Is it the cushion that you get from cork?

I checked out a CX race bike this weekend that had cloth tape and really liked the feel.

There have actually been studies recently that showed, while cork tape reduces numbness in the hands it can mask damage in the wrists.

One elegant way to finish Cloth tape is to use Hemp twine to seal the end and Shellac everything to water proof it and give a nice looking finish. For instructions look at <A HREF="http://www.mindspring.com/~d.g1/shellac.html">this</A> site.

Is it the cushion that you get from cork?

I checked out a CX race bike this weekend that had cloth tape and really liked the feel.Ummmm cause the stuff's harder to find than hen's teeth any more?

I know lots of trackies like it, so it has to be around somewhere.

M

I like it because it's much less slippery than cork of foam in rainy weather. If I had a dry weather bike, I'd use the foam stuff that Nashbar sells.

Gaansari bikes @ www.gaansari.com has it in "many colors" for $9/pair. Haven't got any but bought other stuff from them with good service. It is listed on the website in their Fixed Gear catalog.

There have actually been studies recently that showed, while cork tape reduces numbness in the hands it can mask damage in the wrists.

Okay, this sounds a little hokey to me. Can you point to any of these studies?

I used to only use the cloth stuff, but that was back when I was riding many miles every day, and got used to it. Now that I'm all weak and only ride a few times a week, I like the cushiony stuff more.

Cloth is way easy to apply, since you don't have to stretch it. You need to apply a little bit of tension to keep it smooth in the bends, but it's not nearly as much stretching as you need to do with cork or foam. Cloth gets pretty grungy looking in a hurry, though.

I've also seen some people going back to the colored transparent plastic tape (very 70s), though I can't see myself ever going back there.

The cloth stuff doesn't work if you don't wear gloves..Unless you like blisters!

Try the Fizik Microtex tape. Competitive cyclist sells it without the gel pads. I really like it, feels wet or dry, not slippery either.

There have actually been studies recently that showed, while cork tape reduces numbness in the hands it can mask damage in the wrists.

Just like Mark McM, my skeptic's antenna was quivering when I read this. I have to call BS.


The cloth stuff doesn't work if you don't wear gloves..Unless you like blisters!

Say what? I rode cloth tape for 25 years, no gloves and no blisters. I must be using the right moisturizing lotion :)

As an overall comment, I find that the modern cork filled foam (foam filled cork?) tape is cleaner, lasts longer, has equal grip, is better looking, and yields a more comfortable (larger) bar diameter than the old cloth stuff. IMO, modern bar tape is better than the old Tressostar cloth and WAY better than Bennoto plastic tape. We won't even talk about the matching Schwinn vinyl tape!

Grip, cushion, cleaning and bar diameter. All advantages to cork over cloth. I find Deda tape gives superior grip, much better cushioning, is easy to clean and increases the bar diameter to my liking. You can address the cushioning and bar diameter problems with cloth by wraping a layer or two of old inner tube around your bars before applying the cloth tape. I did this for years before using a variety of cork or cork style tapes. Grip might also be slightly improved but cleaning is no better.

Thanks for the feedback. I knew I'd get some, but this is good.

Sorry about the confusion. I should have said that cloth tapes might cause blisters if worn w/out gloves..Well, it happened to me. Sorry Kerry ;)

p.s. not completely B.S.!

Kerry, remember the old "bike ribbon tape". I tried to use some old stuff (unopened)
but found it was too slippery when using my new gloves. Very dangerous to me.
I pitched it and got Deda plastic tape instead.

Sorry about the confusion. I should have said that cloth tapes might cause blisters if worn w/out gloves..Well, it happened to me. Sorry Kerry ;)

p.s. not completely B.S.!

My BS call was about the "studies recently that showed, while cork tape reduces numbness in the hands it can mask damage in the wrists." claim, not about the blisters statement. My response on the blisters was that I never got blisters, not that it could never happen. People get blisters from their brake lever hoods, so they can certainly get them from (any) bar tape. My advice is to use Palmolive. :)