Handlebar grips
The tape off my handlebars have come out which means it is time for a replacement. So my bike specs as well as my list of questions are below:
Bike name:
- Breezer uptown 8 2016 model color is green
Questions:
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Do I need to get a new handlebar grip or will it be tape that I need?
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What do you recommend I get that will last me a long time? I have thought of Brook's England but you guys know better than me.
Other statements: I have been commuting by bike for over a year now and I have been enjoying the journey. I feel like more paths have been open to me and I'm able to access places easier than if I had to pay a bus to take me there which is a pain in the ass. So thank you for existing.
Posted Jun 17, 2017, 1:50 PM UTC
178
The type of solution you need depends on both your bar type and your preference. If you have flat bars, the bar grips might work for you but I recommend tape for bullhorns, drops, etc.
The thing about tape to consider is--will you be riding it in the rain? Some tape gets mega slick when wet. How much padding do you want? I have very cushy cork tape and also very thin vinyl and cotton tapes, both feel very different.
When it comes time to replace, I usually go cork for my everyday ride. It's cushy, grippy when wet, relatively inexpensive, and in my opinion is more forgiving for a newbie to install than some of the others. It also comes in hundreds of colours.
I've never used brooks tape but I do know some riders who swear by their products in general, but also some riders who don't think it's worth the $$.
(Edit:looking up your bike model makes me suggest just getting new bar grips tho, if that's what it already has. DURY makes good ones, tho your LBS might have a few brands in stock.)
I would assume that there would be some inclement weather so bar grips for the rain would be best. I will consider cork as a feasible replacement.
The primary advantage of grips is that they are easy to install, not necessarily that they have better grip when wet. I've used grips which are really slippery when wet as well as tape that is super grippy!
I understand so what brands should I be looking towards because I know one commenter said the Ergon GC-1.
For upright/townie bars, Ergons are good. I also like ESI's Chunky silicone grips, and on the premium end both the Whiskey and Bourbon grips from Portland Design. I've used them all in all weather, sun, rain, snow, and they all do pretty fine and maintain grip well. None of them really wear out on an appreciable timeline. They all feel very different in hand, so, I can't say one is better than the other. If you need more palm support, the Ergon. The ESI absorbs more shock to the blade of the hand, if that's where you carry weight. The Portland Designs are both in the middle, and the leather has a nice tactile feel that gets slightly tacky in the rain providing good grip, but are the priciest for what they are.