Just picked up a drop bar bike to dedicate to gravel riding. Been riding a few different versions of hacked together parts bin flat bar MTB on gravel for the last few years. Looking forward to a dedicated if cheep build. One of the last details i have to figure out is bar tape. What do you use and why do you like it over other options?
I use the Bar Phat tape on one of my bikes. I assume anything like that would work or you. I've seen other gel pads for underneath bar tape from other manufacturers too.
You could also try the Roubaix tape from Specialized, or simply double wrapping your bars. It all comes down to what is comfortable to you.
Gravel riding = awesome…bar tape preference = challenging. some like no padding some like a lot. I currently ride our new 2.5 (thicker/more padding) tape on all my bikes and it works really well. gel pads are an option but I've never used them so have no opinion here. the double wrap (brady's idea) is also a good option…and that's the euro classics,old school way.
sorry not much advice because it's such a personal item…good luck with the search and have fun on the bike.
brandy the gel pads are an idea. Back in my shop days 15+ years ago I would take bar tape and create custom grip shapes depending on what a rider was having issues with then do a traditional bar wrap on top it worked well. I may go old school but i will defiantly look into the gel pads.
Zevlin you say you currently ride our new....... who is 'our' i'm assuming your hinting that you work for some form of manufacture so what brand be it.
Looking around it appears that lizard skins and a few others have some silicone based grip tapes on the market has anyone tried them and what our your thoughts. I know they have good grip even in the wet from mtb experience but not sure i would like the sticky or sweaty grips on a long dry ride.
Sorry….Zevlin is the brand and yes, I work there. Our 2.5 is a pu/eva product or a rubber top with a foam backing. our tape is 40mm in width which is wider than standard because we also use this tape for our custom product. which in a nutshell is, we put logos on tape for shops, clubs, teams, companies. the 40mm width tape allows for the ability to give a very "comfy" wrap if you overlap quite a bit. if you want it less "padded" then you do less overlap and wrap more tight.
Thanks for the clarification I will check your guys stuff out doing a 30 second scan of your web site I see that you didn't exist when I worked at the shop. Do your have any shops in Kansas City carrying your tape?
I am running Zipp Speed Weaponry Service Course Bar Tape on my bike and it is really impressive. Wraps amazingly well and has a great cushiony feel without being bulky. Also has a soft tackiness without feeling slimy. Hard to describe, but I like it a lot.
I'm running Arundel Gecko tape, and I like it pretty good. It's not really cushy, but I'd rather have a little more bar feel and control over squishy comfort. I *am* tempeted to try a double wrap of this to see how that does, though. It's not expensive, either.
One drawback is that the colors (red, blue, etc.) are white at the edge of the tape, which looks a little cheap IMO. I'm using the black, which is black all the way through, so it's a non-issue.
As a disclaimer, the bike this is on is the only drop-bar bike I've ever owned, and this is my 3rd tape that I've had on it, so take my opinion with a grain.
Thanks I went to the two LBS that I like and took a look at what they had I ended up with Salsa gel cork tape I liked the grippy but not ruff feel of it and it seamed to conform to my hand the best. have just under 200 miles on it so far with about half that gravel and I'm pleased so far.
