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Handlebar Grips

Bar tape is a road bike's most frequently replaced component — and one of the biggest comfort factors. Thickness ranges from 1.8mm (race feel, minimal padding) to 3.2mm+ (maximum cushioning). Materials include cork composite, synthetic leather, silicone, EVA foam, and genuine leather. Lizard Skins DSP is the grip and durability benchmark. Supacaz Super Sticky Kush is the flashy alternative. Brooks leather tape is the classic choice. Fresh bar tape transforms a bike's feel for under £20 — the best value upgrade in cycling.

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Buying Guide

Bar Tape Buying Guide

Thickness

Thinner tape (1.8-2.0mm) gives maximum bar feel and feedback — preferred by racers who want to feel the road. Medium (2.5mm) is the all-round choice — enough padding to smooth out road buzz without deadening feel. Thick (3.2mm+) provides maximum cushioning for rough roads and long rides — Lizard Skins 3.2 and Supacaz Super Sticky Kush are popular choices. If your bars are already carbon (which damp vibration), thinner tape works well. On aluminium bars, thicker tape compensates for transmitted vibration.

Materials and Grip

Cork composite (Cinelli Cork Ribbon, Deda Mistral): classic feel, decent grip, absorbs sweat but degrades in wet conditions. EVA/polymer (Lizard Skins DSP, Supacaz): excellent grip in all conditions, durable, consistent feel. Silicone (Silca Nastro, some Fizik tapes): supreme grip especially when wet, but can feel sticky in warm conditions. Genuine leather (Brooks, Fizik Classic): beautiful when broken in, develops patina, but expensive and needs maintenance. For UK riding where rain is frequent, EVA or silicone tapes grip best when wet.

Wrapping Tips

Start from the bar end, wrapping upward with slight tension and one-third overlap. Wrap from outside to inside (clockwise on the right, anticlockwise on the left) so the tape tightens when you grip. The most common mistake is insufficient tension — loose tape wrinkles and moves. Use the supplied finishing tape or electrical tape to secure the end near the stem. Most tapes include short strips for the lever clamp band gap. Bar-end plugs are essential — open-ended bars can cause serious injury in a crash.