Gel Pads under Bar Tape

rayman1

Anyone use Gel Pads under Bar Tape.
My old bike, now my winter bike needs new tape and considering also using gel pads as current tape is very hard compared to tape on new Giant Defy which is softer and has a bit of give.
Any advice welcomed.

Darkglasses

I do, it makes the bars feel very big and chunky which I like. I think BBB tape comes with gel pads which you can use. The bar plugs are crap though.

Squidgy Black

I prefer to just get decent gel tape, I find those pads uncomfortable because they make the sections bigger than the rest of the bars.

endacl

stetyrrell wrote: »

I prefer to just get decent gel tape, I find those pads uncomfortable because they make the sections bigger than the rest of the bars.

True. And they leave you confined to one part of the bar for the 'comfy bit'.

ednwireland

i put this stuff on last time, nice, gives a little extra cushion not much but noticeable

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/cinelli-gel-cork-bar-tape/rp-prod25854

victorcarrera

Or use cork bartape and double up on it if you like.

kumate_champ07

on my commuter I used some old cork tape under fresh tape, the 2 layers give decent comfort and I get to recycle dirty white bartape!

cdaly_

I have the Cinelli gel tape and a set of gel pads for my new bars. Question is, where are the pads supposed to go?

Darkglasses

cdaly_ wrote: »

I have the Cinelli gel tape and a set of gel pads for my new bars. Question is, where are the pads supposed to go?

Wherever your hands are when your riding, so most likely inside the bend of the drops. Probably no need to put them on the tops. Or both.

hueylewis

If you have enough, definitely put some on the tops if you're doing regular climbing. Your grip should be pretty relaxed anyway, but gel pads would certainly make it easier on your wrists, relieving pressure on your median nerves.

2 Wheels Good

Specialized Bar Phat. Evans sell it, but you might pick it up elsewhere. Used it before and found it great!

Captain Havoc

I use the BBB bar tape and it's very good but as Darkglasses said, the plugs are terrible.

Squidgy Black

Is it just the basic BBB tape that most places sell for a tenner? If so, that's what I've been using the last while and it's decent. I swapped out the plugs for a set of expanding plugs because the others kept falling out.

Seaneh

I use the Specialized Body Phat bar tape and gel pads and find them amazing, super comfy system.

Craig06

Fizik gel pads aren't bad. Tape is a pain to wrap though as there is little stretch in it.

bwalsh1983

Just use an old tube. No cost. Same job.

CramCycle

2 Wheels Good wrote: »

Specialized Bar Phat. Evans sell it, but you might pick it up elsewhere. Used it before and found it great!

I use the Bar Phat as well, find it great, and the tape that goes on top is decent quality as well, made a huge difference for the long distance stuff.

bwalsh1983 wrote: »

Just use an old tube. No cost. Same job.

A friend does this, cuts out the valve and wraps his bars. No cost if you don't patch your tubes otherwise it is the same price as most of the other bartapes mentioned (bar the bar phat which is more).

bwalsh1983

CramCycle wrote: »

I use the Bar Phat as well, find it great, and the tape that goes on top is decent quality as well, made a huge difference for the long distance stuff.


A friend does this, cuts out the valve and wraps his bars. No cost if you don't patch your tubes otherwise it is the same price as most of the other bartapes mentioned (bar the bar phat which is more).

Thought they might be a little more expensive! Certainly does the job though.

CramCycle

bwalsh1983 wrote: »

Thought they might be a little more expensive! Certainly does the job though.

He swears by it, I was tempted to do it myself but the bar phat is still going strong, maybe next time