Handlebar tape and bar-end plugs

How to choose handlebar tape

It is the only permanent contact between your hands and the bike, and the cheapest wear item to replace. Two factors make all the difference: thickness and material.

Thickness

• 1.8 to 2 mm : thin, so you can feel the handlebar. Direct road feedback, preferred by riders with smaller hands and on racing bikes.
• 2.5 to 3 mm : the usual compromise, thick enough to absorb vibration without dulling the feel.
• 3 mm or more, or a double layer : for long distances, cobbles and gravel. Watch the finished diameter, which can make the bars bulky to hold.

Material

• Polymer (Lizard Skins DSP, Supacaz Super Sticky Kush) : very grippy, even when soaked, and durable. The go-to choice if your hands sweat.
• EVA foam : light, soft and inexpensive. Gets dirty and compresses more quickly.
• Integrated gel (BBB Race Ribbon Gel, PRO Gel, Prologo One Touch Gel) : provides substantial cushioning, useful on a stiff frame or rough roads.
• Cork and imitation cork (Velox, SRAM Supercork) : a classic look and pleasant feel when dry, but a little less grippy in the rain.
• Leather and faux leather : chosen more for its looks and how it ages than for outright performance.

Gel inserts

These are strips placed under the tape, under the palms and around the brake hoods, where pressure is concentrated. They provide cushioning without making the whole handlebar thicker. Sold separately, they work with any tape and cost about as much as a small accessory.

Handlebar tape and finishing tape

Be careful not to confuse them: the finishing tape (Velox Plastader and equivalents) is a thin adhesive strip that secures the top of the wrap near the stem. It is not wrapped around the whole handlebar. Most handlebar tapes include a short length in the box.

Handlebar end plugs

They are not decorative. An end plug holds the tape in place at the end and, above all, it closes off the tube : an open handlebar end can cause serious injury in a fall. They are easily lost and can be replaced individually or in pairs, in machined aluminium or plastic, sometimes with an expanding clamp to prevent them popping out.

When to replace it

As soon as it slips, splits around the brake hoods or becomes dark enough to stain your gloves. Expect to replace it once or twice a season with regular use. It is also a chance to check the condition of the cables running underneath.

To find out more: How to choose road bike handlebars

See also: Road handlebars · Road lever hoods · Road brake and shift levers