gel inserts for ROAD handlebars ????

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by fabiosav
I just saw an note in a bike mag (Bicycling Magazine?) for these gel bags/strips you put under the tape to dampen vibration. I remember they complained about the weight, but not who made the inserts! Anybody know?

PS: If it makes me less stupid, I gave the mag to a fellow roadie on the flight, and forgot to get it back... Worthy cause, if you have last months (or even this months?) around.

Specailized Bar Phat...:

<http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2004/reviews/specialized_bar_phat>

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by fabiosav
I just saw an note in a bike mag (Bicycling Magazine?) for these gel bags/strips you put under the tape to dampen vibration. I remember they complained about the weight, but not who made the inserts! Anybody know?

PS: If it makes me less stupid, I gave the mag to a fellow roadie on the flight, and forgot to get it back... Worthy cause, if you have last months (or even this months?) around.

It's Specialized Bar Phat Pads and Phat Wrap bar tape (www.specialized.com) you're remembering. It took me a while to find it because your comment made me think of the "Style Moron" column first. "Nearly three ounces per set!" comes to 75 grams. I wouldn't be able to feel that after my hands go numb...

I have some Serfa tape that has gel built into it. Ehhhhhhhhh. No real diff between it and just good thick tape.

Unless you ride a solid cement front wheel with a solid forged aluminum fork and 2000 psi tires, I'm thinking you don't need that gel strip junk.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Aztec
I have some Serfa tape that has gel built into it. Ehhhhhhhhh. No real diff between it and just good thick tape.

Unless you ride a solid cement front wheel with a solid forged aluminum fork and 2000 psi tires, I'm thinking you don't need that gel strip junk.

Cinelli and Performance make gel tape, too. I have recently used the Performance version, and it does have more padding than their normal tape. But it's on my MTB (drop bars) so a direct comparison is difficult. But don't call something you haven't tried junk. I used cloth tape in 1975 and didn't have my fingers go numb like they do now. My last bar-wrapping job included strips of mouse pad under the tape on the tops by the hoods. Some of us accept a .005% increase in weight to keep riding.

If you do any riding on anything other than tracks and super smooth roads the miniscule increase in weight should be worth it, because there really is no con to getting them.

I bought the setup and I don't like it. it does nto really help as the Gel once wrapped with tape is not all that soft. Plus it is just a hassle to do.

thanks to all... seems the consensus is to go for it. for other guys who regularly loose sensation in the hands, Peal Izumi does have some great gloves that really helped me. with this gel we could be in luck...