lasts for freaking ever! Well worth the price, IMO.
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Old 02-22-17, 03:59 PM
  #23  
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Either Arundel or Fizik. I like both equally.
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Old 02-22-17, 04:20 PM
  #24  
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Cinelli natural cork tape cuz it looks hot on my bike and is like $10 in a world where a "reasonably" priced jersey is now $110.
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Old 02-22-17, 04:48 PM
  #25  
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Zipp Service Course CX is one of them. I have found it to be the easiest to wrap and re-wrap, if necessary. It's tacky, comfortable and lasts a long time. Has to be the CX version, though. The non-CX is not all that great.

Second option is Specialized Roubaix tape, especially if you're going to go with white. Very comfortable tape, perhaps slightly more comfortable than the Zipp. Also easy to wrap with and the white, when dirty, is very easy to clean.
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