Vote on a bar tape for my Moots.

[cantunamunch]

Do you use their jerseys? Very low price, wondering how they hold up.

They only just opened the US distro center; when they shipped from Oz it was almost double that Jerseys are OK, not a fan of the bibs even though I like the palette.

 

[Tom K.]

Well, red/orange is fastest, but black is always the answer w/r/t bar tape.

Oil slick is all the rage. Supacaz tape.

Well, reading this here confirms that Oil Slick is officially off the back.

Note: NOT directed at @Jersey Skier. Instead, at all of Ski Talk's -- ahem -- mature audience, most assuredly including self!

 

[Jersey Skier]

Well, red/orange is fastest, but black is always the answer w/r/t bar tape.



Well, reading this here confirms that Oil Slick is officially off the back.

Note: NOT directed at @Jersey Skier. Instead, at all of SkiTalk's -- ahem -- mature audience, most assuredly including self!

I ain't puttin that shit on my bike. Just throwin it out there. I have Black Supacaz.

 

[Ron]

thanks All! Yeah, sticking with the Supacaz black. Its always fun to get everyone's input. I always do what I like in the end but its fun!

 

[givethepigeye]

Black. i have been very nicely surprised with the Enve tape. This coming from someone who only did Fizik micro suede or their “tacky” tape for almost a decade. Plus it’s longer, in case you run the hybrid aero gravel bars (flat tops w/ some flare).

 

[Ron]

good hear about the Enve tape. for the gravel bike, I am running Enve gravel bars, just not the new areo model Really like them a lot.

 

[cantunamunch]

Talking of gravel bars, are any of you doing harlequin pattern wrap to get extra length to the flare?

Kinda like this:

Harlequin Pattern Handlebar Wrap

I can do double-tape parallel (highlight ribbon) to the bend like this:




but I am terrible at harlequin. Just tried to do a set of 48cm (levers) to 59cm (flare) bars (because Liv tape is SHORT) and the result looks like a dog's breakfast.

 

[scott43]

Took me a good number of bars to get regular tape correct! And I did it for a living! I tore more crappy padded tape back then....

 

[cantunamunch]

Took me a good number of bars to get regular tape correct! And I did it for a living! I tore more crappy padded tape back then....

I've been watching the Bonzai Cyclewerx guy who harlequins Supacaz and it's just

 

[scott43]

It's way faster when it's not your bike and not your tape... I actually learned some technique from a blind guy. He was good at tape.

 

[cantunamunch]

It's way faster when it's not your bike and not your tape... I actually learned some technique from a blind guy. He was good at tape.

You do realise that's not terribly comforting in a taste and aesthetics thread, right?

 

[scott43]

It may be ugly but it'll hang on very well!!

 

[cantunamunch]

Are any of you using tennis overgrip tape as a finishing tape?

 

[Rudi Riet]

Are any of you using tennis overgrip tape as a finishing tape?

If I rode in rain a lot I'd consider it - especially after witnessing Geraint Thomas' slipped grip today in Romandie....

 

[scott43]

The Fizik tacky really isn't bad. Tennis overwrap is like sticky tape though so...

 

[cantunamunch]

If I rode in rain a lot I'd consider it - especially after witnessing Geraint Thomas' slipped grip today in Romandie....

Heh. Between hand sweat and mostly riding when it's too wet to skate, I went through two sets of cables last year.

 

[Delicious]

Heh. Between hand sweat and mostly riding when it's too wet to skate, I went through two sets of cables last year.

I'm thinking that the combination of Di2 and hydraulic lines means that I'll never replace my bar wrap again. It's a shame, because fresh bar wrap is right up there with with a new chain or cleats.

 

[Rudi Riet]

Actually, you'll still want to remove that bar tape and replaced it on the regular. Alloy handlebars will corrode due to water and sweat buildup under the tape. Carbon bars can hide crash damage under the tape. Either can lead to catastrophic failure of the bar and an unpleasant dismount.

So yes: replace your bar tape on the regular, even if you're running electronic shifting and hydraulic braking.