How often should I change my bar tape?
Ignoring the tape for an extended period of time will allow oxidation to take place unchecked, creating a potentially disastrous situation if the bar fails unexpectedly. It’s better to replace the tape at least twice a year to limit the damage and keep an eye on any oxidation that has occurred
Does bar tape make a difference?
As one of a rider’s few touch points it’s vital that your handlebar tape is comfortable as well as offering grip in wet weather conditions. It’s no exaggeration that good tape can help make a ride, while old, worn or poor quality tape can seriously hinder it, especially during a long day in the saddle
How often replace road bike bar tape?
Salty liquid is corrosive and it’s not uncommon for riders to come across holes in their bars, from a lack of tape maintenance. We at NALAC believe at a minimum, you should replace your tape every six months. Make today the day you get your bars freshly wrapped in new tape!
Can you unwrap and rewrap bar tape?
Unwrap the tape, cut it at the marked angle, and re-wrap it so the cut end is at the bottom of the bar for a neat finish. Circle the end a couple times with electrical tape to secure it in place
Zipp BAR TAPE REVIEW
Course CX Bar Tape Review – Bicycle Universe
Zipp Service Course CX Bar Tape Review | Bicycle Universe Over the years I’ve tried all kinds of bar tapes on my road bikes – some cheap and some expensive – and as a result, my expectations for grip and durability has become high. I ride year-round and in all weather conditions, so the same bar tape will have to provide grip while sweat pours down my arms all summer as well as when grippy gloves try to tear at the surface all winter. Lizard Skins DSP tape (Amazon link) was my favorite for quite some time, but it’s difficult to stomach replacing it as it can be so darn expensive compared to other tapes on the market. Is it possible to get this type of performance without paying as much? Zipp Service Course CX Bar Tape seemed to tick all the boxes for what I needed, and at nearly half the price of Lizard Skins DSP, I decided to give it a shot. What’s in the package? Inside the box, you’ll find two rolls of bar tape, two pieces of finishing tape strips covered in the Zipp “Z” logo to cover…
Long Term Review: Thomson's Katie Compton Cyclocross …
Long Term Review: Thomson’s Katie Compton Cyclocross Handlebars, Plus CX Bar Tape from Zipp & Lizard Skins Last fall, I put the new Thomson Katie Compton cyclocross handlebar on my bike and immediately loved the shape and feel. It’s big, fat and comfortable, with a stiff, straight upper section and compliant drops with a long perch. It, along with the low-rise mountain bike handlebars, were their first foray into carbon fiber components, but you can tell they did their homework. And we would expect nothing less from Thomson, given their reputation for making bombproof alloy cockpit parts in their Georgia factory. These aren’t made domestically, but do meet Thomson’s stringent standards and oversight. They’re made from a blend of three different modulus Toray carbons over EPS mandrels for perfectly smooth interiors and a stronger one-piece construction. They use a proprietary “Nano Epoxy Resin” that supposedly improves impact resistance. Over the course of the past 12 months of testing, the bars have been raced some, ridden a lot and hit the ground a couple times. They’ve also been wrapped with two amazing sets of bar tape, Zipp’s Service Course CX and Lizard Skins’…