Handlebar Tape - Lengths???

Jeff Starr said:

Hi, can anyone tell me what brand of cork style tape gives you the most tape per package? I just
recently wrapped a set of 40cm c-c bars and had to use minimal overlap, just to cover the
distance. I must confess that I did use a set of the gel packs that come with the Specialized Bar
Phat. Unfortunately the Bar Phat only comes in black, so I used Ciclolinea Cork Tape, because I
wanted red. The reason I choose the Ciclolinea was because it was the only brand the LBS had in
stock, in red and I was getting a super deal on the combined two boxes of tape. Although I have
used the brand in the past and the tape itself is fine. Another thing that didn't help, was that
the cut dividing the two halves was not in the center.

It would seem to me, that the main cost for the sellers of these tapes, is in the packaging. I
would think that an extra 10-12 inches, would be a minimal expense and would make it easier for us
to do a nice, even, job, with good overlap.

The cost of the extra tape, or packaging, or whatever, is nothing compared to the opportunity cost
of not selling you another package. They probably want you to come up a little short, so you'll buy
another one.

BTW, you can get tape real cheap on eBay. Stock up.

Matt O.

Profile tape goes on better than Cinelli (stretchier, needs no sticky tape), has a better feel, and
is longer. I have several road bikes with 44 cm bars and find Cinelli is marginally adequate in
length. With Profile I wind up trimming 10-15 cm off each side.

Mike Yankee

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jstarr-<< Hi, can anyone tell me what brand of cork style tape gives you the most tape per package?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

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Profile is pretty long.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

(Jeff Starr) said:

I should mention, that I have used the Bar Phat before and I really do like the gel pads. The
Specialized tape is decent, it does wear fast.

Your LBS can get Silva, made in Italy, gel bartape. It is the same as the Cinelli stuff without
the Cinelli embossing but costs less. The length is generous. It is still not inexpensive and
will run >$20.

Paul Kopit <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

(Jeff Starr) said:

I should mention, that I have used the Bar Phat before and I really do like the gel pads. The
Specialized tape is decent, it does wear fast.

Your LBS can get Silva, made in Italy, gel bartape. It is the same as the Cinelli stuff without
the Cinelli embossing but costs less. The length is generous. It is still not inexpensive and will
run >$20.

Hi Paul, the Specialized gel pads are separate, the tape itself is just a cork tape. I finally got a
chance to see the Cinelli Gel Cork tape, although it was in the box. It didn't seem much different
from their regular cork tape. Maybe I missed something. The Cinelli usually sells for around $19 a
box. I am going to try the Profile, next time. I do have a spare set of the Specialized tape, but it
is in black and right now I prefer a red. The bike is an '02 LeMond Tourmalet in dark blue metallic
with silver. I've got the red tape, a red seat bag, and I plan on having my wheels built with red
rims, DA hubs, black spokes, and silver nipples. The bike should look very cool;-) And if I really
want to go all out, I can switch out the black Prolink saddle, for the red one, that I have on my
other bike. Life is Good! Jeff