I am expecting a Deda Newton handlebar in the mail next week, so my next step is to mount it and tape it. I am new to road bikes and see all sorts of brands and prices for handle bar tape, what do you people out there look for in tape and your preferences. There has gotta be some differences!! Thanks

I just buy the el cheapo stuff generally on sale at Performance, and use gel padded riding gloves. The tape lasts me about 2,500 miles before a re-tape is necessary (pretty soon now actually).

Bontrager gel cork tape. This stuff feels soooo good :)

http://www.bontrager.com/model/00075/en

Wrapping is an art and a science.

I used to use Cinelli cork tape, but it is maddening because of the adhesive strip that runs on the back. It leaves gunk behind when you re-wrap (as you will inevitably do if you're new at this), and I've also had the adhesive plain come off.

My current favorite is Specialized's S-Wrap. No adhesive on the back to make a mess. Limited color choice, though.

Some folks rave about fizik's tape, but I've never tried it.

I am expecting a Deda Newton handlebar in the mail next week, so my next step is to mount it and tape it. I am new to road bikes and see all sorts of brands and prices for handle bar tape, what do you people out there look for in tape and your preferences. There has gotta be some differences!! Thanks

I've always been a fan of Cinelli Cork Ribbon and use only that.

Fizik Microtex. It is as thin as plain cork, but much more comfy, and you can wrap it in interesting ways...

http://a543.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/125/l_0905a36aa1962df2fc25b372f68af346.jpg

I've always been a fan of Cinelli Cork Ribbon and use only that.

Cinelli for me too. Have it on all my bikes and actually prefer that adhesive backing to other brands.

Plenty of tips and how to at Park's website:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=71

Stella Azzurra Eleganza... it is easily my favorite.

Eddy rode it. Jacques rode it. Fausto rode it. Cork. Black. What's not to like?

Fizik Microtex is good stuff...be a little careful when you apply it or it can tear.

Cinelli Cork has the best feel, but it leaves a gunky residue when you pull it off.

Just about all gel tape is the same. I buy the Performance brand stuff using my Team points and get if for free.

Stella Azzurra is elegant tape and has a real nice feel to it. Probably the best tape out there. However it is very difficult to apply.

Gel tape would be the best way to go. It stretches, almost impossible to tear, has a thin adhesive backing and if you screw up you can pull it off and start over. I've pulled it off and used it over when installing new bars..

Deda tape. Accept no substitutes. Heck you're already going to have Deda bars! Complete the "look".

Also black tape + black saddle = :thumbsup:

I am expecting a Deda Newton handlebar in the mail next week, so my next step is to mount it and tape it. I am new to road bikes and see all sorts of brands and prices for handle bar tape, what do you people out there look for in tape and your preferences. There has gotta be some differences!! Thanks

I have Deda Newton handlebars and a Deda Newton stem, so I bought Deda bar tape. It works fine.

That's about all I know about bar tape. Except for the fact that white bar tape (and saddle and shoes) makes you faster. Don't question this, it is a fact!

-Smarty

bontrager cork is my favorite. used to use cinelli, but got some free bontrager last year and changed all my bikes over. Haven't used any other cork personally . . . before that Benotto.

Stella Azzurra Eleganza... it is easily my favorite.

The one with stitchings? It's also sold as ProRace Eleganza and Bontrager has it too but don't remember what they call it. An excellent bartape! The best I've ever had.

Deda tape. Accept no substitutes. Heck you're already going to have Deda bars! Complete the "look".

Also black tape + black saddle = :thumbsup:

I used the Deda carbon, has a leather type feel to it..nice..

Right now I'm running Bontrager cork, which I would say is my favorite "traditional" cork tape so far (have also used Cinelli, Deda, Stella, Bike Ribbon, and Performance... they're all pretty similar). But my favorite is probably Salsa Goma... not stocked in many shops and looks like they don't make it in white anymore. It's a rubberized material so it cleans-up very nicely - which is particularly good if you like using a light colored tape. Next favorite would be Bike Ribbon Spugna... sort of a textured cork... kinda thin too.

white cinelli cork. it's a classic.

Just did one in Colnago cork, it's good but Cinelli black cork is still my favorite. Outlasts anything else I've tried by far.

I'm using the Pinarello tape who comes pretty close to the Deda Tape and it is very easy to keep clean.

Frankie, come on now, you didn't post that pic just so we could see your white tape, yer showin off that awesome bike! That's OK, if I owned that bike, and someone asked what kind of chain lube I used, I'd put some on my chain, take a pic of that Pinarello, and post it just to show it off too!

white bar tape (and saddle and shoes) makes you faster. Don't question this, it is a fact!

Shhhhh!

Let's not spread the word....

i rock the chrome deda tape but its real heavy and uncomfortable so the normal deda is awsome and fizik tape is awsome too

Fizik Microtex. It is as thin as plain cork, but much more comfy, and you can wrap it in interesting ways...

http://a543.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/125/l_0905a36aa1962df2fc25b372f68af346.jpg
Cool!!! How did you do that??

Another vote for Deda cork. I used to use Cinelli, but the last few rolls I bought didn't last as long. The last one had to be replaced after a month and a half because it was tearing.

The Deda is just as comfy, looks as good or better. I've had the same tape on for about a year, and it looks great.

I definitely prefer the feel of the Fizik tape--but it isn't as thick or well-padded as even regular cork. You can buy the gel to go under it, but then it is TOO thick. Fizik with good gloves is my vote.

Stella Azzurra Eleganza looks REALLY cool, and is very grippy. The texture reminds me of the old grippy tape that people wrapped around mountain bike bar ends or Scott MTB aero bars in the early 90s--but the stitching gives it a road bike look.

deda here too... and i have been curious about the two tone wrap as well... who knows the secrets? i dont feel like wasting time or money :mad2: to figure it out if someone already has... :thumbsup:

Not sure if this is the same pattern, but probably close enough.

http://fixedgeargallery.com/articles/diamondweave/

deda here too... and i have been curious about the two tone wrap as well... who knows the secrets? i dont feel like wasting time or money :mad2: to figure it out if someone already has... :thumbsup:

danke schön!

I'm using the Pinarello tape who comes pretty close to the Deda Tape and it is very easy to keep clean.

I didn't have a closer up pic just of the handlebar. Would you have told me then I just wanted to show of my cyclecomputer?

+1 for Deda, however I just started using black sram tape cuz the store didn't have anymore black deda tape.

I'm shocked there's that much difference among the cork options.

Beautiful bike! I don't care much for white bar tape, but it looks great on that exceptional ride.

Shhhhh!

Let's not spread the word....

well... if the white combo makes me faster, I would really hate to see how slow I am without it. :p

Bontrager gel cork tape. This stuff feels soooo good :)

http://www.bontrager.com/model/00075/en

Best tape I ever used. Period.

Deda's is second if I have no choice. Unfortunately, that's usually the case since my LBS (that sells Trek) hardly carries Bonty tape and if they do, it's just black.

I like the basic Bontrager cork with adhesive back. The non-adhesive gel cork feels very nice but it's a bit too thick for my taste and I don't care how good of a "bar-wrapper" you are, the non-adhesive tends to slip over time.

And the "gunk" from the adhesive gets covered anyway.

Put some white cork on the Masi and darn if it didn't make me faster. I anxiously await the white saddle.

Not sure if this is the same pattern, but probably close enough.

http://fixedgeargallery.com/articles/diamondweave/

That's one of the links I used to figure out how to do it :p

Then I spent 2 hours wrapping, weaving, and re-doing as I attempted to adapt those techniques (cotton tape/shellac on bare track bars) to modern materials (functional bar tape and a compact bar with ergo bend & shifters). Even if you get around the shifters (really damn hard), it's all but impossible to continue a nice looking weave around the bend to the tops, so I cut the white off & electrical taped it under the hoods then continued on to the normal stopping point with the blue.

The one with stitchings? It's also sold as ProRace Eleganza and Bontrager has it too but don't remember what they call it. An excellent bartape! The best I've ever had.

yes... here is a good close up.

Here is the skinny on this wrap for those that are curious.

1.) PricePoint.com has white and black for $14.99. http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/13574-200_STZEG4-3-Parts-61-Grips/Bar-Tape/Stella-Azzurra-Eleganza-Bar-Tape.htm That is about the best price around for black or white. It comes in a lot of other color combos that will vary pretty widely by retailer but the price will be anywhere from $17.99 to $24.99 per roll.

2.) The wrap has a nice leather feel that is a little tacky (not "in poor taste" tacky). It isn't as padded as a thick gel wrap, but it isn't as thin as a Fizik Microtex.

3.) If you are OCD about your bar wrap, plan on it taking a while to get it just right. It doesn't stretch like cork tape and it can be difficult to get smooth over "ergo" bends. It can be especially time consuming if you are anal about getting the way the wrap overlays the threading the same on both sides. :blush2:

4.) The wrap looks fantastic once you are done, but if you run cables underneath the wrap try to run them in the front of the bar. Cables run on the backside of the bar will show wear pretty fast where you rest your palms.

5.) If you get white wrap, consider getting white palmed gloves as to preserve your virgin white as long as possible. To this end, if you are going to take vanity shots of your newly wrapped tape, do it before your maiden voyage with sweaty black gloves.

6.) Unlike some wraps, it is actually long enough to wrap 46cm bars without having to skimp on coverage.

7.) The finishing "stars" tape isn't very long or sticky, so wrap the ends with electrical tape first and you won't have any "fraying".

8.) The wrap comes with faux carbon end caps that are pretty cool but are too skinny to fit securely in some bar ends (like many caps). You can spread the tabs or stick some excess tape in the holes to make it secure. These are sold separately for $7!?! ... which I can't understand why anyone would buy when the tape is only $8 more. http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/13570-015_STZBP4-3-Parts-61-Grips/Bar-Tape/Stella-Azzurra-Carbon-Bar-Plugs.htm

9.) When you get to the stopping point of your wrap trim the tape at the angle it is being wrapped to give it that pro finish. :thumbsup:

10.) The sticky strip on the backside of the tape does help get a secure fit and you can unwrap and rewrap the bars when you first put it on, but if the tape has been on the bars for a bit it might rip the edges if you try to take it off and rewrap it (even if you are careful).

If you are asking yourself why in the holy hell someone would go through all this trouble to use Stella wrap for their bars.... just give it a try, once. :thumbsup:

+1

I love the stuff. It is super comfortable with just the right amount of friction. I am replacing mine today. I got about 6,000 miles out of my last wrap. I could probably get another 1,000 but Spring has sprung and the old steed deserves a fresh new look.