I have to rewrap my road bike. I have used cork (Specialized S-works Roubaix and Cinelli) in the past but have been thinking about trying Lizard Skins or something similar instead. I am not a heavy sweater and do like a cushier wrap. I do use the bike for training and racing. What do you use? What do you suggest?
I just put some zipp service course tape on my bike. It’s about half the price of lizard skin.
Feels really good so far. I’m a heavy sweater but it’s been colder here - so I haven’t put it through a true test on the grip side of the equation.
Lizards Skins is super grippy when dry, and super slippery when wet.
I use lizard skins and have had very good experiences with the product. It’s pricy though. I’d suggest the thicker cushioned version for the road bike.
Lizard Skins DSP 2.5mm. Love it.
This;
https://www.fizik.com/us_en/men/accessories/bar-tape/terra-microtex-bondcush-tacky.html
Best I have ever used, thick and tacky.
I have to rewrap my road bike. I have used cork (Specialized S-works Roubaix and Cinelli) in the past but have been thinking about trying Lizard Skins or something similar instead. I am not a heavy sweater and do like a cushier wrap. I do use the bike for training and racing. What do you use? What do you suggest?
Fabric Knurl tape is great.
I’ve gone to tennis racquet overgrip on my bikes. It does a good job but does not meet your criteria for being cushy. It’s cheap and relatively tacky.
I needed something to make a Nashbar order over $50, for free shipping. So in a whim, I added some of their house brand Get-a-Grip bar tape to an order. Now it’s all I use, I love the stuff. Cushy. rubber feel, and does’t get slippery when wet. I’ve tried Lizard Skins, but the edges rolled up in less than a year, and it looked/felt like shit.
I have used Lizard skins on two different bikes and would not use it again. I have found it to be the least durable of any tape I have tried. Using Fizik performance now and like it a lot.
I bought Lizard Skin on a whim and really liked it, but I am also a tinkerer and constantly adjusting things or swapping out parts. Lizard Skin does not re-wrap well. I suspect if you set it and forget it then you would be fine. Otherwise, it works great on a drop bar mountain bike where I don’t want thick grips but want a bit of cushioning.
I tried lizard skins and wasn’t a huge fan. Found it slippery when wet and a bit bulky. My current fave is MEC grippy gel tape.
I have Lizard Skins on my tri bike and would NOT use it again. It’s the most slippery tape I’ve ever used when wet/sweaty.
I’ve always used white bar tape to go with my white saddles (Rule #8). For about the last 10 years I’ve used the Fizik Microtec Bar Tape - amazing. Never get’s dirty. Even after slightly dirty rides of the odd smudge with grease, a little spray of Simple Green and a wipe and it looks brand new.
Good feel when you are either riding bare handed or with gloves. It’s slightly padded, and remains tacky with good grip even when wet.
I’ve gone to tennis racquet overgrip on my bikes. It does a good job but does not meet your criteria for being cushy. It’s cheap and relatively tacky.
Like your idea. Always double tape so I could use a cheaper or used base tape and then go over it with tennis racquet tape for the grip.
Thanks.
I needed something to make a Nashbar order over $50, for free shipping. So in a whim, I added some of their house brand Get-a-Grip bar tape to an order. Now it’s all I use, I love the stuff. Cushy. rubber feel, and does’t get slippery when wet. I’ve tried Lizard Skins, but the edges rolled up in less than a year, and it looked/felt like shit.
It was killing me to spend over $25 for tape at the LBS. Bought several rolls for about $5 mail order.
Best wrap I’ve ever used is the Zevlen Big 40 tape. Cushioned, does NOT get slick when wet, lasts a long time.
Unfortunately Zevlen went out of business. RedMonkey Sports bought Zevlen, and they’re producing the same stuff. Haven’t bought any yet (the Zevlen stuff hasn’t given up), but word is it’s the same stuff.
Lizard Kinz or Supacaz Super Sticky Kush. I run them on both my road bike and CX bike. when you have wet conditions, I’ve always found I maintain great grip on the bars, with no slippage. I’ve tried many other tapes (usually because I am looking for a specific color, and in a pinch I’ll grab the closest I can find to that color at my LBS), but I keep coming back to these two, and when I know I am going to need to replace soon, I make sure to have my LBS order some in…
fizik performance if you don’t care about cushion.
aundrel gecko is pretty good
pro control sport - good cushion and stretch… Only negative is that I have some red that the color faded super fast.
my default cheap => sram supercork
I can’t bring myself to drop 35-40 bucks for supercaz or lizard skins. I did buy a used cx bike with lizard skins on it. The 6-8 times I rode it in races I didn’t notice any difference.
I tried lizard skins and wasn’t a huge fan. Found it slippery when wet and a bit bulky. My current fave is MEC grippy gel tape.
Would you be able to post a link to the one you use? There are three ‘mec’ tapes…
Thanks!